I remember the first time a strapped on a replica Yorkshire
goose wing. I was amazed at how it just
fit the point of my right hip, and pivoted so nicely. That pivot instantly suggested a knitting
motion that worked with goose wings.
Sometimes I still knit like that.
However, it turns out that a goose wing is much more versatile.
If we look at the goose wings in Brears, Fig. 2 No. 13, Fig.
6, & Fig. 7 Nos. 1-3 & 9, the
first thing we note is that Brears proveniences them all from a relatively small
area of North Yorkshire (Wensleydale, Teesdale, Eden Vale, Balderdale, Appleby,
Dent, and Castle Bolton. Despite being
from small area the goose wings in Fig 7 are designed to be tucked into a sash,
wide belt or waist band, while those in Fig. 2 & Fig. 6 are designed to be
tucked into apron strings or a narrow cow band.
Thus there was likely a difference in costume of the knitters,
suggesting that they were made in different periods.
Brears notes that the earlier sheaths tend to be
plainer. My explanation for this is that
earlier sheaths were utilitarian (often used for professional knitting). There
were like many of them, but they were bought from professional knitting sheath
makers, used, and discarded before they acquired sentimental value. Here I have to disagree with Brears because
we know from other sources, in the 17th century every village had a
cane maker or similar that also made knitting sheaths. The sharp eyed anonymous will point to Fig.5
No 1 and say it is early (1680) and elaborate, but Fig 5 deserves its own
post. However, Fig 2 nos 16-18, are early, and have carving that does not detract from their functional use.
Looking at Fig 7 Nos. 4-8 & 10-21 we see knitting
sheaths in a spindle style. Some of
these are similar to the Dutch knitting sticks that were used with short
needles to make knit socks, these are shorter, putting the knitting lower in
the lap. Actually some of these would be
very functional if they were at least as long as the goose wings. If they are as short as they appear, then
they are less functional for serious knitting.
From this we can deduce that Brears did not draw at a consistent scale.
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2 comments:
Didn't you have a short knitting stick that you really liked, and from which you concluded that the short ones were made for adults, not for children?
Oh, yes, I love that little knitting sheath. It is less than 4" long, and in fact, I made several of them. They are amazing for long needles. However, it is not a spindle form. Those little ones do not work with "cow bands" or sashes or waistbands, they work with nylon straps. This makes them a little bit specialized. When I adapted the design to work with leather belts, it no longer worked as well with nylon straps.
Some days, I think that every knitting sheath should be sold with the belt it was designed to be used with.
Small differences in shape, leading to differences in leverage matter.
This is why I think that most knitting sheaths for professional knitters were made by professional knitting sheath makers that understood all the details. (pro = older knitter in the co-op or the village cane maker) Professional knitters wanted knitting sheaths that were very functional. They wanted a knitting sheath where all the angles and dimensions were correct for the kind of knitting that they did. This is why I think that a wealth of information about "what makes a really good knitting sheath" was lost when we lost the folks that made knitting sheaths.
I am not there yet. I make knitting sheaths that make knitting faster and easier than hand held knitting. However, I keep finding ways to make better knitting sheaths.
Before, I just thought of knitting as "knitting". Now I see it as knitting with long needles, knitting with short needles, knitting with bent needles that rotate . . . each of these techniques has its own needs, and I can design knitting sheaths to meet those needs.
The result is that I am knitting faster and better than ever.
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