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Let Me Spin You a yarn
Actually, I don't spin. I've dabbled in it—and weaving—during my days as a Lincolnshire farmer's wife, but I much prefer to knit the finished yarn. I admire those who shear the sheep, card the wool, then spin it, and make beautiful fiber. Life is short, and yarn is beautiful, and there aren't enough hours in the day to do everything, so I learned to prioritize.
My mother taught me to knit while I was still in grade school. I used to knit clothes for my dolls. My friend Penny taught me to crochet granny squares. I love crocheted lace and doilies, but it's knitting that holds my passion. I still use my mother's knitting needles when I work. Sometimes I feel her holding my hands as I get into the zone, rhythmically slipping the stitches from one needle and onto the other.
Every Stitch Tells a Tale
Once I got heavily into knitting I started exploring the cables and patterns of the traditional fisherman's sweaters, and while I do knit all sorts of things, these patterns have to be my favorites. The way that the stitches were combined told a story, The cultural references of nets, rocks and ropes that were the heart of the industry were woven into the knitting patterns, creating warmth, and a reminder of life for those who wore the garments. How could a knitter and storyteller like me refuse that calling?
Each fishing family had its own design, often with a young bride taking the established patterns and adding to them, creating something unique for her family. The initials of the wearer were frequently monogrammed into the welt of the design. The ownership of the sweater could then be easily identified, in the unlikely case of theft, or the unfortunate case that a fisherman be washed overboard. There's a reference to this in a 1904 play by J. M Synge, which features a dead fisherman being identified by the stitch pattern in his clothing.
There are different types of traditional fisherman's sweaters, from the knit and purl designs that hail from the shores of Scotland, to the more elaborate cables that adorn the traditional Aran sweaters. In fact, the Aran sweaters are so called because many of the patterns are believed to have come from the Aran Isles off the west coast of Ireland. The cable stitches can be found on other traditional designs, though, for ropes played a popular part in both the fishing trade, and the knitting designs.
Much has changed in the fishing industry over the last century, but the stitch patterns are enduring. You'll find them echoed in the gift shops of popular British seaside attractions, and in many of the knitting patterns designed by such yarn companies as Rowan or Vogue. When you know what you're looking for, you'll even see them on the sweaters that department stores offer for sale in the winter. I've taken that one step farther, and added the patterns to my pottery forms and tiles. The stories all have value and deserve to be told, even though they may belong to a culture that is rapidly being overtaken by modern 'progress,'
When Mum was first teaching me to knit well over 50 years ago, she told me that if I could master knitting and purling, then I could master any knitting stitch. She was right! The beautiful ropes, the elegant cables, the intricate lace, it's all a variation on a theme. Walk with me, and meet some of my companions on this journey.
When Mum was first teaching me to knit well over 50 years ago, she told me that if I could master knitting and purling, then I could master any knitting stitch. She was right! The beautiful ropes, the elegant cables, the intricate lace, it's all a variation on a theme. Walk with me, and meet some of my companions on this journey.
