STRANGE
STORIES
Writer, historian and
‘knitting genealogist’
Penelope Hemingway
is well known to our
regular readers for her explorations into the
lives of ordinary knitters from centuries past.
Her new book, Their Darkest Materials, takes
a more Gothic turn as she reveals grim stories
from the darker side of knitting’s history.
She delves into tales of murder with knitters
as the victims, or knitting as evidence; the
exploitation of children and elderly knitters,
and knitters working in charity schools and
poor-houses; stories of runaway slaves and
prisoners; the place of knitting and spinning
in British folklore; and even the tale of a
woman held in the West Riding Lunatic
Asylum, who proposed ideas for new dye
shades by watching thunderstorms.
Penelope’s fascinating and meticulously
researched book will delight anyone interested
in British knitting history, and its charming
hand-drawn illustrations add to its appeal.
It can be ordered as a PDF download for £
from Penelope’s Etsy store.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/hemingwayandhunt
- Read more from Penelope on page 66!
...ideas, websites, patterns,
events, inspiration and more!
Artisan colour The Fibre Co. has launched
elegant new shades of its Luma and Meadow
yarns for your spring knitting http://www.thefibreco.com
ARBON’S ANNUAL
John, Juliet and the rest of the team at John
Arbon Textiles have been busy compiling the
second instalment of their mill magazine.
The Annual Issue Two is now available for
pre-order, and contains four beautiful new
patterns. There’s lots more to enjoy, too,
including insights into how the Devon spinning
mill is run, its range of yarns and tops, articles
and puzzles, and lovely photography. Issue One
from 2019 is still available, too, and there’s a
discount if you order both issues.
£6 from http://www.jarbon.comAnniken Allis’s online
shop is filled with her beautiful
shawl patterns, knitting kits,
books of lace and beaded
designs, and a choice of yarns.
She is also selling some of her
knitted samples which have
appeared in The Knitter!
http://www.yarnaddict.co.ukThe Knitter 16 Issue 150