Review

Besides reading the antique patterns on line (http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org look under catalogue) and in our Illinois State Historical library I enjoy reading knitting magazines that focus on Heritage or Antique patterns like Piecework and Knitting Traditions.  I have found older magazines that are now archived on the internet; such as Successful Farming that have sections for women's interests like cooking, knitting, crocheting, tatting, sewing, gardening and housework (yuck).

I have a library of books about other Ethnic knitting and have tried to learn when it first was developed.  That is a tall order since most knitting was never saved and patterns not written as they are today.

This summer I was able to travel to the Shetland Islands.  I especially wanted to spent time at the Shetland Museum because I had seen that they had many examples of Shetland 'Fair Isle' sweaters and also Shetland Lace.  I was surprised to see that none of the examples of color stranded knitting were older than the mid 1900's.  There was older knitting on display it was not what we would consider color stranding. 

I have learned the Norwegian style of color stranding and love the designs.  I think that for the period and the area of the midwest that I have more access to appears to be more utilitarian. 

I continue to be fascinated by all types of knitting techniques but will probably keep my blog to the knitting that would have been done in the US prior to 1920, or the date that is generally considered antique as opposed to vintage.