The story of Mary Elizabeth Greenwall Edie’s knitted-lace sampler book is included in the May/June 2016 issue of PieceWork. We asked Frances H. Rautenbach to re-create several of Mary Elizabeth’s samples.
One thing no refined home could do without was a pincushion. Victorian pincushions ran the gamut from practical to ornate.
Is knitting better than sewing, or does embroidery reign supreme? Today’s crafters would scoff at the question! Yet, those weird Victorians would certainly have an opinion on the matter.
The Knitted Rugs lack an accompanying illustration. What on earth do these Weldon’s Knitted Rugs look like?
Worsted Balls. (Yes, you read that correctly.) What in tarnation do these Weldon’s Worsted Balls look like?
Here is the pattern just as it was presented in 1886, with neither alterations nor corrections. We encourage you to cast on Weldon’s Bolster Pincushion and email us a photo.
For our weekly foray into the needlework world of “Those Weird Victorians,” file this installment in the not-remotely-weird category. The Victorian’s frequently embellished and adorned their clothing with beadwork.
Ann Budd made the “Man’s Medium-Sized Sock” based on a pattern included in the 1918 booklet, How to Knit (Philadelphia: Dr. D. Jayne & Son).
Today’s knitters are fortunate to pull from the ensuing “melting pot” of sock-knitting techniques from around the world and blend techniques for shaping heels and toes without much thought about whence they came.
For those who use knitted wool soakers over cloth diapers, the Victorians have got you covered so to speak.