What stories are captured in the stitches of a knitted shawl? Every time I see a piece of historical knitting, I find myself wondering about the person who made it and the person who wore it.
In Russia, you will not find anyone who has not heard of an Orenburg “downy” shawl—the warm, heavy shawl with the light, delicate lace-patterning called “cobweb.” Downy shawls are distinguished by a center design.
Here’s a tatted edging originally published in Needlecraft Magazine’s October 1928 issue.
Enjoy a free tatted square medallion pattern from PieceWork’s “Trimmings.”
Weldon’s Practical Needlework houses a wealth of information on Victorian tatting. The following “uses” and “requisites” for Victorian tatting are reproduced here as they appeared in Weldon’s Practical Needlework, Volume 4.
Weldon’s Practical Needlework is known mostly for their whimsical yet practical knitting and crochet patterns. But did you know that they house a wealth of information on Victorian tatting, too? Tatters rejoice!
A Victorian Knitted Stocking Challenge: this design is based on an interpretation of original instructions for “A Knitted Stocking” in an 1845 book.
The Santa Fe Scarf combines traditional Orenburg-lace techniques and construction with geometric motifs inspired by Mara Bishop Statnekov’s hometown.
The amount of attention given in Weldon’s Practical Needlework to knitting stockings gives us a major clue as to their “useful article” of choice to make.
