No need to scramÂble to the fallÂout shelÂter, friends.
That masÂsive boom you just heard is mereÂly the sound of thouÂsands of crafters’ minds being blown en masse by the UniÂverÂsiÂty of SouthÂhampÂton’s KnitÂting RefÂerÂence Library, an extenÂsive resource of books, catÂaÂlogues, patÂterns, jourÂnals and magazines—over sevÂenÂteen decades worth.
Viva la HandÂmade RevÂoÂluÂtion!
The basics of the form—knitÂting, purlÂing, increasÂing, decreasÂing, castÂing on and off—have remained remarkÂably conÂsisÂtent throughÂout the genÂerÂaÂtions. No wonÂder there’s an endurÂing traÂdiÂtion of learnÂing to knit at grandma’s knee…
What has evolved is the nature of the finÂished prodÂucts.
Miss LamÂbert’s “Baby Quilt in Stripes of AlterÂnate ColÂors” from her 1847 KnitÂting Book could still hold its own against any othÂer handÂcraftÂed showÂer gift, but even the most hardÂcore modÂern crafter would find it chalÂlengÂing to find takÂers for her “CarÂriage Sock,” which is meant to be worn over the shoe.
DitÂto the “Woolen HelÂmets” in HelpÂing the Trawlers, a 32-page pamÂphlet pubÂlished by the RoyÂal NationÂal MisÂsion to Deep Sea FishÂerÂmen. The hope was that civic-mindÂed knitÂters might be moved to donate handÂmade socks, mitÂtens, and othÂer items to comÂbat the chill faced by poor workÂing men facÂing the eleÂments on freezÂing decks.
Not surÂprisÂingÂly, the eager volÂunÂteer knitÂting force gravÂiÂtatÂed toward the pamphlet’s most baroque item, putting the pubÂlishÂer in a delÂiÂcate posiÂtion:
Owing, perÂhaps, to their novÂelÂty, a great many friends comÂmence workÂing for the SociÂety by makÂing these artiÂcles and the Uhlan caps, and we are apt, on this account, to get rather more of them than we require for our North Sea work. The Labrador fishÂerÂmen valÂue the helÂmets equalÂly with their North Sea breathren, and thus there is an ample outÂput for them, but we shall be glad if friends will bear the hint in mind, and make some of the othÂer things in prefÂerÂence to the helÂmets and Uhlan caps.
All of the books in the KnitÂting RefÂerÂence Library are open access, though many of the patÂterns and magÂaÂzines are depenÂdent on copyÂright clearÂance. Give a prowl, and you’ll find that a few of the oldÂer patÂterns are availÂable as downÂloadÂable, printÂable PDFs , such as this handÂsome gent’s cable knit pullover or the tricky 50’s bison cardiÂgan, below.
Even withÂout step-by-step instrucÂtions, the patÂtern envelopes’ covÂer images can still proÂvide inspiration…and no small degree of amuseÂment. Some enterÂprisÂing librarÂiÂan should get crackÂing on a sub-colÂlecÂtion, FashÂion Crimes Against Male Knitwear ModÂels, 1960–1980:
There’s even someÂthing for the latÂter day Labrador trawler...
The entire colÂlecÂtion can be viewed here. For viewÂing and printÂing patÂterns, we recÂomÂmend selectÂing “PDF” from the list of downÂload options.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
The Whole Earth CatÂaÂlog Online: StewÂart Brand’s “Bible” of the 60s GenÂerÂaÂtion
Ayun HalÂlÂiÂday is an author, illusÂtraÂtor, and Chief PriÂmaÂtolÂoÂgist of the East VilÂlage Inky zine. FolÂlow her @AyunHalliday