Knitting in the 18th Century

[@JYFMuseums]

Hi everyone. For anyone that is looking for a pattern, Check out these two links from MaraRiley.net -- www.marariley.net/patterns.htm www.marariley.net/knitting/knitting.htm And Plimoth Patuxet Museum Shop has a pattern book available for their 17th century knitted clothing items -- www.plimoth.com/products/copy-of-knitted-garb-inspired-by-originals-designs-for-plimoth-plantation-and-beyond Some other patterns may also be found at Ravelry.com For some in depth historical reading check out -- A History of Hand-knitting by Richard Rutt first published in 1987 The Tudor Child: Clothing and Culture 1485 to 1625 by Jane Huggett and Ninya Mikhaila 2013 A brief article from the Victoria and Albert Museum can be found at -- www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-history-of-hand-knitting

[@thumbelinasmum]

Most of the Plimoth patterns don’t use a period gauge.

[@joangreene8554]

Thank you for these pattern links!

[@JYFMuseums]

@@joangreene8554 You're welcome.

[@carolyng5235]

I would love any videos on sewing, embroidery, spinning, weaving or other needlework!

[@meganb225]

I second that!

[@amethyst5538]

Another good channel to check out for spinning specifically is JillianEve.

[@maried3717]

I agree!

[@lissablue176]

I knit spin and weave, need to sell, I’m 79 now. Took classes at LYS, now the past 15 years I go on line and learn what I need to know. Embroidery, very good books out there, taught myself.

[@suem6004]

I hate to impose but I have a yt channel spinningthepast. I grow and spin linen.

[@hadleyjolley3375]

I have knit several socks on size 0 needles with modern sock yarn. They wear like iron--its my go-to sock needle size now!

[@thumbelinasmum]

I can get a gauge and hand that matches period extent stockings with 4-0 neeldes and modern, worsted spun, plied, 100% wool fingering weight yarn. We compared my swatch side by side with extent stockings. 12-13sts/in, and DENSE!

[@kellicoffman8440]

Wow as a knitter I take my hat 🎩 off to you using such tiny knitting 🧶 needles

[@kellicoffman8440]

Love how you explain the difference between how we knit 🧶 now and how they knitted then I use the circulars now almost exclusively

[@magpiewench]

I knit so loosely, I have to use 000 or 0000 to get a firm enough gauge for socks. I often use 000 for feet and switch to 00 or 0 for the calf since I have large legs and narrow feet.

[@songindarkness]

That is amazing! I’m so slow it would take me years to knit a pair of socks at that gauge! The smallest needles I’ve used to make baby socks is 2.5mm and it took forever. Maybe one day!

[@Vmarsh241]

All the textile videos please! Sewing, knitting, weaving, spinning, dyeing, embroidery/needlepoint/cross stitch-I’d watch all of them. I’d also love discussions and examples of historical patterns and construction methods as well. Fascinating work!

[@JYFMuseums]

We are discussing video ideas and we have from the 16th to the late 18th century to cover!

[@lisarussell3845]

What a great episode. Would love to hear more on knitting and the fiber arts.

[@Uncle_Steve71]

I'm left handed too, but I learned to knit right to left.

[@kellyezebra]

Lord love a Lefty! Fellow left-handed knitter here loving your work!

[@jeant763]

Thank you Carrie it was very interesting and enjoyable. Please do more videos about past knitting skills, items and techniques etc.

[@kristalatworkmurphy7713]

Oh my goodness! Carrie, I think I met you last summer when my family visited Yorktown, and you were knitting then too! We had a great conversation about knitting and doing living history, since I work at a historic site in NC that covers the same time period. I know there's no way you remember me, just wanted to let you know that you have been an inspiration to me and just that short conversation helped me get started with knitting research so I could do it historically accurate. Thank you so much! Now. . .gonna have to know where to find the pattern for the mitts! :)

[@maryanneslater9675]

Thank you! That was lovely and informative. I'm glad you mentioned the knit-purl patterned petticoat. It's a work of art. Also, a study of late medieval/Renaissance clothing had an example of knit silk stockings belonging to Eleanor of Toledo. The gauge was 32 stitches per inch, so they would have been knit on very fine wires. I spin and knit yarn, but I've never gone below 2.25 mm (size 1) needles. I'd be worried about jabbing myself too much.

[@kathleendaugherty4218]

As an historian and life-long knitter, I have been looking 18th Century sources for knitting but wasn't able to find anything, until now. I loved your video and I subscribed to your page, and I will be looking forward to anything you are willing to teach us.

[@amandajlemen]

I'm incredibly interested in 18th century textiles. I spin, dye, knit and weave and I love learning how it was done in the past

[@SIC647]

I would LOVE more knitting content. While there are many who does content on historical sewing, it is rare to find content on historical knitting. (By the way I watched this while knitting 1830s stockings on 2 mm (US 0) needles. I know, huge. 😆 )

[@deannesmith4979]

Showing the project in closeups would help to see details. And having samples at various stages to show would be great. Does anyone there spin on the walking wheel?

[@mishkalarsoncreations]

I still have a long pin that was part of a set of six that my great great grandmother used back in the 1800s. She spun her own wall from their sheep and knit and wove with it.

[@JYFMuseums]

That's cool!

[@krinklely]

I appreciate very much that your focus is a "how-to", practicuum-based presentation with plenty of historical gems thrown in throughout your lovely video! It's impossible to cover every question one might have, but we have no excuse not to investigate via independent study in these modern times. If we're truly impassioned by history, we're compelled to take on some of the responsibility for the questions we may have. Thank you, again, for sharing! Love it! The out-takes are a peck of fun, too🤣

[@candicesawyer2895]

I love the knitting. I would also love to know more about 18th century sewing.

[@susanbranson6006]

More knitting please! And information about where the wool comes from - who had sheep in the 18th century?

[@mzmscoyote]

I would love to have a closer look at that cast-on. Thank you. This was so interesting

[@SadisticSenpai61]

I picked up double point knitting recently cuz I hate having to sew seams in my knitting. It takes practice, but it works great.

[@MAJA98610]

Just found your channel and love all things with sewing, embroidery needlework, tape making.

[@chesneymigl4538]

I love dpk. There is just something so zen about working with double points.

[@JYFMuseums]

Yes there is!

[@aimee-made]

SAME! I feel like we're so in the minority, but double-points forever!!

[@chesneymigl4538]

@@aimee-made ❤

[@amandadaly9363]

I’d love a video on historical knitting aimed at a target audience of experienced knitters - really get into all the details!

[@nz-nz]

I’m a spinner and love hearing and learning about the history of these old crafts.

[@resourcedragon]

Do you knit, crochet or weave the yarn you make, or give (or sell) it to other people?

[@kellicoffman8440]

Fellow spinner here I agree I love hearing about the history of crafts

[@xosferens]

This was completely fascinating! I would love to hear more about earlier techniques in all the fibre crafts. Your delivery was great, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@JYFMuseums]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@Hollylivengood]

I've used heavy gauge weed eater line for a nice small gauge knitting in the round to make a raglan sweater. You can make it as long as you need. It works awesome, you just can't pull hard on it like you would a needle.

[@KathrynTanner-t8f]

Interesting! You are inventive!

[@Ms.Murchison]

Thank you for the interesting and informative video! I watched while knitting. :)

[@JYFMuseums]

Two thumbs up for knitting and watching our video! 😊

[@twentynineteen4687]

Fascinating content, wonderful presentation! Very impressed watching you cast on dpns in the round while speaking to us. Wow! Your mitts are beautiful!

[@JYFMuseums]

Wow, thank you!

[@thebutchersbill1]

Thanks! As to suggestions, I’d love more fabric/textile/handicraft episodes and would appreciate a bit more historical source reference to make this a little more educational. How much knitting was going on? How did people with bad eyesight manage all the fine handiwork? Without reading glasses, my knitting would be a mess! Also, linen. We don’t think of it as a particularly American fabric in that it is not produced now in New England. Was it then? Was its harvesting big part of the agricultural calendar in colonial times? What does the journey from field to spinning or weaving and then to clothing look like? Could a single household produce their own linen or was it a community operation? What were the folk traditions around it? How did people learn to make clothing? Was it such a basic skill, everyone learned it at home from an early age?

[@witatter1]

A common thing to do was to place a glass of water near a candle or near a light source (e.g, a sunbeam from a window). Water acted as a magnifying lens.

[@crowznest438]

Goodness...Flax was certainly grown and processed in New England and was still grown in the early part of the 20th century for fiber in the hill country of Virginia and other places I'm sure, where the Industrial Revolution took longer to have affect, because of geography causing a lack of access. I have a friend born in 1925 who remembers her parents growing it. She also remembers her mother baking cornbread in the fireplace, processing wool to knit socks, and having work horses on the farm.

[@JYFMuseums]

If we may make a few comments. Linen, was very much an American fabric and flax was a cash crop in Virginia. Prior to the Revolution, flax and wool were dominate fibers followed by others like silk, hemp and cotton. Though, in this period prior to the invention of the cotton gin and the industrial revolution, cotton is not yet king. Also prior to the war, a lot of fiber is produced and sent to Great Britain and woven into finished cloth there (or other fiber products). Once woven the cloth is then distributed for the market. In the pre-industrial period textile production was a cottage industry practiced by the women of a household as a way to bringing an extra income into the household. Women in a particular community may be the weavers while a neighboring community may be the spinners. Textile production as a cottage industry would be upended with the advent of the British industrial revolution in textile production in the 1760s to the close of the century and the early 19th century in the young United States. A single household may produce linen but, it's most likely to go out into the market, not necessarily for the households own manufacture of clothing. Which does bring up a certain mythology of self sufficiency. Very very few households are going to make their clothing from say flax seed to waistcoat. Reality is that the poorer a household is, the more they are tied to the economy and relying on their labors to be able to buy what they need. There just isn't enough hours in the day do carry out so many of the specialized tasks. On the other hand it is the wealthier farms/plantations and households that can approach some semblance of self sufficiency. So many households are going to buy their cloth and pay the tailor or mantua maker to manufacture their clothing. To learn to manufacture clothing, boys are going to enter into an apprenticeship with a master tailor and girls would also enter an apprenticeship with a mantua maker.

[@mehchocolate1257]

@@JYFMuseums I'm having trouble casting off of my knitting and do you live like that 24/7

[@ericka_akcire2193]

Id love a video on 18th century fiber prep. What did they use to blend their fibers? Cards? Combs? Did they have blending boards?

[@Stumpybear7640]

Shetlanders refer to dpns as 'wires' x

[@jolynnhanke8575]

I just stumbled upon your channel. I would definitely enjoy more videos about the making of clothing (knitting, sewing, embroidery, etc.).

[@andreamagill7034]

I enjoyed watching the history of knitting and seeing the examples of garments. I would be interested in how they spun the wool and if any weaving was done at that time.

[@whatasmartpuppy]

This is how my mother taught me to cast on and I’ve never seen anyone else ever do it this way. I started to think there was something wrong with the way she did it, but lookie here! 😁

[@franlevaillant6749]

From this vantage it looks like she’s doing a Backwards Loop cast on - please do let me know if I’ve got this wrong. It’s a fantastic cast on: easy to do and gives a lovely stretchy edge. I can understand why your mum preferred it. 🧶❤

[@Nettietwixt]

I think it's fairly common. I do it but can't remember where I picked it up from but it would have been a video or website as it's different to the way my mum taught me.

[@annettegraff8323]

@@Nettietwixt A Canadian friend taught me this way But I mostly use long tail co.

[@pityparty9955]

I’ve tried this cast on technique and have had a terrible time keeping the stitches even.

[@witatter1]

It’s called a backwards e cast on. Most of use learned it as a first cast on, likely bc it’s the easiest to learn. It’s not the best method and most knitters today don’t use it.

[@matburnstopia]

YES please! More knitting and spinning and sewing!

[@maryswartzel2773]

I adore all the textiles. Seeing someone spin on the wheel behind you. (I never got the spinning on a spindle) Also weaving on the loom beside you. Yes! All the textiles!! ♥️

[@CindyBennett13]

very interesting...I loved this video

[@kittyjohnstone5915]

I liked the out takes. With reference to the direction of knitting, I can knit either right or left handed, very handy when knitting very short rows, say for a button band. None of the comflaffle of changing the needle/pin/wire and yarn, and work in Continental or Traditional Scottish knitting depending on the pins in use. It was great to see you using the wee wires, casting on and talking at the same time! I would be very interested in anything textile related, especially from 18th C or earlier. Thank you and, since I’m writing this comment in the run-up to Christmas, I wish you and your colleagues a happy Christmas,

[@kellicoffman8440]

As a knitter and history buff I love this video

[@hannaleppala3723]

Thank you for this! Always fascinating to understand where, in the development of a certain technique, people were in a specific era! 😊

[@claudiaisabelmicher6850]

I love this practical-life approach when studying history. Please, any textile related videos will be appreciated. You are doing an excelent work! Please keep going!

[@Darvit_Nu]

Historical fabric crafts fascinate me lol. Liked & subscribed! :) I knit continental. I never really knew what it was called since I picked up an old book from the local library that had how to instructions alongside black & white photos or line drawings & diagrams. I learned to advance my knowledge of crochet the same way & funny enough I crochet the way I knit... holding the yarn like a continental knitter lol. It makes the stitching of knitting, crochet or tunisian crochet go a little bit faster for me. This year I learned nalbinding from a woman in Finland & another woman in Australia. It took me longer to learn to nalbind but I'm thrilled I succeeded. Love fabric arts so much! I've made socks knitting with delicate needles like the ones being used. It takes longer because more stitches are necessary but the fabric always is so beautiful. Currently knitting a pair of socks for a friend :)

[@cindyshipley1]

Very interesting! Would love to learn more about spinning, knitting, weaving and sewing in that time period.

[@sentientsquid7069]

I’d love more historical textile/ handicraft videos!!

[@tricothon]

That was very interesting!! I would enjoy and watch any videos about historical knitting and spinning!!

[@dzandin]

Would love more content on knitting techniques for beginners. I crochet and handsew, but would love to learn 18thC knitting and embroidery. Thank you for your work and for sharing!

[@Momzie808]

Wish there was a close up on that knit stitch joining them together. I would have loved to learn it cause it looks very nice.

[@thehummingbirdbandit9542]

I would LOVE to see more information on textiles and fibre arts! I'm a knitter myself, so this was a really fun dive into the past. Fantastic work, using a single strand yarn like that, I can't even *imagine*

[@NeneLyonz]

Thanks for showing some of the knitting history its so interesting, I self taught myself and had knit a few socks, the smaller needles are challenging especially keeping the count of rows, stitches, I wonder how they did it back then! Knitting isy om such a skill that doesn't get enough credit especially in US history.

[@JYFMuseums]

Hi nana, you might be interested in the book "The Knitting Brigades of World War I: Volunteers for Victory in America and Abroad" by Holly Korda. The Great War is of course a bit outside our museums' timeframe, but there was quite a national undertaking through the likes of Red Cross to muster knitters across the nation, to knit articles of clothing and comfort for the American soldiers going overseas.

[@NeneLyonz]

@@JYFMuseums Thank you

[@cormonose]

17:06 I would love to see how to spin on that great wheel behind you! 😊 keep the videos coming

[@kellicoffman8440]

I am thrilled that someone else noticed the great wheel

[@patricialcarpenter4090]

Hello, thank you for this video on knitting in the 1700’s. I would love to see ‘how to’ videos for spinning yarn on the spinning wheel and drop spindle spinning. These plus more about knitting for the family and home, plus sewing, cooking and baking on an open hearth - even soap and candle making. Thank you for all you do to teach us how our ancestors lived. Patti Carpenter

[@JYFMuseums]

Hi Patricia, yes we hope to make videos about many of these topics. We have posted some videos about 16th to 18th century cooking that can be found in our Recipe Rewind playlist -- kzbin.info/aero/PLdzBgB_06BySv3ReKI5bRsMHopdh14FCG

[@paquiangorrilla4094]

très intéressant, merci pour cette belle leçon d'histoire du tricot. bonne continuation

[@KaffekanAnna]

Love this! I still prefer to use stocking-needles (as we call double ended needles) to cable needles when knitting socks or gloves. The clickety sound it makes is just soooo comforting, and as soon as you have your work going I never have a problem with them either. Will give your glove pattern a go! They look lovely 🥰

[@shirleychase1033]

Thank you for this video. I am very much interested in historical fiber arts. I will be watching this channel to see what else you talk about.

[@Bunefoo401]

I have only just found your channel, with this being my first video. Would love to see mid-project photos and finished photos. I LOVE the expanded view with the spinning wheel, but also nice to see close ups of what you are doing. (Oh Yeah!! Spinning, like 4/5 videos would be fabulous ❤❤❤)

[@christineyates2618]

My mother knitted for the soldiers in WW2 and the emphasise in her voice when mentioning 5ply in relation with this period of time made it obvious that 5ply at this time was considered very bulky, not something an experienced knitter would choose. By the way I was once asked to teach a knitting class, unfortunately only 2 people signed up so it didn't t happen but I discovered 19 ways to cast on.

[@colleenbaxter6026]

Very informative! Thank you!

[@JYFMuseums]

You're welcome!

[@plantatree88]

Thank you so much for sharing! Love to see more videos about knitting, sewing, and other crafts. Is it possible to buy the patterns you are showing in the video? That would be great!

[@JYFMuseums]

If you're looking for a pattern, check out these two links from MaraRiley.net -- www.marariley.net/patterns.htm www.marariley.net/knitting/knitting.htm Plimoth Patuxet Museum Shop has a pattern book available for their 17th century knitted clothing items -- www.plimoth.com/products/copy-of-knitted-garb-inspired-by-originals-designs-for-plimoth-plantation-and-beyond Some other patterns may also be found at Ravelry.com

[@nancyl.gessner475]

I would love videos on sewing, embroidery etc.

[@hydrophobicbathtowel6816]

I would love more videos about textiles, knitting and wool, especially with this host. She was a hoot.

[@charlottehertlein996]

I would absolutely love more detailed videos on their knitting. I knit continental currently, but am looking to more historically accurate methods to teach myself and my children.

[@griffinpatria9083]

this is the best thing i've seen in awhile. can you do more on colorwork?

[@linkster57]

Yes please. More videos, knitting , sewing and food prep. Any links to 18th century knittinggpatterns would be awesome also. Thank you. Roni from Nevada.

[@JYFMuseums]

Roni, be sure to check out our Recipe Rewind series under playlists, for some 17th and 18th century recipes. And the pancake recipes will be perfect for Shrove Tuesday (February 21, 2023) which is just around the corner.

[@resourcedragon]

See also the pinned comment for some patterns.

[@olive5890]

I would like to see more on knitting e. g. Go over specific knit garments from the period

[@SarahBent]

I really love this - I've recently started doing reenacting myself and I'm constantly on the hunt for information about 1780s "womens" tasks.

[@maryberg1081]

I teach a knitting group and am always looking for background information on knitting. Thank you so much for doing this. I will share with my group.

[@JYFMuseums]

Wonderful!

[@irishknitter17]

This is fascinating! Do you ever give out patterns?😅

[@themisfitowl2595]

I love this! As a knitter I found this incredibly entertaining! I believe the knit a row, purl a row alternating is called the "Stockinette stitch" because it was primarily used to make stockings/socks. I would love to see more knitting and especially spinning videos please! If I may critique the camera work, I'm guessing you have a camera perched on a tripod looking down at our lovely knitter. This puts us, the audience, as looking down on her and she is having to constantly look back up at us. It feels a little unbalanced. If I may suggest, try putting the camera on a table or shorter tripod so that we are at eye level to her. This suggests that we are sitting next to her, as friends would do. It would make the video feel a little more appealing and maybe more comfortable for her as she wouldn't have to constantly look up at us and down at her knitting again. Thanks! 😊😊

[@thumbelinasmum]

Almost all knitting was in the round, so stockinette may be called that for stockings, but it was usually all knit, so they likely didn’t think of it as knit a row purl a row, as they didn’t work in rows, but rounds.

[@resourcedragon]

In Commonwealth countries the stitch you call stockinette is just called stocking stitch. As thumbelinasmum points out, if you're working on 4 needles, you do rounds, not rows, and you create the stitch just using "knit" stitches, you don't need to use any purl. The stitch that they used in place of ribbing to prevent the work curling is called garter stitch. If you were working it on 4 needles you'd need to do one round in knit and then one round in purl - or maybe flip the work around and knit from the other side.

[@thumbelinasmum]

@@resourcedragon I have seen a bunch of 18th c stockings with a wrap and turn, knit around on the back. It’s not precisely garter. *2 rounds knit, w&t, 1 round knit on WS, w&t, repeat from *. Yes, really! I’ve seen a couple knit back and forth in garter, then joined, and the little seam sewn badly with the tail. And one knitted with actual purl rounds to make a garter edge, but I think it was 2 knit, 1 purl round, but I’m not 100% sure, that particular one was a while back, and I didn’t take notes.

[@m.harris2429]

Thank you! I have knitted for years and enjoyed watching you knit. Great job. Oh, where can I get that awesome basket that has your yarn in? Beautiful!

[@annekec4666]

Yay for historic knitting info!

[@wendystumpf1274]

New subscriber. Just saw this on my feed and it interested me immensely. Yes please to all the fiber arts, how they were done, patterns or what passed for a pattern.

[@pamgassman1001]

I loved this!!!! Please do video's on weaving as well!!!!!!! And bobbin lace, tambour embroidery, or shuttle knotting!!!!!! Thanks

[@bethholland9795]

So interesting, thank you!

[@JYFMuseums]

You're Welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@missy1296]

I would be really interested in a knitting pattern or a knit along for a 18th century knitting pattern!

[@lgassin]

Thank you for this! Any videos on the fiber arts would be appreciated!

[@kellicoffman8440]

Would love a spinning video especially with that great wheel if it works

[@DiStri0108]

increadibly informative!

[@maryw246]

Is your mitt pattern available? Love your design.

[@sharonbaum6001]

Did u ever get that pattern I am interested too!

[@mariannew.9121]

I love this! I'm interested in more on knitting stitches and seeing them up close. I've always wondered how it works if people make sweaters or other bigger projects, would they also knit in the round with four large needles like you show for the socks in the video?

[@resourcedragon]

If I were going to knit a jumper in the round I'd use a round needle for the bulk of the project and only transfer to 4 needles close to the neck (or for doing sleeves). I don't think they make sets of 4 needles that are long enough for you to knit the body of the garment.

[@jacqueevelyn6411]

I love the history knitting video :)

[@kellydietz6720]

This is wonderful, thank you ❤

[@JYFMuseums]

You're welcome. We're glad that you liked it. 😊

[@laurienichols1209]

Very interesting video. Would like videos on any yarn arts, crochet, spinning, knitting ect. Thx

[@oppositeofh8]

i'd love to see more crafts like embroidery, needlepoint, & even more about knitting/crochet. i was knitting as i watched this. lol

[@carolynschmidt6452]

Loved the outtakes! 😅

[@jeanzimmermann6691]

This is how my great aunt taught me to cast on stitches when I was 4 years old. Then I grew up and my new Australian friends taught me a different cast on method.

[@Aminartstech]

Wow amazing information about knitting

[@penniecormier8770]

I would also love to see a variety of textile arts!

[@karenrock4471]

I crochet. Can you possibly do a video on the history of crocheting, hooks, and popular styles of patterns, please? Thank you!

[@JYFMuseums]

Hi Karen, our two museums cover history from the late 16th to the late 18th centuries. Crochet emerged in Europe in the early 19th century so, it is a little out of the history and material culture we tend to cover.

[@karenrock4471]

@@JYFMuseums Thx for your reply!

[@midwestkatie4]

I always get a chuckle out of people who ask about gauge, yarn weight, and needle size in historical patterns. What size needles? What size do you have? What weight yarn? Well, how thin did you spin your wool? Gauge? Just increase or decrease if it is too big or too small.

[@chanapearl1]

It's really easier to cast them all on one needle, then divide between the needles on row two. It avoids holes in that first row -- and I'm always in favor of less aggravation when it comes to knitting so tiny!!

[@elf6460]

More videos on knitting but also hand sewing!!

[@jennymccombie9604]

Can you talk about the Indigo dye pots many Colonial women kept going? I don't know if they are still in business but Carolina Home spun out of Blue Moon spinnery in San Francisco Calif used to teach how to use different natural dyes and her sidewalk was permanently blue ! I bought my first spinning wheel from Morgain and she kept my first yarn to return to me when my then boyfriend picked up my wheel ( Ashford Joy ) So glad to have found your channel!

[@cammylouluvsu]

A video on crocheting please!

[@valeriehandmadewithheart]

I am interested in all of the fiber arts. I crochet left-handed but knit right-handed. I just got my first spinning wheel! I have been looking for a wheel for many years for a completely useable wheel. It has no markings. It's a flax wheel. It is only missing part of the distaff. I tend to spin on my hand spindle spin very thin. I would love to try flax. I hope to become good enough to be able spin at Pennsbury Manor in Pennsylvania. It's William Penn's summer home on the Delaware river. I'm still trying to find a bobbin lace pillow to complete my collection of useable antique objects. Thank you for this very informative video.

[@resourcedragon]

Big respect to you if you end up able to spin flax. I believe you have to work with it wet, unlike wool, where it's dry and just has a little lanolin left in.

[@beaglesandbirds]

Thank you for the video! I would love to learn more about embroidery or yarn.

[@susanphillips7211]

Good lord, double or triple aught needles?!! Makes my fingers ache just thinking about it!

[@waldinclm]

actually wool sponges are the best! the scratchier the wool the better, too, because the scales on the wool fibers act as microabraision. antibacterial and wicks moisture away, these will dry faster than linen and scrub better. I actually gave up entirely on cellulose sponges because a little swatch left over from gauge swatching for a knit project is the best sponge ive ever used! they eventually felt into a swatch of fabric so strong and dense you could literally sew them up to make a pair of quilted felt shoes. when the shoes wear out you can compost the fibers in the garden. its a gift that keeps on giving! lol. I havent tried the shoes myself, but the end of the sponges life really is that strong that i’ve certainly thought of doing it.

[@magpiewench]

Do you have any documentation for knit linen hose/stockings?

[@JYFMuseums]

Yes, although they appear in 18th century records and accounts as "thread stockings".

[@suethompson8538]

I would love to know more about all the fibre crafts, please

[@Renessance1832]

Love a left handed knitting queen (I'm also a left handed knitter lol) This was a cool video!!