Vintage Spool Knitting Book Mystery Object
March 25, 2009 by Noreen Crone-Findlay
Filed under spool knitter & spoolknitter, spool knitting and spoolknitting
Today, a wonderful package arrived in the mail.
I was so excited I could hardly stand it.
photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
Last week, a very kind person sent me a note, saying that she had found a book on her shelf. She knew that I would love it, and was sending it to me.
She also laughed about some of the rather strange projects in the book.
Needless to say, I was intrigued.
The title sounded vaguely familiar, so I googled it and discovered that it was uploaded on several websites.
Wow! I was about to own a copy! I could hardly wait until it arrived!
I have been peering into the mailbox each day in anticipation, and today, the mailbox contained this treasure!
To actually get to hold this 100 year old book in my hands was a thrill.
It amazes me that Mary McCormack wrote about spool knitting with 2 peg spool knitters 100 years ago.
I had never seen anyone doing this (yes, I had seen lucets, but not 2 peg spool knitters), and had, through a process of reduction, worked my way back to working with and designing and making 2 peg spool knitters over several years of trial and error.
I really love the speed of working with 2 peg spool knitters, as you can produce miles and miles of cord really quickly when zooming along on just 2 pegs. (For some projects, you WANT miles and miles, really quickly).
When I flipped the book open, I saw what I think the sender of the book had meant by
‘odd’ projects….
Um…. what the heck? The book lists it as a ‘muffler’.
A ‘muffler’? Okay…. well it doesn’t look like any scarf I have ever seen… but things may have changed in 100 years.
you just never know…..
Anyhow…. it’s an utterly charming book and I am thrilled to have it in my collection. It’s a real treasure!
- photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
This IS a fun and interesting book. I have a PDF copy downloaded from Google books, but having an actual vintage hard copy would be great! (I love books.)
re the “muffler” shape: It does look odd– I wonder if the triangle-shaped portion was worn in the front and tucked inside a coat to keep the cold air out?
Noreen, I love the playful and whimsical quality of your handpainted knitting spools and I’m so sorry to see that U.S. legislation has forced you to stop offering them. I wonder–can you continue to offer them, but stipulate that they’re for “adult use only?”
Hi Dale
Thank you so much!
I love books too, so having the real one in my hands is just a delight!
I still have a few of the painted ones left that I am selling for just adult use, but, I think that we will probably stop making them all together fairly soon.
What a thoughtful, great gift!
I agree, Dianne!
I am just THRILLED with the book…. it’s just enchanting!
I live in a cold place – we’ve had snow since early October. I know exactly what the object is. You fasten it around your neck, and the flap on the front tucks into your coat as it is impossible to zip it up completely, and it is terribly uncomfortable when cold air blows snow into that little V that you can never quite cover, as scarves inevitably ride up and expose it. I’m going to make one
Hi Rhiannon
Wonderful! It would be a great way to use treasured yarns that you might not have a lot of …. handspun and other precious yarns would be excellent.
I am all in favor of things that are going to keep us warm!
Happy spool knitting!