This reference provides a full history of hand knitting by tracing the development and refinement of the craft. With special attention to the social aspects of knitting, it examines the changes in tools and techniques within different regions. Examined in detail are the history of European knitting before 1500, knitting in Britain from Henry VIII to the Commonwealth, from the Restoration to 1835, during the 19th century, and during World War I and after. Further explorations consider local traditions in the British Isles, knitting as practiced east of the Adriatic, and developments in the Americas. Absorbing reading for knitters and nonknitters alike, this book also defines knitting in relation to other yarn crafts such as crochet and nalbinding and offers a historical glossary and a transcription of the earliest known English knitting pattern. This replaces 0934026351.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"As a knitter by profession and passion, I feel that this book is an essential addition to my collection." -- Knitter’s Review
About the Author
Richard Rutt is the former bishop of Leicester, a town that played an important role in the British knitting industry.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
60 of 61 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
I enjoyed this book but the new edition does not contain the color plates from the first edition. Why? The illustrations are wonderful and add so much to the text. Without them the book's value to a reader is seriously diminished.
66 of 69 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Although this book is dated, its republication has been eagerly anticipated. I am sad to report that the new edition does not contain the color plates that appeared in the original. This makes the text at times somewhat difficult to understand.
49 of 50 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Informative and interesting. Some early "knitting recipes" are reproduced.
My main complaints:
1) The dust jacket states that colour plates are included, but there are no colour plates in this book. I suspect that the plates were reprinted as black and white photos that are scattered throughout the text.
2) The text was not edited to accomodate the lack of colour plates. An example is when the author refers to "figure 7" for Charles I's light blue shirt. The figure number does not correspond to the image! The image *is* there however, but you have to look it up in the index to find it, and it is reproduced in black and white only.
My main complaints:
1) The dust jacket states that colour plates are included, but there are no colour plates in this book. I suspect that the plates were reprinted as black and white photos that are scattered throughout the text.
2) The text was not edited to accomodate the lack of colour plates. An example is when the author refers to "figure 7" for Charles I's light blue shirt. The figure number does not correspond to the image! The image *is* there however, but you have to look it up in the index to find it, and it is reproduced in black and white only.
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There have been a number of knitting history books but Bishop Rutt's History of Hand Knitting is perhaps the most readable. This new edition by Interweave Press has a lot to offer anyone interested in textiles and knitting. From nalbinding (a Scandinavian netting technique) to to the flourishing of knitting as a guild in the Middle Ages, and later the development of silk handknit stocking that replaced cloth leggings in Elizabethan times, the history of knitting is a fascinating story of craft combined with economics. This is one of my favorite knitting history books and I am pleased it is back in print.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Not a book to read straight through, for entertainment, A History of Handknitting is a well-researched reference to , well, the history of knitting. Few people know, for example, that the sweater is a very new garment style (only about 100 years old) and was designed for and by people who made a living by fishing. Gloves, on the other hand, are quite old. As a museum educator in the field of textiles, I find this work very valuable.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By alto606
Format:Hardcover
I've lost count of how many times I've read this wonderful book. Along with Anne McDonald's "A Social History of American Knitting," it occupies a place of honor on my knitting bookshelf. If you are a history nut and a knitting nut, as I am, this is the book for you.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Luby
Format:Hardcover
Well written and intelligent, I love having this book in my collection. The chapter on definitons and techniques is really interesting and the author was very thorough... but having said that, those who are unfamiliar with this book should know that it's main focus is on knitting in the British Isles.
Obviously, from this book, the bulk of knitting lore has survived from these areas which is a shame because most knitters are already greatly familiar with these styles. Who amongst the experienced has not knitted a cabled fancy or persisted with a delicate Shetland lace?
Mention is made, for instance, of Scandinavia and a chapter each is included on Eastern Knitting and the Americas but these are hardly extensive and serve as appetizers only. This book will not tell you about the lovely faroese shawls, so in vogue at the moment or Orenburg lace or even Turkish socks. Nor will it offer instruction on how to knit with five needles or with the yarn looped about your neck but it will tell you in which country you can find someone who does!
Obviously, from this book, the bulk of knitting lore has survived from these areas which is a shame because most knitters are already greatly familiar with these styles. Who amongst the experienced has not knitted a cabled fancy or persisted with a delicate Shetland lace?
Mention is made, for instance, of Scandinavia and a chapter each is included on Eastern Knitting and the Americas but these are hardly extensive and serve as appetizers only. This book will not tell you about the lovely faroese shawls, so in vogue at the moment or Orenburg lace or even Turkish socks. Nor will it offer instruction on how to knit with five needles or with the yarn looped about your neck but it will tell you in which country you can find someone who does!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By smiles4100
Format:Hardcover
I belong to a history reenacting group. I was looking for a book to help me find the history of knitting. From the product description, this sounded perfect, but as I read it, I'm disappointed. The chapter I am most interested in is titled "Before 1500." Most of this chapter is about nalbinding, which is all well and good, but it's not knitting. While the nalbinding samples are dated, "probably the oldest known piece of flat knitting" is not. It discounts most of the sources that talk about the early history of knitting, which while understandable, confuses me as to why they were mentioned if Rutt believed that they were wrong. In short, the first chapter feels very much like a student trying to meet that minimum page requirement. I give it a C.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY KNITTER
I Love this book! It is very easy to understand, has everything I was looking for and laid out very well. I would recommend every knitter have this in their reference library!!! Read more
Published 6 months ago by Carma Lujan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Knitting History Book
I am about 3/4 of the way through this book, and it has been very interesting. If you're a knitter, you will find all kinds of history on how and where and why knitting started. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Laurel Wadley
4.0 out of 5 stars
I Love this Book
I am really enjoying using this book to learn about the history of knitting. If you like to know where some of the things you knit were derived, this is the book for you!
Published on April 9, 2008 by Iris O. Moon
4.0 out of 5 stars
He draws no conclusions ...
It is, alas, the reprinting which means the plates are black and white, not in color. I'll keep my eyes open for the original printing, but don't plan on mortgaging the house to... Read more
Published on March 25, 2008 by Vicki Eldredge
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