Vintage Update

I was over at the Lincoln Presidential Library today to thank the ladies who set up the knitting display and let them know that PieceWork was thrilled to be a part of it. Gwyn told me that there had been a lady in from Memphis who fell in love with the pieces and the idea of working up these old patterns. I think she said the lady was a teacher and wanted her students to know about how these types of items were constructed, etc. They have had quite a few people through, evidently, that have enjoyed it.

Another of the librarians, Jane (a different Jane), was giving me all the low-down on a wide variety of projects that are in the works that we might be able to be involved with in some way. How very exciting! She was one of the folks responsible for the period clothing that was used in the re-staging of the play Lincoln was watching the night he was shot, Our American Cousin. What a thrill that must have been to be involved with that project.

These ladies (and gentleman) that work in the Presidential Library are so nice and so friendly and so committed to fiber arts. They're definitely making sure that knitting and other fiber arts are represented in the collection there and I would really recommend a trip in to have a look at some of their 19th century needlework/craft treasures. I can't wait to take some more time now that other commitments are slowing down to spend a lot more time researching. When I'm not spinning cotton or knitting baby things, that is!

I'm knitting for 2 babies at the moment - 1 here and 1 in Glasgow. I love how quick these things can be finished - quick payoff, I'm for that! I'll get some pictures tomorrow in the daylight but I've completed a little coat, an EZ surprise jacket and the back of a little argyle sweather that I'm totally in love with (this being my first ever argyle knitting adventure). The coat was from (mostly) a 1937 baby knitting book and is adorable, although it's really small. The yarn I used was originally purchased for an afghan, so there's plenty of it, so I will probably do it again in a larger format. it didn't take any time at all to finish.

Anyway, more of that another time.

Lincoln Presidential Library

I’ve mentioned the research Jane and I did at the Lincoln Presidential Library and finding the pattern for the Spanish Opera Hood. I took the finished hood over to the Library to show the librarians who helped us. While there, they asked if we could bring some items they could put in the display. Here’s what it looks like (click to see a larger image):



They did a little write up about the display:

Jane and I want to do a vintage knitting camp and the research we are doing is to prepare for it. The idea is to have a long weekend of knitting and exploring the knitting in the time of Lincoln, seeing how things were done in the time and learning some of the techniques and patterns of our 19th century counterparts. Jane has a true gift for organizing and we both share a love of vintage knitting - stay tuned for more information.

If you want to try your own Spanish Opera Hood, just click on the link for the pattern.

And just as a bonus (because I like how the photo came out), here’s a shot of the Old State Capital where Lincoln served in the State Legislature. On the opposite side of this square is where Lincoln’s law office was.

By the way...
I would really like to know who hit the button on the time machine. The last thing I knew, it was April (which the last time I checked, belonged to the season Spring) but when I walked out the door this morning, it was to clean snow off my car, wear my wool coat, wool sweater and walk around through arctic winds. I don't remember getting into the Tardis (it's bigger on the inside, you know) and being flung back into December.