An introduction to knitted garments and household items from the 18th century.

Patterns for very early knitted garments and household items were written without the advantage of the photographic techniques of today so it has been my intention to try and trace as many of these old patterns styles and their sources in order to make them up as they would have been intended to be seen. Some of these patterns are old favourites, from the Victorian period with a fresh slant. There are even a few new ones for today's craftsperson. Whatever the intention of the early bedspread or counterpane knitter, it was an opportunity to design on a large scale using small shaped pieces which could be knitted independently and then joined together to make the whole. These were sometimes lined or sometimes trimmed with flounces, frills or lace edgings.

I believe that this type of knitting (the fashioning of small knitted shapes) is not only attractive to those knitters who like to design on a grand scale but attractive to the novice who just wants to make a cushion cover for example and in my opinion is really worth reviving. Because the Victorians liked many types of coverlets/couvres lits/sofa blankets/counterpanes/bedspreads there are several projects, coming up in my new book, to make up and as heirlooms are still much sort after these days.

Other ideas in the book are meant as suggestions to the knitter to be more experimental. For example I really find it interesting to 'marry' fun upmarket materials with everyday knitting or to recycle plastic bags and old stashes of yarn into something practical.

The other point to make I feel is that much of the historical emphasis has been lost over the years, for example why cotton became so popular, even over silk, and why candlewicking came about.

There's more on the history of knitting from the 15th century in History 1 and History 2. The book 'Heirloom Knits' will be available in February 2007.