from generation to generationOriginally uploaded by cosymakes.
while reading the beginning section of Folk Socks by Nancy Bush (where the previous lithuanian sock pattern is from), i realized that i have slight unease when reading about the history of knitting.
one thing that i really, really dislike about the history of knitting is that we get most of our information from artifacts that belonged to the elite and business dealings. so, silk stocking with a gauge of 25 st/in buried on some rich dead guy is the history of knitting. another thing that knitting histories draw on are ledgers for businesses and accounts of how many pairs of socks queens and kings have. for these reasons, because we are dealing with the elite, much of our concept of knitting is what was popular at the time. i find this all mildly depressing.
i find myself thinking, “wow! that’s some intense work and that’s a great sock, but is it really useful except to be buried in?” then i think, “these are not necessarily my people.” i do not knit socks like this. i realize that i also am affluent by many standards, and it’s something that i deal with and care deeply about (thus the thrifting, sweater ripping, free lessons etc). however, give me 6-8 st/inch and i will probably make the sock. more than that and it will have to be damn beautiful and worn a lot for me to knit it.
that said, i was planning to start the french lacy sock from folk socks for the thesis, but i think i’ll forego it for something more meaty. something more useful. i realized that i have no need to knit on size 000 needles. ever. that is not my lifestyle.
on the other hand, one thing that i really, really love about the history of knitting is what is in between the lines in those ledgers. when i read in between the lines, i understand that knit garments are naturally a part of the world in which they exist. they are not meant to last forever. a knit item is meant to exist for a certain person and for a certian purpose, and then it is ashes to ashes and dust to dust, or it is reused in some way and then it is ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
the knitting history i reclaim is in the dirt i walk upon. it is of the common people. their work is used, serves its purpose, and decays. a knit that has served its purpose well is a good knit.
now, if only humans weren’t flawed creatures and all of those things that i want (like patterns etc) got passed down perfectly from generation to generation, i’d have nothing to be grumpy about :).
end rant.
