PieceWork Winter 2019

Danish Night Sweaters: In this excerpt of Vivian’s exciting new book, Traditional Danish Sweaters: 200 Stars and Other Classic Motifs from Historic Sweaters, she shares some historical context of these textured knits.

A Stitch in Time: The Rhodes Stitch Have you tried the multi-legged Rhodes stitch? Deanna’s sampler shows you thirty-six variations to embroider.

“Rebellious” and True Haapsalu Shawls: Nancy explores the specific combination of factors that separate examples of true Haapsalu lace from rule- breaking departures.

A Haapsalu Lace Pelerine to Knit: This circular capelet in the Haapsalu style features nupps knitted in the round. (Nancy explains how.)

A Velvet Sewing Roll to Make: Sometimes called a “housewife,” a sewing roll was an important possession in the past. Dawn’s beautiful design is based on an extant sewing roll from the turn of the twentieth century.

Notre-Dame Tam to Knit: Based on one of the rose windows lost to the recent fire at Notre- Dame Cathedral, this tam is a great way to play with both color and texture.

Traditional Icelandic Embroidery: Stories in Wool: Iceland has a long and fascinating textile history based on the multi-coated sheep that live there. Justin headed to Iceland to learn more.

An Icelandic Endless Knot Design to Stitch: Long-armed cross-stitch creates a complex texture. Try it in woolen yarns for a more traditional Icelandic effect.

Further Discoveries of Virginia Woods Bellamy’s Geometric Number Knitting: Have you heard of Number Knitting? Susan and Ann share a trove of newly discovered treasures from Virginia Woods Bellamy and her students.

Virginia Woods Bellamy’s Butterfly Wrap to Knit: This simple but effective design is a beautiful example of Number Knitting. Add beads or buttons to the points for a distinctive finish.

Rita Riffolt Varney’s Bjärbo Sweater: Discover the history of a Swedish-American family through a traditional Swedish sweater, passed from one generation to another.

A Weldon’s Shetland Shawl to Knit: After attending a workshop with Shetlander Gudrun Johnston, Carolyn used stitch motifs found in Weldon’s Practical Needlework to design this sweet triangular shawl.

Silver, Steel, and Silk: A Material Culture Mystery: How did Hepsibeth A. Edwards’s silver knitting needles travel from Nantucket to Northern California? Heather shares this nineteenth- century mystery.

A Sunflower Pincushion to Knit: The size two silver knitting needles found in a Northern California museum collection would have been perfect for knitting this Weldon’s-inspired silk pincushion.