05. British Gloves by Angharad Thomas
06. Sanquhar gloves and other items from A’the Airts, Sanquhar (Photo: Angharad Thomas) 07. Angharad knitting gloves (Photo: Barbara Smith)
06 07
The internet is a massively useful resource in finding the patterns, needles and yarns. Historically, pure wool was used, although very old gloves are thought to have been knitted in a wool and cotton mixture called ‘drugget’. From the 1950s Sanquhar gloves were knitted in Paton’s Nylox when that was available and are now knitted in 3 ply sock yarn which ideal as it is hard wearing although the colours are limited. Although 3 ply pure wool or wool mix can be hard to source, vintage yarns are suitable and four ply can be also used. My first pairs were knitted in 3 ply machine knitting wool but now I use variety of yarns including vintage 3 ply, contemporary fine yarns, sometimes used double, sock wools, baby wool, and generally whatever’s to hand. I like the slight texture produced when yarns of slightly different weights are used.
The small scale of the glove provides a prefect vehicle for exploring design ideas and colour combinations. I like to design and work in sets, sometimes for friends in their colour choices, sometimes inspired by places, or by traditional
fabrics, like the pair that were derived from woven Welsh woollen flannels. Current work is a group of three, one still in progress, inspired by the Welsh countryside. Other sets in the planning stages may explore colour mixing, words or slogans. There is no limit to the possibilities for variation. They are a fugue or haiku for the knitter.
References and further resources: Scottish Rural Womens Institute for patterns:
www.swri.org.uk/ForSale/Miscellaneous.htm
Sanquhar group on Ravelry:
www.ravelry.com/groups/sanquhar-knitting-group
Future Museum collection on line for images of gloves and accessories:
www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/life-work/key- industries/textiles/
sanquhar-knitting.aspx Angharad’s blog:
www.knittinggloves.wordpress.com/
For Patons and Baldwin’s pattern no 87 as a PDF contact the Knitting and Crochet Guild:
collections@kcguild.org.uk
Collections Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes.
www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/outandabout/see/dcm
Gawthorpe Hall collection.
www.gawthorpetextiles.org.uk
Books Richard Rutt, History of Hand Knitting, 1987, Batsford, London Hartley and Ingilby, Old Hand Knitters of the Dales, 1951, Dalesman, Clapham
(Angharad Thomas thanks the Board of the Knitting and Crochet Guild for permission to use items from the collection and Guild colleagues for their support).
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