Hood and mitts
All wrapped up for winter, another sample from the Patons/Coats archive
Posts about the Collection
All wrapped up for winter, another sample from the Patons/Coats archive
In 2014, Coats donated it's archive to the Guild. There is very little accompanying documentation, but there are lots of wonderful items waiting to be researched. Many of the items…
Keeping warm this winter. An early donation to the Collection from Audrie Stratford who gave many items, most of them sourced for the collection specially. These are from Norway, but…
When tea was made in the pot using tea leaves, every household had a woolly tea cosy to keep the tea warm. The Knitting & Crochet Guild Collection has many…
Mrs Isabella Beaton's "Book of Needlework" was first published in 1870. It consisted of descriptions and instructions, illustrated by 600 engravings of: Tatting patternsCrochet patternsKnitting patternsNetting patternsEmbroidery patternsPoint lace patternsGuipure…
As well as many other publications, including books, magazines and booklets, the Guild collection has many thousands of pattern leaflets issued by spinners from the early 20th century onwards. There…
Origin of Irish crochet What we know today as 'Irish crochet' was developed during the potato famines as a way for women to supplement the family income. Many families in…
Pieces from the Collection filmed by the BBC The BBC documentary Fabric of Britain, broadcast in 2013, included one programme called Knitting's Golden Age. The Guild was asked to show…
The Guild's Collection has a range of 19th Century household items of which this bedspread is an example. This bedspread dates from a time when there was no central heating,…
Babies The fine cotton knitted and beaded baby's bonnet dates from ca 1840. Many of the clothes worn by babies and children would have been made at home in the…