Books
People Knitting
There is something about images of people knitting. Across all social media platforms, one thing I reliably click on and pass along is an old photograph or painting of someone deep in concentration, knitting away. Bonus points if the subject is so absorbed that they do not realize the picture is being taken; points deducted for holding the needles by the ends like a poser.
When the publishers of Barbara Levine‘s book, People Knitting, contacted me, I asked them for one thing: a slideshow’s worth of these vintage images to share. They graciously delivered.
Enjoy.
(Collection of Barbara Levine)
(Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division)
(Collection of Barbara Levine)
(Shetland Museum and Archives)
(Collection of Barbara Levine)
(Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library)
(Collection of Barbara Levine)
(LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION)
(Collection of Barbara Levine)
(Collection of Barbara Levine)
(Collection of Barbara Levine)
(Collection of Barbara Levine)
(There are, of course, more where these came from, in the 144-page book, which we like so much that we included it in our cheerful gift guide for knitters.)
Head over to The Lounge to help identify these knitters, and share photos from your own archives. We would love to see them.
And, a reminder: today is Free Shipping Friday! Order from our shop by midnight CST tonight, using the code HOLIDAY2016 at checkout.
This looks like great fun. I think I recognize Ingrid Bergman and Betty Grable. I’m such an old-movie fangirl.
Ok, I just decided to start a list for Santa. So far this is the only thing on it.
Same here! 😉
Love vintage photographs in general. Old knitting pictures even more so. Though surely I’m not the only one that finds the seventh one of the man making the sock exceedingly attractive. I want to know his name and what cable pattern he’s using.
AGREE.
I like how the swimmer is wearing a knitted swimsuit.
I loved that, too!
Thank you for this, this really brought a lot of joy. How wonderful to see these great knitters, gives me hope.
Love Ellie knitting. And that man! Kay, you’re an excellent book seller!
Love these photos of people knitting! I also love these baby goats wearing sweaters! http://shop.beekman1802.com/blogs/news/baby-goats-in-holiday-sweaters?utm_source=BEEKMAN+1802&utm_campaign=be8a95a419-baby+goats+in+sweaters&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_212a769aad-be8a95a419-86773238&mc_cid=be8a95a419&mc_eid=31a542795a
Is that James Dean??
I have another image of that little girl and the kitty, which I found with the caption, “Three year old Chrissie Cheyne with her cat and knitting. Shetland, 1943.” Same girl, same kitty, different dress, different shoes, different WIP. Same chubby legs.
I thought I had left a comment on this post earlier but apparently not!
There are many Sojourner Truth portraits with knitting – possibly even that same piece of knitting – because she had them made and sold them to raise funds. I hope she made a boatload of money.
I love the picture of that little girl and the kitty – and I have a slightly different one captioned “Three year old Chrissie Cheyne with her cat and knitting. Shetland, 1943.” Different dress and WIP; same kitty and knitter 🙂
And isn’t that James Dean? A man of many talents!
Do you think the photos are all authentic? Maybe it is their technique or the way they hold their needles, but some of these knitters do not look like they are really knitting. Ingrid Bergman seems to have only one needle.