Traditional Ways and What's Become of Them

I've always been interested in other times, places, and people, and since I began knitting and working with fibers, I've focused on traditional fiber arts. Like international cuisine, the arts of knitting and spinning are enriched by the infusion of ideas and techniques from other cultures. Knitting today shows influences from Asia (Turkish patterns), South America (Inca caps), and Europe (Fair Isle designs, Latvian mittens), to name only a few.

I respect and admire the historians and textile archeologists who have spent their hours reconstructing the history of knitting, spinning, and the use of textiles around the world through time so we will have inspiration and foundation for our work, drawn from their fascinating books and museum exhibits. Lay people also contribute to enriching our lives through tradition, in the most natural way possible, by passing on the handwork skills of their culture. Travelers photograph fiber arts that are becoming rare, and bring home patterns, textiles, and spinning tools they have found or even rescued from cultural extinction.

A short tour of knitting sites on the Internet reveals tradition followed faithfully and adapted -- as handwork always has been -- for new times, functions, and artistic need. Those still following their own traditional ways include the knitters of the Shetland Islands, who make these brilliant Fair Isle sweaters by hand, as well as their delicate Shetland shawls.

Judy Gibson, on her website about lace knitting, made extensive use of tradition -- art, history, and others' personal knowledge -- to inspire a silk mantilla, for the American Girls doll, Josefina. To get a full idea of her project, click on summary of replies and look at the paintings and other resources she used to create this garment.

A good example of an adaptation of a traditional design -- not a knitting design in this case -- is Harry's Vest or Two Brothers, designed by Leigh Witchell. The rest of Leigh's site is well worth a look, too. I found another beautiful adaptation, this time for an intricate Bosnian Mitten designed by Beth Morimoto for the Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill website.

One final site shows both traditional and new work. Donna has used a Knitter's magazine pattern to make Latvian mittens, and look what happens when she designs her own color pattern!

You can use traditional patterns and techniques to make heirloom knitted garments, out of handspun or purchased yarn, or you may transform the old ways to express your perceptions of color and form, and create a tradition of your own.

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