"General directions for knitted articles"

from "Knitted Articles Officially endorsed by the American Red Cross"

General directions for knitted articles

Stitches should not be cast on too tightly. Knitting should be done evenly and firmly, and all holes (caused by carelessly slipping stitches from one needle to the other) should be avoided.

Joining should be done by splicing or by leaving two or three inches at each end of the yarn to be darned in carefully.

To make an even edge always slip the first stitch of each row when knitting with two needles.

All knots, lumps or other irregularities should be most carefully avoided, especially in socks, as they are apt to blister the feet.

When taking measurements lay work smoothly on table. Do not stretch.

(from "Knitted Articles Officially endorsed by the American Red Cross")

Lucinda Gosling - Knitting for Tommy

I have read two books on knitting during WWI. Lucinda Goslings book "Knitting for Tommy - Keeping the Great War Soldier Warm" is a very interesting read about the almost unbelievable amount of knitting that was done during WWI to support the British troups. 

"Knitting for soldiers and sailors in 1914 became a national pastime - perhaps even a mania. ... Appeals were published in the press, working parties were formed and women's magazines published patterns, often known as 'recipes', for a whole range of knitted garments to provide succour and comfort to men at the front. Knitted comforts soon began to be collected officially by various charities and organisations. Queen Mary's Needlework Guild, which produced an estimated 15.5 million separate items during the war, many of them knitted, requested that all donations  be sent to the collection centre at Friary Court, St James's Palace"

Lucinda Gosling - Knitting for Tommy

Everyone that could (or could learn to), was encouraged to knit for the front. Knitting was going on everywhere; at the theatre, at work during breaks, on the bus, at dinner parties and so on. Not only women knitted. Men at home knitted, children knitted, wounded soldiers at the hospitals knitted. Just about everyone knitted! Poems about knitters were published in magazines. Songs about knitters were composed and played on the radio. Competitions in knitting socks took place. Yarn companies published patterns with instructions and basic information about how to knit.

Before reading this book I knew that there had been knitting for the front during WWI, but I had never understood the amount of it. In many ways I find this book moving. It is impossible to read about this without imagining how tough a situation it must have been both for the men at the front and all the people that for various reasons were still at home. Lucinda Gosling's text is rich on information but apart from that the book also contains loads of pictures of high interest. There is also a chapter on Great War knitting in other countries.

The Priscilla war work book ...

The other book that I read was "The Priscilla war work book, including Directions for Knitted Garments and Comfort Knits from The Americam Red Cross, and Knitted Garments for The Boy Scouts"

This book is a scanned version of the two books referred to in it's title. The quality of the print is not very good, but it is as the publisher says: "We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide."

The Priscilla war work book ...

It is a pity that the quality of the print is not better. But it is possible, with some effort, to read the patterns. Typical patterns are for mufflers, helmets, socks, mittens, gloves and sweaters.

I find the book very interesting and there are items here that would be fun to knit and equally useful today as they were then.