The best part about any knitting project is finding a pattern, buying yarn and starting.
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Then what usually happens is the WIP sits with your other unfinished projects, staring at you while you go in search of another knitting project.
It’s a vicious cycle.
The internet is full of great knitting patterns to choose from, but why not take a trip down memory lane and turn to an online knitting reference library.
The University of Southampton’s Knitting Reference Library is now online and available to download for free. There are 300 knitting books published between 1849 and 2012.
While we admit, the patterns are pretty ancient, it’s still a blast flicking through the collection.
Although the patterns have evolved over the years, the main techniques – knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, casting on and off – have remained the same.
What has changed is the style and the type of things people enjoy knitting.
There are patterns for women’s gloves and stockings, there’s also information on how to make slippers out of old stockings, and “Carriage Sock,” which are meant to be worn over shoes. Both of which wouldn’t peak anyone’s interest today.
There are also lots of patterns for men’s sweaters, which are definitely worth a look.
The entire collection can be viewed here.
You might also like:
How to knit a bright and colourful baby blanket
Knit and crochet projects you can make it in a weekend
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