| Author |
 Topic  |
|
barefeetslp
Chatty Knitter
199 Posts |
 Posted - 02/22/2003 : 7:38:48 PM
|
We all know about Mme. DeFarge in A Tale of Two Cities. Then there is Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and the old sheep in Through the Looking Glass. There's also Betty Higden the old lady who was 'a child-minder' in Our Mutual Friend who took to the road with her knitting needles and travelled around selling her wares.
But does you know of any other knitters in literature?
I'd love to hear of them!
Happy Knitting
Barefeet
|
|
|
Marg in Mirror
Permanent Resident
Canada
3204 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2003 : 11:20:29 PM
|
Well, a contemporary one is Betsy Devonshire, the newbie owner of a needlework shop (Crewel World) who has to master knitting, embroidery and needlepoint to operate the shop she inherited when her sister was murdered...She turns to her knitting to relax and help her think straight as she goes through her days, running her shop, learning new skills, and solving murder mysteries! (All by Monica Ferris, and all great fun!) 
-- Marg in Calgary
TLWKOTB |
 |
|
|
Rebecca
Permanent Resident
USA
1119 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2003 : 08:49:14 AM
|
Mrs. Weasley in the Harry Potter books.
"Bo ram u; to your herd be true." |
|
|
|
barefeetslp
Chatty Knitter
199 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2003 : 11:28:29 AM
|
How COULD I forget Mrs. Weasley!!!
Thanks Marg for the Monica Ferris. I'll check those out.
|
|
|
|
Hello Knitty
Permanent Resident
1069 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2003 : 10:44:36 AM
|
I wish I'd kept track! I read tons of 18th and 19th century English and French novels and someone is always knitting something. Usually it's not a really developed character. Knitting is often mentioned as a common place occurence - the ladies retired to their knitting sort of thing. From now on, if I read a really good one, I'll make a note and post it.
|
|
|
|
Dorcas
Chatty Knitter
104 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2003 : 5:27:33 PM
|
There's some knitting comments in The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett. I posted a few quotes & the link to the book on my blog, it was a couple of days ago, scroll down 
Dorcas
www.dorcasknits.blogspot.com
|
|
|
|
Marg in Mirror
Permanent Resident
Canada
3204 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2003 : 8:22:13 PM
|
quote:
I wish I'd kept track! I read tons of 18th and 19th century English and French novels and someone is always knitting something. Usually it's not a really developed character. Knitting is often mentioned as a common place occurence - the ladies retired to their knitting sort of thing. From now on, if I read a really good one, I'll make a note and post it.
I'm sure there must be someone knitting in Little Women, or in the Little House on the Prairie books, and even, perhaps, in Jane Austen?
-- Marg in Calgary
TLWKOTB |
|
|
|
Dorcas
Chatty Knitter
104 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2003 : 01:45:51 AM
|
My daughters have told me that Laura in Little House books mentions Ma knitting so quickly that her needles would be hot to the touch after! Mary was said to be a good knitter even after being blind.
As for Jane Austen....hmm...I don't remember any knitting. I'd have to read them again, which I LOVE to do! I do remember bonnets being decorated.
It's been years since I read Little Women, seems there may be some knitting there...
I'm currently reading Wives & Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. She mentions yarn & there's a number of times when they are doing cross-stitch.
Dorcas
|
|
|
|
Chrys
Chatty Knitter
USA
212 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2003 : 06:28:19 AM
|
We just got my DD the first couple of Little House books for Christmas. I believe in one Laura goes to sleep watching her knit, and I know they mention her knitting the girls stockings.
In the first Harry Potter book Hagrid knits a little.
Christy
|
|
|
|
barefeetslp
Chatty Knitter
199 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2003 : 1:02:36 PM
|
I LOVE that about Ma Ingalls' needles being hot!!
Thanks to all who have replied. This is an ongoing search "just out of curiosity".
Happy Knitting
barefeet
|
|
|
|
chris
Permanent Resident
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2003 : 2:34:29 PM
|
In Like Water for Chocolate, the main character pours out her pain, after learning that her love is going to marry her sister so he can be near her since her mother won't let her marry him because she is the youngest and must take care of her mother when she is old, by knitting an afghan that is immense.
chris (trying for the perfect run-on sentence)
Keep on knittin', mama, knittin' those blues away! |
|
|
|
carols
Permanent Resident
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2003 : 6:31:04 PM
|
How about the most environmentally incorrect knitter of all:
Mr. Onceler, knitter of the multipurpose "thneeds" in "The Lorax" - everybody do need a thneed.....
Carol (still around, just lurking)
|
|
|
|
socknitter
Chatty Knitter
156 Posts |
|
|
Essie
New Pal
34 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2003 : 05:07:43 AM
|
There is also Sadie Shapiro who knits track suits and almost anything wearable in Sadie Shapiro's Knitting Book and Sadie Shapiro in Miami. She also solves crimes.
R.McCullough |
|
|
|
ladyknight90
New Pal
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2003 : 06:50:24 AM
|
quote:
I wish I'd kept track! I read tons of 18th and 19th century English and French novels and someone is always knitting something. Usually it's not a really developed character. Knitting is often mentioned as a common place occurence - the ladies retired to their knitting sort of thing. From now on, if I read a really good one, I'll make a note and post it.
I just finished a book that mentioned knitting. "The Painted Lady" by Barbara Metzger. (A regency period romance novel.) The heroine teaches the hero to knit (while she is spinning nearby). She only taught him to knit, not purl or bind off, so he just keeps knitting, and calls the finished product a scarf. He said that he found it "strangely relaxing".
|
|
|
|
Marg in Mirror
Permanent Resident
Canada
3204 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2003 : 07:20:13 AM
|
quote:
I just finished a book that mentioned knitting. "The Painted Lady" by Barbara Metzger. (A regency period romance novel.) The heroine teaches the hero to knit (while she is spinning nearby). She only taught him to knit, not purl or bind off, so he just keeps knitting, and calls the finished product a scarf. He said that he found it "strangely relaxing".
Hmmm...How did he end up with a finished product?!  
-- Marg in Calgary
TLWKOTB |
|
|
|
izhota@hotmail.com
New Pal
1 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2003 : 07:38:43 AM
|
I think Emma Bovary in Madame Bovary knits, too. |
|
|
|
Parrot Girl
Permanent Resident
2129 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2003 : 07:44:59 AM
|
| And doesn't Miss Marple knit? I haven't read her in a long time, but I'm sure I remember that, and her going to the yarn shop from time to time. Oops, someone already said that. |
|
|
|
katxena
Chatty Knitter
USA
330 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2003 : 09:17:45 AM
|
I don't recall any Jane Austen characters who knit, and I would be really surprised if any of them were knitters. They were all gentry and I think knitting had not become a leisure activity yet (like embroidery or quilling had). 18th century knitters would have been in the lower classes knitting for their livelihoods -- not elite women trying to become "accomplished" enough to win the attentions of a rich man.
Kris
http://www.papaya-palace.com |
|
|
|
katxena
Chatty Knitter
USA
330 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2003 : 09:27:17 AM
|
I don't recall any Jane Austen characters who knit, and I would be really surprised if any of them were knitters. They were all gentry and I think knitting had not become a leisure activity yet (like embroidery or quilling had). 18th century knitters would have been in the lower classes knitting for their livelihoods -- not elite women trying to become "accomplished" enough to win the attentions of a rich man.
Kris
http://www.papaya-palace.com |
|
|
|
dvivari
New Pal
5 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2003 : 12:13:43 PM
|
| "The Rebel Angels", part one of the Cornish Trilogy by Robertson Davies, features knitting needles in a scene definitely not for the squeamish. I read it a very long time ago, and it still makes me shudder. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
