any way to date this Hand Loomed Irish 'traditional' sweater?
- Thread starter LaurenMG
- Start date
There is a thing called loom knitting. Perhaps that's what they mean. Uses a kind of loom instead of needles - I don't know much about it: https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/c/article/guide-to-loom-knitting
It could be mid 80s IMO, but probably not earlier. Agree with Jonathan that's it's a 'modern' take on a traditional sweater.
It could be mid 80s IMO, but probably not earlier. Agree with Jonathan that's it's a 'modern' take on a traditional sweater.
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Excellent thanks! I think they mean a knitting loom, also called a knitting board and a number of other names, rather than the more familiar knitting machine.
Kinda tempted to get one actually! They are often used to produce either double knit fabric, or for knitting in the round, eg socks. But also used to product flat pieces of single knitting.
Here's a photo of one in use for flat work.
And I think this one is a double knit fabric.
Here's a photo of one in use for flat work.
And I think this one is a double knit fabric.
Yes, like everything, there are multiple names for things that sometimes confusing. I presume it wasn't electric though? It was a manually operated machine?
In my mind Knitting machine usually means something more like this:
Probably works on very similar principles though.
lkranieri
VFG Member
Yes! That’s the sort of thing I was remembering...like this photo:
But I think I am conflating two memories, because my mother-in-law wanted to try a knitting machine at one point and either bought or was given one that looked like the one above. I am not sure now that I know what the my aunt’s sister used. I just remember thinking (but that was a looooong time ago, when I was a young pre-teen) she was sort of ‘cheating’ by using that machine.
So, why do you think they wouldn’t or couldn’t do a sweater like that on a machine like the one above?
But I think I am conflating two memories, because my mother-in-law wanted to try a knitting machine at one point and either bought or was given one that looked like the one above. I am not sure now that I know what the my aunt’s sister used. I just remember thinking (but that was a looooong time ago, when I was a young pre-teen) she was sort of ‘cheating’ by using that machine.
So, why do you think they wouldn’t or couldn’t do a sweater like that on a machine like the one above?
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Well they possibly could, but no way would that be called hand-knit, or hand-loomed. Machine knitting and hand knitting produce fabrics that just feel different. Similar to hand sewn vs machine sewn. Generally hand knit is considered higher quality (though only if it's done well!). Also certain techniques that are easy to do by hand, are hard to do by machine, and vice versa.
I've never used a knitting machine, but I think you probably need a specialised machine to produce cables for instance, which are a traditional part of Aran knitting patterns.
Often knitting machines are used to produce thinner fabrics using thinner wool - fabrics that take a long time to knit by hand. You can do chunkier sweaters by machine (possibly you need a particular machine for thicker yarn?) but it wouldn't be in the same league as a good handknit sweater.
I think the knitting loom/ knitting board is a considered hand technique, though I'm guessing it shares some characteristics of machine knitting - it's probably easier to produce an even fabric, but limited in what stitch patterns it can produce.
And now I look at this sweater in more detail, it lacks some of the more complex patterns of traditional Aran sweaters - and this may be because of the limitation of using a loom.
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I was only vaguely aware of them. I've learnt much more since this post!
Ravelry has an entire section of loom knitting patterns.
This is a traditional aran hand knit sweater, with that amazing lattice cable section down the middle, and then the plaited cables either side. I think this kind of thing can only be done by hand? Not sure.
You do get machine knit sweaters with cables, but I've only seen relatively simple cabling done by machine.
You do get machine knit sweaters with cables, but I've only seen relatively simple cabling done by machine.
Interesting thanks, and yes, although there's some nice textured stitching, nothing like the traditional cable work.
GemGem
Registered Guest
I have seen hand loomed often in Uk sweaters and knits, there was a huge market in it in the 17 and 1800's, In parts of England such as Lancashire as well as Wales, Scotland and Ireland. I agree this is a more modern take. I'm not convinced on 1980s yet but it does look around the right era. I was wondering about the hem of the sweater as can't really see that?
Also here is an article regarding the hand looming boom
The Fall of the Weavers (heywoodhistory.com)
Also here is an article regarding the hand looming boom
The Fall of the Weavers (heywoodhistory.com)
This is very interesting, but refers to weaving looms, rather than knitting looms. Different technology, and different cloth (producing woven rather than knitted fabric).
Most people thinking of weaving when refering to looms, which is why 'hand loomed' on a knitted garment sounds odd, unless you know about knitting looms.
GemGem
Registered Guest
Ah I see now. Thanks for pointing that out, I had assumed knitting and weaving could both be done on the same looms (doh!). I have had quite a few garments with the hand loomed tag on knits though. I wonder if it's been an artisan trend?
Great thread, lots of wonderful info in here.