Noreen and Aaron, you two got me doing research on the knitting stick (breischede in Dutch). It is a very interesting topic, and one that was studied while I was still in school in the early fifties.
I found one great article about these sticks in an old Dutch magazine that is no longer published. I have scanned it if either one of you want it just for the pictures, because the text is Dutch. An extended search on the Internet, using the Dutch term breischede got me all kinds of great information, but sometimes-conflicting explanations. I seem to remember that we were taught during my textile training years, that it was a tool used by shepherds, while they were tending their sheep. With one of the knitting needles held firmly in the knitting stick, the shepherd could let go of the knitting if he needed both hands to tend to his flock, or scratch his noose etc.
Via references on the Internet, I found another great article in another magazine I have on my bookshelf. Here they talk more about the practical size of the tool while on the Internet, they talk about protection from the sharp point of the needles (like you do Aaron). However both state that since the needles used at that time were short, it added length to the needles. The needles shown in an old picture that goes with the article, are the same needles my mother used. They are short and made of steel, but never that sharp that you were going to get hurt with them.
The knitting stick was tucked inside the shepherd, fisherman, and farmer¹s belt or tied to his waist with a rope. They were made of wood, copper, tin, bone, ivory, silver, leather and even gold. The average size is about 20 cm. At one end there is a tiny hole of about 2 cm deep, to put your knitting needle in. They were straight, or sometimes curved, or even with a hooked shape. They are all elaborately carved and decorated. I would say of the ones I have seen in the pictures, that they are all pieces of art. The men tucked this tool inside their belt, or sometimes they made a hole in the stick to pull their belt through. They often had this stick sitting on a slant or in a vertical position. Women on the other hand seemed to have had it laying more horizontal, either tucked under their arm, or in the apron band. While writing the last sentence, I realize that that is why my mother and Otto¹s mother tucked their knitting needles under one arm; a continuation of the knitting stick tucked under the arm. Some of the sticks would have a ring attached to them with a short chain, to attach to the clothing. A hook carved into the wood was to hang your yarn onto. It would make it easier to carry your ball of yarn around as well as have your hands free, if you were walking or standing about.
The practical purpose of this tool was to be able to put your knitting needle into this stick, and have one hand, or both hands free if needed. It gave stability to the work you were knitting, and also extended the size of the short knitting needles. Here comes to good part Aaron and Noreen, the other reason for using the stick was that the knitting could be done faster. More socks, caps, shawls and socking knitted the more money was earned
It also stated in the article that for hundreds of year¹s poorer folks, including the children did the knitting for the richer folks. It was often done while walking or doing other daily tasks. There is not all that much written on how everyone did the technical part of the knitting, and if that was done the same everywhere (England, Holland, and Scotland), however there have been knitting sticks found in England and Scotland, as well as the Netherlands. In paintings of knitting persons it is hard to see if there are knitting sticks used because the stick sort of tucks in under the arm, and can¹t be seen.
There you go. Aaron in the one article, they showed a leather one with a belt attached on either side, so you can put it around your waist. They are still in use on the Shetland Islands. There are also very good photographs of a woman in Staphorts (Holland) using a silver one attached to her apron band with a small chain and safety pin, so if the knitting tube comes away from under her apron belt, it will not fall to the floor, but stays with her. When you look at that one, it looks very much like the little tubes you get sometimes with one flower in it. It is flared at the top. Aaron, much better there is wooden model you can make yourself. I will scan it and I can sent it to you
Ok you two, keep on knitting away, but do remember that there must be an element of joy and fun in it as well never mind the speed. Live goes fast enough as it is.
PS here is a website, that will sell replicas of the ones they have in their museum. The look similar to some of the Dutch ones.
the second website is the Dutch one, with a picture of a woman in the north of Holland knitting with a Breischei. It is very hard to see, but it is tucked in under her right arm with the fourth knitting needle pushed inside it. She lived in Moddergat (that translates into mudhole LOL) I have been there and the little houses sit right behind the seadike, overlooking the Waddezee. It is a tiny fisherman's village, where life was hard, and also death at sea alway close at hand.
Enoug for one night and it is all your fault guys, you got me going on this
Goodnight
Els