For those who can receive UK TV. Tonight (2nd October) at 9pm on BBC4, The Fabric of Britain.

Welllll.................... thanks to baydreamer I've just spent the most wonderful time viewing the Fabric of Britain knitting show on youtube. It wasn't what I expected at all but it did take me back on a rollercoaster ride of memories and it made me realise that my entire life has been almost defined by woollen yarn and knitting. Starting in 1936 until now I can relate to most of what I've just seen on youtube.
I was still fascinated by the different ways that the yarn is held and despite many tries to change my way of knitting I still can't knit the 'continental way'. I can use two yarns of different colours for fairisle, slowly, and I've done most kinds of knitting but I do so admire those people who can knit quickly with the yarn held in the left hand and catching it with the needle point.
Half way through this show I realised that maybe, just maybe, knitting and working with yarn is my main interest and long-time partner in coping with life's little crises. Whenever I have need to think deeply or I need to get my fingers going but relax at the same time my thoughts turn to my exotic and expansive collection of knitting yarns - what can I make??. My lounge room is constantly littered with yarn projects - I can do a few stitches any time, drop the project and it will wait patiently for me to return.... love me, love my yarn mess.

Then I realised that I am watching this show linked for me through the Machine Embroidery list!!!!! I suddenly feel slightly guilty that, although I love ME and love even more the collection of beautiful designs since I find it difficult to get to my embroidery machine for any length of time any more, my first love is the working of yarns, mixing colours and stitches to create warm and useful things or fun and quirky things. My collection of knitting books and patterns is immense and covers most of the styles I've seen this morning on youtube. Why would I need any more yarn, or patterns??? Why would I need any more ME designs!!!!
Creating with one hook, two needles or five needles, yarn work has been my life-long friend. I remember my first attempt to knit booties for my doll when I was five years old - tight little wound ball of red wool and Mum's little steel needles. I remember all those hundreds of things I've made since then and it's been a great ride back in time.

Thankyou, Sue, for bringing to our attention this TV series and thankyou, baydreamer, for taking the trouble to link us to the youtube show.

Just a little show-off..... the dress, bonnet and booties set I knitted for my little grand-daughter in which she won first prize in a baby show - every mother's baby would win a baby show.
AlmaG.

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2 comments

by spendlove 04 Oct 2013

Gorgeous work and glad you enjoyed the programme. I was disappointed that it didn't go further back in history. Great to see Kaffe Fassett though - there were a couple of his TV series years ago which I found inspirational,

by marjialexa 04 Oct 2013

Thanks so much for your story, and showing off your beautiful work on your beautiful grandchild! I love to read stories like yours, it tells so much about a person. I'm not much of a knitter, because it takes me too long to translate the patterns. I must have some sort of learning disability with those abbreviations. because I almost have to re-learn them line by line. Very frustrating if a pattern is complicated. But I love the feel of the yarns, and do know how to work the needles. As a kid, I was so fascinated by how one would make the Argyle pattern, like in socks, that I took leftovers of my mother's wool, and figured out how to do a 3 color pattern all on my own, and made myself a headband! But follow printed directions? Probably not if my life depended on it. Loved your story, and believe me, I'll keep squeezing the balls of yarn at the shops, just like I pet fabric at the fabric stores, hee hee hee. Thanks for sharing, Hugs, Marji

The programme was interesting but only covered a couple of hundred years! Amazing, though that actual garments have been preserved for hundreds of years.

Thanks Sue! I was thinking of moving to England, but somebody posted a youtube link below, so I might watch it there. I think I'd move to England anyway, if I could afford it, to that little village where Doc Martin lives! Thanks for the info, hugs, Marji

Sue,

Thanks for the heads up. I'd love to watch this. I will look for it out on the web. Where are you in Britian? In 1985 I was down at Greenham Common AFB, south of London. I loved it! I also lived in Germany from 89 to 91. I absolutly loved England. I do genealogy research and my family came in to America from Shropshire the town or area is called Rowton. I loved being in Europe, I plan to return one day.

Connie

1 comment

by spendlove 03 Oct 2013

My mother's family also came from Shropshire, but I live on the opposite side of the country.

I thoroughly enjoy the British docos about their history and I'm hoping that these shows eventually come to Australia. I saw some hangings in the castles in Scotland many years ago and stood in awe of the workmanship that made them. During that visit to Scotland I took myself off to the Isle of Harris with the special intent of finding the knitters who use the little leather bags to hold the end of the long knitting needle. I did find where there were... 'Just around the corner' .... but that corner was ten miles away at the end of the loch and I was on foot so I never did see my knitting goal.
I would love to see the entire Fabric of Britain TV series and maybe we will some day. One thing, the information will never date.
AlmaG.

2 comments

by baydreamer 02 Oct 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6...

I found the first episode on you tube, hope it works by cut and paste

by marjialexa 03 Oct 2013

Thanks so much! I love anything BBC does, and here in USA we get so little of it. I'm willing to struggle with youtube to try and watch it. Thanks again for posting the link, hugs, Marji

Enjoy Sue!

I hope you enjoy it. I love history.

Can only watch BBC1, such a pity. I hope this episode starts in the Middle Ages, as promised. enjoy!

Nope not in UK, pity. Hope you enjoy watching it.