Over the course of a year,Esther Rutter - who grew up on a sheep farm in Suffolk,and learned to spin,weave and knit as a child - travels the length of the British Isles,to tell the story of wool's long history here. She unearths fascinating histories of communities whose lives were shaped by wool,from the mill workers of the Border countries,to the English market towns built on profits of the wool trade,and the Highland communities cleared for sheep farming; and finds tradition and innovation intermingling in today's knitwear industries.
Along the way,she explores wool's rich culture by knitting and crafting culturally significant garments from our history - among them gloves,a scarf,a baby blanket,socks and a fisherman's jumper - reminding us of the value of craft and our intimate relationship with wool.
This Golden Fleece is at once a meditation on the craft and history of knitting,and a fascinating exploration of wool's influence on our landscape,history and culture.
Publisher: Granta BooksISBN: 9781783784363Number of pages: 352Weight: 294 gDimensions: 198 x 129 x 21 mm
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A compelling literary journey through the social history of wool in the British IslesThis is a book about wool and sheep,the making of Scotland,England and farming,textile manufacture,folk-lore and,crucially,the essential craft of knitting. The plying of wool had been a vital survival skill for over two millennia in Britain before the Romans showed up (bringing their own sheep with them,just in case) making this domestic skill a founding piece of'civilisation'. From fairy tales to debate regarding national identity,from the year dot to the tragedy of the Scottish Clearances and beyond,the history of plain,purl and intarsia is woven together by Esther Rutter,whose own skill with needles,learned from practical experience,attests that this ancient craft is nothing less than a wonder of civilization. Beautifully written tooI love the sound of thisEsther Rutter unravels the social history and allure of knitting,from Fair Isle to Cornwall via the Hebrides (...) in her fascinating book
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