Nora Howley
@norahowley.bsky.social
Knitter, 🧶 teacher, researcher, questioner
Independent researcher looking at the migration of Shetland wool and knitting to the US. Website www.knittingtales.com
Independent researcher looking at the migration of Shetland wool and knitting to the US. Website www.knittingtales.com
"A ship without a rudder is no worse off than an industry without a trade journal" The inaugural issues of Sweater News, December 1913
November 25, 2025 at 4:12 PM
"A ship without a rudder is no worse off than an industry without a trade journal" The inaugural issues of Sweater News, December 1913
Not blaming anyone, but crying quietly as my copy of Math for Knitters by @kateatherley.bsky.social gets to the US, gets to NJ, then to DC (which is next to MD) and then gets sent back to NJ? Why?
November 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Not blaming anyone, but crying quietly as my copy of Math for Knitters by @kateatherley.bsky.social gets to the US, gets to NJ, then to DC (which is next to MD) and then gets sent back to NJ? Why?
Here’s the Carnegie library in DC, now the apple store
July 25, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Here’s the Carnegie library in DC, now the apple store
Can any #textilehistory #fashionhistory person help here? This is from 1896 Wool Manufacturers Expo. It appears that Shetland is being used to describe a color? What color is it? And if not a color is it being used as we would to describe a wool type or a style of knitting. Thx in advance 🧶
July 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Can any #textilehistory #fashionhistory person help here? This is from 1896 Wool Manufacturers Expo. It appears that Shetland is being used to describe a color? What color is it? And if not a color is it being used as we would to describe a wool type or a style of knitting. Thx in advance 🧶
I knit a couch throw.
May 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I knit a couch throw.
Scenes from the coffee shop. Swatching with vintage Ber-Mel Shetland Floss (color Regency This prep for @woollygoodedinburgh where I’ll be talking about Shetland wool and knits in the US.
February 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Scenes from the coffee shop. Swatching with vintage Ber-Mel Shetland Floss (color Regency This prep for @woollygoodedinburgh where I’ll be talking about Shetland wool and knits in the US.
Want to know what this 1956 pattern book has to do with Elizabeth Zimmerman? Hint.,,it’s #shetlandwool related and I’ll be talking about it as part of my talk at Woolly Good Edinburgh #knitting #shetland #knittinghistory 🧶
February 25, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Want to know what this 1956 pattern book has to do with Elizabeth Zimmerman? Hint.,,it’s #shetlandwool related and I’ll be talking about it as part of my talk at Woolly Good Edinburgh #knitting #shetland #knittinghistory 🧶
Early use of influencers to sell yarn?🧶 The 1908 Columbia Book of Yarn, tells the gentle knitter that, “If Cranford were an American story, Miss Matty would have used Columbia Yarn.”
Source: archive.org/details/colu...
Source: archive.org/details/colu...
February 13, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Early use of influencers to sell yarn?🧶 The 1908 Columbia Book of Yarn, tells the gentle knitter that, “If Cranford were an American story, Miss Matty would have used Columbia Yarn.”
Source: archive.org/details/colu...
Source: archive.org/details/colu...
Recent "Shetland Wool in US" find is Nov. 1848, pattern for a Knitted Shetland Pelisse for a Child from Goodey's Lady's Book. "We give in this number a seasonable article for our Work Table. Ladies commencing now can have, before winter sets in, a warm and fashionable cloak finished for a child. 🧶
January 31, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Recent "Shetland Wool in US" find is Nov. 1848, pattern for a Knitted Shetland Pelisse for a Child from Goodey's Lady's Book. "We give in this number a seasonable article for our Work Table. Ladies commencing now can have, before winter sets in, a warm and fashionable cloak finished for a child. 🧶
I have found an earlier US knitting pattern calling for Shetland yarn. This one is from 1885, Knitting and Crocheting, from Brown, Durell, & Co. of Boston. It has two patterns that use "Vida Shetland", a shawl, and this charming, "indispensable" infant's vest. archive.org/details/knit...
January 24, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I have found an earlier US knitting pattern calling for Shetland yarn. This one is from 1885, Knitting and Crocheting, from Brown, Durell, & Co. of Boston. It has two patterns that use "Vida Shetland", a shawl, and this charming, "indispensable" infant's vest. archive.org/details/knit...
1892 The Butterick Book of Knitting has a pattern for “Ladies’ Knitted Square Shawl” in Shetland Wool. This is the earliest pattern I’ve found so far. The layout of the pattern is a bit odd, but the construction is quiet straightforward #shetlandwool #haps #vintageknitting 🧶
January 23, 2025 at 5:16 PM
1892 The Butterick Book of Knitting has a pattern for “Ladies’ Knitted Square Shawl” in Shetland Wool. This is the earliest pattern I’ve found so far. The layout of the pattern is a bit odd, but the construction is quiet straightforward #shetlandwool #haps #vintageknitting 🧶
Once again @nytimes.com does bot recognize basic fiber craft term. 🧶
January 19, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Once again @nytimes.com does bot recognize basic fiber craft term. 🧶
Even after several years of working with the patterns of Ron Schweitzer and Betty Lindsay, I am in awe of what they did in 1998. The first commercial patterns in the US using undyed wool for stranded colorwork! This one is worked in 4 colors, Shetland White, Shetland Black, Shaela, and Moorit
January 15, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Even after several years of working with the patterns of Ron Schweitzer and Betty Lindsay, I am in awe of what they did in 1998. The first commercial patterns in the US using undyed wool for stranded colorwork! This one is worked in 4 colors, Shetland White, Shetland Black, Shaela, and Moorit
And here is a picture of the knit garment. It is the one I’m the middle and, fun fact, was not complete at the time of the photo shoot. Hence the pose with arms not showing. 🧶
January 10, 2025 at 1:01 PM
And here is a picture of the knit garment. It is the one I’m the middle and, fun fact, was not complete at the time of the photo shoot. Hence the pose with arms not showing. 🧶
Viking Ships the WIP in this picture was one of the first commercially available knitting patterns in the US that used undyed wool in the colors of the sheep.
January 9, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Viking Ships the WIP in this picture was one of the first commercially available knitting patterns in the US that used undyed wool in the colors of the sheep.
From Rabbis for Ceasefire “In remembrance of those who have been killed…May the memories of every person killed be a blessing to all who loved them and may ewe honor their memories by acting for lasting peace and justice.”
January 1, 2025 at 11:18 PM
From Rabbis for Ceasefire “In remembrance of those who have been killed…May the memories of every person killed be a blessing to all who loved them and may ewe honor their memories by acting for lasting peace and justice.”
Any #knittinghistory people who can tell me about Ice Wool? This is a 1902 Sears catalog with a listing for imported ice wool at .10 an ounce. Thanks in advance.
November 20, 2024 at 5:15 PM
Any #knittinghistory people who can tell me about Ice Wool? This is a 1902 Sears catalog with a listing for imported ice wool at .10 an ounce. Thanks in advance.
A recent bit of Knitting History found in the vintage store. A Pringle of Scotland Shetland wool sweater, knit in “British Hong Kong”
November 19, 2024 at 5:16 PM
A recent bit of Knitting History found in the vintage store. A Pringle of Scotland Shetland wool sweater, knit in “British Hong Kong”
I climbed a small mountain today. First mountain hike since my fall and injury two years ago.
November 16, 2024 at 2:07 AM
I climbed a small mountain today. First mountain hike since my fall and injury two years ago.
A pattern (US) from 1901-1908 for a Rainbow Shawl knit in Shetland Wool from Columbia Yarns. Was this wool really from Shetland or was this marketing? Inquiring minds want to know
November 9, 2024 at 9:24 PM
A pattern (US) from 1901-1908 for a Rainbow Shawl knit in Shetland Wool from Columbia Yarns. Was this wool really from Shetland or was this marketing? Inquiring minds want to know
Sometimes a pattern just says, “knit me again”. Hymdland is one of those patterns. Thanks @kariebookish.bsky.social
February 26, 2024 at 10:11 PM
Sometimes a pattern just says, “knit me again”. Hymdland is one of those patterns. Thanks @kariebookish.bsky.social
@kariebookish.bsky.social creates such lovely patterns
January 23, 2024 at 5:15 PM
@kariebookish.bsky.social creates such lovely patterns
Cold but no snow in Edinburgh
January 16, 2024 at 7:50 PM
Cold but no snow in Edinburgh
I came to Glasgow for the snow.
January 15, 2024 at 9:48 AM
I came to Glasgow for the snow.