Knitted for the Forces

“I’ve been reading that one can now go to lessons to learn how to knit and sew,” writes Mary Smith of Maryburgh. “In my day these were skills one ‘learnt at one’s mother’s knee’! We seemed to grow up knowing how to do those things.

“Worn socks were always mended. Tears were repaired and even patched. No doubt two world wars escalated our need to become knitters. We knitted furiously for the Forces, making mittens, gloves, socks, headgear, as well as the easier scarves and blankets.

“Much of this was done while down the air-raid shelters, maybe instead of getting on with our school work. I soon learnt how to knit fingers and ‘turn a heel’. I then progressed to knitting in more than one colour and coping with ‘cable’ patterns requiring three needles. I still have some of my best handiwork safe in a drawer not wanting to wear it out!

“We also learnt to embroider, though most of the stitch names now elude me. I remember ‘stem stitch’ and some sort of ‘knots’. I have kept a traycloth and duchesse sets I embroidered while at school. I even completed a tapestry firescreen at my junior school depicting a peacock’s tail, which I still have. That must be 80 years old. Strathmore with Lady Elizabeth BowesLyon on the announcement of her engagement to George, Duke of York.

“I believe that these were taken by my father, A C King,who was then chief photographer with John Leng and Company. I hope this proves of interest.”