Knitting for Empire
New Zealand soldiers living in the misery of trenches in Belgium in 1917 could be certain of a few comforts from home. Hand-made socks, balaclavas, scarves and gloves were included in the parcels women sent them. New Zealand women had always knitted, but the craft took on a new meaning during the war. ‘Sock day’ was held in May 1915 after soldiers reported that a pair of socks only lasted a fortnight when the wearer was on active duty.
Her Excellency’s knitting book appeared in August 1915. This 193-page book, produced by Lady Liverpool, was New Zealand’s first locally published knitting book. It contained patterns for socks, balaclavas and gloves and was designed to fit snugly into a woman’s knitting bag. There was even a rousing song, Canadian in origin but popular in New Zealand:
Knitting, knitting, knitting, with a pray’r in every row,
That the ones they hold in their hearts so dear
May be guarded as they go.
Credit
'Knitting for Empire' image: Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: BK 810-Cover
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.
Socks kindly knitted for us by Jill Goodwin
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TwitterAlexander Turnbull Library (National Library) in Wellington , NZ have 2 versions (1915, and 1917) of 'Her Excellency's Knitting Book' . You can order photocopies or digital files from them online.
Hi June,
Do you still have your copy of Her Excellency's Knitting Book to sell? I would be interested in purchasing it.
HER EXCELLENCYS KNITTING BOOK
I am in Uk Have a copy of the book which has a handwritten dedication to her neice, by her Excellency, Annette Liverpool. As nobody responded to my posting on this site last year I have put it for sale on eBay UK. Item number 231125645162. I see that a couple of people are interested in obtaining a copy.
I am also seeking a copy or PDF of this book or other pictorial references to womens or soldiers handcrafts of WW1,
Cheers
Nicki
I am seeking a copy (pdf if possible) of this book or something similar regarding WW1 knitting patterns for a project I will be involved in during 2014.
Many thanks, Sandy
I would like to ask if anyone has any WW1 knitting needles.
Thank you,
Anna Cottrell
Hello - I'm seeking to purchase a copy of this book for purposes of scholarly research. If anyone might have and be interested in offering a copy, I'd appreciate being in touch. Thank you. ~ Jeff Reznick, Rockville, Maryland, USA
As I have no emotional attachment to this book, I would like to sell it and wonder how I should go about it, as I am in UK and it obviously has more meaning to the people of New Zealand. Please let me know otherwise I will put it on eBay. Thanks
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