Helping on the Wool Campaign

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6622, 7 August 1931, Page 9

Helping on the Wool Campaign

“Look at Mrs. Jones in her new jumper!” “Yes, looks : as if she had knitted it from a tapioca pudding- recipcl” “Punch” dearly loves-to have a joke at our expense but wherever knitting appeal's on the horizon he positively gurgles witlu glee, states ••Home anu Country,” the journal ol the Hew i/teaiana Vvomen's •institutes. You remember his ruinous drawing during tno war of ‘Old Hill's’ brother and me mitts knitted by a dear Old—or young —tady in England whose -zeal to neip win tno war outran her- shill with tno needles? That, pair, of units was unique: The number of stitencs mysteriously increased until they iinisned up as au outsize. even for Uid Bill's brother who- was not of small proportions. What added to the difficulty was that while both were large, one was much larger than the other. We see the solution of the problem in the drawing. Our hero is sitting contently over a lire in a benzine tin. The larger mit ho has pulled over hia head, arranged so that the thumb opening is opposite his mouth into wnich he can introduce the stem of his pipe, and the other mit, drawn over Ms two feet acts as a foot-muff!

We all knitted in those days. It was one way of helping—and it was something to do. There is a peculiar solace in knitting. Women hate sitting with empty hands. Even at committee meetings the women like to bring a bit of knitting though some time ago at a London County Council meeting a woman member was' ruled out of order for doing so. In these days, when there is something of tho same tension in the air as in the war days and we are waiting for the clouds to lift many; women are again busying themselves with soft, lovely wools and flying needles. Spinning wheels are coming oiit and where an Institute is lucky enough to have a daughter of Shetland, Danish or Highland parents who still have, the old wheel it is sure to have a fascinating demonstration. One wonders if we have gone a step too far in our progress. So many women seem to have a longing to sit at a wheel and spin. Our grandmothers lived in calmer days. They had time to sing. Pictures fly to one’s mind of a woman sitting beside a cradle, rocking it with her foot whilo in her busy hands the needles glint in the sun and all the time she is singing lullabies to her baby. Our efficient Plunket system has stopped that. “As Jean sat at her spinning-wheel, A bonnie laddie he passed by.”—we see a young woman, sitting in a sunlit doorway with her wheel —singing. At milking, churning and weaving they sang. They must have found joy and beauty in their work for only the happy heart sings spontaneously. Have we perhaps lost something in the terrific Tush of progress? Who knows? We may find it again. We must use our own wool all wo can to help our own people. Never use anything else where you can use wool —it is cheap enough alas!—and perhaps we shall re-capture something of that calm, happy life of a past generation when there was something in every woman of the lark “which singing soars, and soaring sings.” More Ways of Using Wool.

Knitted blankets are very cosy and comfortable in all temperatures. For summer use they are light and open, and in winter with a coverlet or quilt they are warm and snug without being

weighty. Use coarse needles, and knit three strips and sew together.

Thick self coloured blankets or travelling rugs embroidered in thick coloured wools, make cosy quilts which are equal to an eiderdown. How many knitters who find the cost of knitting wool a serious item know that it is not a difficult matter to knit direot from unspun wool? Procure from the wool shed, or from scouring works the weight of wool required. In the former case scour by soaking in strong soap suds and rinsing thoroughly; handle as little as possible while wet and do not wring. Tease the wool well and pick out any lumps or knots. Draw out a little of the wool without detaching it from the rest, give it a little twist with the fingers. Knit this and continue to draw and knit, keeping an even thickness.