Rambling - Part 2*

Speaking of crumpled, I then begin to worry about the thrum cap I plan to full in the next day or so as I took a class in fulling and needle felting a few years ago and failed fantastically, exiting with a bag of stretched out, undefinable soggy pieces of fabric. Fingers crossed on that one. Then it is back to the 17th century to finish off a pair of gloves but I do so hate knitting fingers!!!! After making fringes or knitting bobbles, it is my least favourite thing to do with yarn. I realise I am frowning and that makes me smile as I remember how some people at work have recently complained to me about the knitter on my screen saver.

http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/110000323

She has made several appearances on this blog. My colleagues claim that she looks bad tempered or impatient, and I tell them that she is because she has been interrupted in her limited free time (she is a servant after all) and her knitting.

This is a new find in my quest for knitting in art and the sitter has a similar expression although perhaps this young lady is merely distracted. I do like her cap and the bent needle in the foreground but until I can get a sharper image, I can only see three needles.



Young Brittany Girl Knitting
Jules Adolphe Aime Louis Breton
French
(1827-1906)
Oil on canvas
Sold at auction in 2007 – location unknown
Source: http://a1reproductions.com


That brings to mind quite a few ladies with cross faces in paintings about knitting but here is a smiling, sweet, industrious girl.



Young Girl Standing in a Doorway Knitting (1863)
Meyer von Bremen
(1813-1886)
German
Oil on canvas
Private Collection
Source: The Bridgeman Art Library
Image ID: BAL 98647


Shifting my position in my chair, I am reminded of this terrific painting, fascinating not only for the knitting and the work basket at the sitter’s side but also for the very clear details of clothing and furniture. I also love the repeated use of stripes, lines, and the colours black and red.



Knitting a Stocking
Sir Francis Grant
(1803-1878)
Scottish
Oil on canvas
Location unknown
Source: http://www.wikigallery.org


And finally, a glance out of the windows tells me that I should take a break and enjoy this lovely spring day. If it is too windy to sit and knit by the water, I can do some extra walking and clear the cobwebs from my mind and plan more projects or just how I am going to get the current ones wrapped up!



Girl Knitting Amidst Flowers (1921)
Daniel Ridgway Knight
(1839-1924)
American
Medium unknown
Location unknown
Source: http://www.artsunlight.com


*This blog had to be posted in two sections due to the size of the images.