Honors Theses
Date of Award
2016
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Journalism
First Advisor
Kathleen Wickham
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
This thesis explores the history of knitting through the lens of modern knitters' lives. Information about the history of knitting was gathered from various printed and online sources. A series of interviews were conducted with knitters of different ages, experience levels, professions, and socioeconomic circles. Among these were beginning knitters, casual knitters, semi-professional knitters, professional knitters, and a knitting celebrity. The interviewees were asked about their knitting lives, including personal history, motives, preferences, and habits. Using the research and the interviews to inform each other, the researcher compiled a report on each subject which included their responses and the historical context which was relevant to each. The research indicated that knitting history is kept alive and continually engaged with on a unique level as modern knitters practice the same techniques which knitters hundreds or thousands of years ago used. It also found some significant similarities among knitters, particularly in the area of motives for knitting. This work represents an acquisition of expertise, not only in the area of knitting history, but also in interview skills.
Recommended Citation
Rishel, Sinclair, "Memory in the Fingers: An exploration of knitting through the lens of modern knitters' lives" (2016). Honors Theses. 866.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/866
Accessibility Status
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