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.

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