(Red socks, Albert & Victoria Museum, London)
Did you
know that one of the oldest examples of knitting is a pair
of red socks from the period 250 – 420 AD? These feet warmers were found on
an archaeological site in Egypt, in a onetime Greek settlement. So we could say
that this was possibly the first pair of Greek Knitted Socks. They are made to be
worn with sandals and they have space for incredibly large and long big toes.
According
to Wikipedia the English word knitting comes from the Dutch word knot. So in Dutch the actual word breien should be knotting. The knitting started with one
needle and making knots (nålebinding) and is said to have been invented in the
Middle East. The Muslims brought it with them to Europe and European colonists
took their knitting needles with them to America.
Around the
14th century knitting became fairly popular, proved by several
paintings depicting a knitting
Virgin Mary. Or maybe it was a campaign to get the women to take up the
needles. Watching such an industrious Mary calms you down, so much that you
immediately start looking for your knitting gear.
The first knitting
machine appeared in 1589. But only in the mid 19th century did industrial
machines take over the woolly handwork business. Now knitting is seen as a
hobby. I took up the knitting needles again when I saw what beautiful and
colourful wool they make nowadays. In one winter I can now fabricate a total
new winter collection. My hands must be busy doing something while watching a
movie or reading a book and I am now as hooked to my knitting needles, as some
persons are to their mobile phones.
I mostly only
knit in the winter, in times that the weather gods have cooled off a bit. When
you work with wool threads in the heat, your hands get sweaty and the knitting
stiff. The warm climate of Lesvos might be a reason that there is no great
knitting tradition on Lesvos, even though there used to be plenty of sheep and
goat wool. The women preferred to make embroideries and sat down at their
looms. Besides wool they also used clothing and drapes, torn in strokes, to
weave into colourful carpets.
Like
centuries ago when the knitting works came to Europe, there is a new run from
the Middle-East to Europe. The refugees now use Lesvos as a gateway to Europe
and the stream of refugees is like a dam that broke; there is no way to stop
the flood of people. This year the number of refugees has largely surpassed the
number of inhabitants of Lesvos (about 85.000) and last week the daily arrival
had risen to 2000. Sheltering those people is still done by volunteers, helped
only by a number of officials that can be counted on one hand.
When those
refugees step out of their rickety dinghies, they get wet. Result is that on
places where they take a rest fences are modified into clotheslines, just like
the lines where normally the squids are dried. The hot sun is a super dryer,
but when the winter comes, the washing program will have to be changed and wet
clothes will become a burden. Had Europe at the beginning of the summer put tills
on the Greek islands, now, one season on, it would not be surprised and
overwhelmed by the number of refugees knocking on the doors of the ‘ruling’
European countries. Unlike the politicians, I do look forward and this summer I
started to knit.
When I was
young there were plenty of faraway aunts who gave me the most poorly created
handknitted sweaters which I had to wear. I hated them so much that until now I
have not dared to surprise a friend (or a refugee) with a handmade sweater. So
I knit caps. One evening I realised that it will take some time before I can
make enough caps for the passengers of even one boat (on average 50 people) and
I will never have enough for a one day arrival (50 – 70 boats), so I called in
help.
I have found
an organisation for the elderly that organises knitting clubs all over Holland (Samen breien). There the wise and old
people teach their tricks to the young ones. They want to help me, knitting for
the refugees for the winter. It would be fantastic to create a television show
like The Great British Baking Show. In the Netherlands this show is called: Holland
is Baking. Imagine if
the whole of Europe sets out to knit again: Europe is knitting. Making caps and shawls is a
relaxing pastime, so come on, take up those knitting needles and help.
(with
thanks to Mary Staples)
© Smitaki
2015
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