Moroccan Knitting and the History of Knitting The history of knitting has intrigued me since my early 20s when my mom gave me Nancy Bush’s book, Folk Socks: The History and Techniques of Handknitted Footwear, for my birthday. It was in the pages of Folk Socks that I first learned about knitting in northern Africa.Continue reading “Why is Moroccan Intarsia-in-the-Round Knitting Important?”
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The Middle Atlas Skirt Pattern and Intarsia-in-the-Round
When I was doing research for my book, Keepers of the Sheep: Knitting in Morocco’s High Atlas and Beyond, I came across a beautiful pair of leg warmers in the book Berber Costumes of Morocco by Frieda Sorber and Marie-Rose Rabaté. The complex tessellating pattern was intriguing and reminded me of the patterns decorating objectsContinue reading “The Middle Atlas Skirt Pattern and Intarsia-in-the-Round”
Updating Knitting History
The oldest evidence for knitting, thus far, comes from medieval Egypt. These intriguing pieces, which range from technically simple to very advanced leave knitters and researchers with much to consider: Who knit these objects? How did they use them? How did knitting spread? How do these early knitting traditions relate to knitting practices today? ByContinue reading “Updating Knitting History”
Keepers of the Sheep: Knitting in Morocco’s High Atlas and Beyond
Keepers of the Sheep: Knitting in Morocco’s High Atlas and Beyond documents the knitting tradition of shepherds in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains. It is the culmination of three years of research, interviews, participant observation, and writing. Seven essays and thirteen patterns give the reader a glimpse of life in a High Atlas village and theContinue reading “Keepers of the Sheep: Knitting in Morocco’s High Atlas and Beyond”
Washing Wool in the High Atlas
How do Cooperative Ibilou artisans create such fluffy, clean clouds of carded wool for spinning? It all starts with a walk to the river with a bundle of fresh High Atlas sheep wool. You can read more about the washing process and how the wool is spun in my article published in Ply Magazine’s SummerContinue reading “Washing Wool in the High Atlas”
106 Meters from the Road 