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Record Office Events
A Stitch in Time
On 13 September 20 ladies came to Herefordshire Record Office to knit – not the usual activity for an archive service, it must be admitted! They came to knit an item inspired by the knitting pattern book of a Victorian vicar’s wife.
Ursula Frances Bund was born in Worcestershire about 1812 and married Henry Thomas Hill in 1841. He was vicar of Wolverley in Worcestershire before moving to Felton in Herefordshire. They had 8 children, born between 1843 and 1859. Ursula died in 1877 aged 64, her husband died in 1881. During her life she kept a small notebook in which she wrote instructions for a variety of knitting stitches and items: open hem, leaf edge, Brussels lace pattern, gothic pattern and many others. The book also contains some sample pieces alongside the relevant instructions, knitted in very fine yarn – similar to a crochet cotton weight.
This book was donated to the City Library in Hereford in 1934 by a Mrs Hill, then was subsequently deposited at the Record Office (ref K7/1), there was also donated Ursula’s manuscript book of recipes, including one for parsonage pie – I wonder if that was popular in her household! (ref CF50/29). In my role as county archivist for Herefordshire, I came across the knitting book, when looking for something else and as a knitter myself, I thought it would be a wonderful starting point for a project – from the reactions we have had – it seems that I was right!
Having transcribed the book, and had a number of sample pieces made by an enthusiastic volunteer knitter, and with the assistance of Anne Shoring of Artisan Yarns, we chose a simple edging pattern as our starting item (see the Resource Box below). We gave all participants a ball of yarn (rather more double knitting weight than the fine stuff of Ursula’s day!) and a pattern for a simple baby hat, to be edged with the “narrow edging” pattern described in Ursula’s book. Fortified with tea and cake, the knitting commenced. By the end of the evening, some of the faster knitters had completed the hat and were ready to commence on the edging or onto another item of their choice.
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Knitting 2
We also displayed all other known knitting patterns from our collections, the earliest one being almost in a code, with numerous patterns for knitting for troops and plenty more manuscript patterns from the pens of ladies of well-known Herefordshire families; the Chaves, the Pateshalls and the Dunns. One of our favourite items being the pattern for a “Hug-me-tight”. Copies of these patterns were made on request so that items other than the baby hat could be knitted up - all inspired by our archived patterns – at the second workshop we had a waistcoat from a WW1 pattern, some mittens for gunners from WW2, a WW2 knee cap and a variety of other edgings on the baby hats.These older patterns presume quite a bit of knowledge on the part of the knitter and some of the terminology is a little different to today, but many of the patterns can be used almost straightaway (especially if they are printed, or typescript – a little palaeographical transcription can be required for the manuscript patterns!), so if you fancy trying to knit something inspired by an archive, contact us to find out about our next planned sessions and join us in knitting a stitch in time.
Knitting 3
We are displaying as many of the finished items as possible in Hereford Museum, alongside the patterns that inspired them. The exhibition will be on show from Tuesday 18 October to Saturday 26 November. Postcards have also been made of two of the patterns in Ursula’s book and one of the sample pieces – these are available from Herefordshire Record Office, priced 50p each and the images used can be seen on our 'Information leaflets and items for sale page'.
A Stitch in Time patternIf you need help to understand a document, or would like it in another format or language, please call 01432 260500 or email info@herefordshire.gov.uk
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