A Knitting Guru For Her Time

I found this book at our local recycling depot the other day. It is quite amazing, published in 1940. It reflects the state of the art at the time, and until Elizabeth Zimmerman came along, probably was the definitive guide for three decades. Today's knitting books pale in comparison to the sheer density of knitting knowledge contained within these covers.

I couldn't find much about Ida Duncan, other than she taught in the Detroit adult education system, and authored several books about knitting. But clearly, she thought about much more, as evidenced by this passage on where the knitter should buy her yarn. She forecast the way Amazon and big box retailers destroyed so many small businesses, 60 years before the fact.

She covers how to get started knitting, and then, rather than providing patterns, describes various styles and demonstrates how to make your own pattern, based on your own measurements and gauge. She also provides a chapter on various textural stitches, cables, and lace patterns.

Perhaps most astonishing to me is a whole chapter on career paths in knitting! What a world it once was! I suppose these jobs have had something of a recovery in this century, but how many are full time, or pay a living wage?