PieceWork · Article
| Type | Article |
|---|---|
| From | PieceWork |
| Author | Ellie Reed |
| Published | March 16, 2026 |
| Format |
How Britain Knitted for Its Babies, 1914-1918
“Wool, War, and Motherhood” uncovers a little told story of World War I: the working‑class British women who knitted not only for soldiers at the front but for the survival of their own babies. Drawing on the vibrant world of penny women’s magazines—My Weekly, Woman’s Weekly, and Woman’s Own—the article reveals how knitting patterns, mothercraft advice, and expert guidance empowered mothers to protect infant health during a time of national crisis. Far from a quaint domestic pastime, knitting becomes a lens into patriotism, women’s labor, and the emotional resilience of mothers navigating wartime scarcity. This is a fresh, intimate look at how wool, skill, and community shaped Britain’s home front—and its future generations.
In this collection, Jacqueline Blix revisits a family heirloom shawl knit by Joseph Sheldon Long, a World War I soldier, father, grandfather, and knitter.
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