Was sitting with my mom today and the talk turned to knitting. I asked her if she taught my younger sister to knit and she said yes, I did it the same way as with you, by winding little toys into the ball of yarn (think we were both between 8 and 10) So I asked her, who taught you to knit, thinking it would have been her mother, my grandmother who died before I was born. Mom surprised me by saying no, I learned in the Girl Scouts and we made squares to make into blankets for the troups in WWII. My mother is going to be 79 this summer. Anyone else learn how to knit in the Girl Scouts for the same reason??
Knitting in WWII
CharleenR
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Was sitting with my mom today and the talk turned to knitting. I asked her if she taught my younger sister to knit and she said yes, I did it the same way as with you, by winding little toys into the ball of yarn (think we were both between 8 and 10) So I asked her, who taught you to knit, thinking it would have been her mother, my grandmother who died before I was born. Mom surprised me by saying no, I learned in the Girl Scouts and we made squares to make into blankets for the troups in WWII. My mother is going to be 79 this summer. Anyone else learn how to knit in the Girl Scouts for the same reason??
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Yes, my mother remembered the Red Cross giving yarn to the girls in her high school in the 1940s to knit for some WWII related project. I'm not sure if it was squares. She said the girls took the yarn and didn't knit. Well, maybe the mothers were too busy working building ships or planes to teach their daughters to knit.
I believe that most of the WWI and II knitting projects were organized by the Red Cross. I have also heard of something called Knittin for Britain ? Okay UK folks jump in here on that one !
Just fun here are a couple of knitting for the war items. I have also included a hat pattern from WWII that I have used for charity knitting.
http://www.cocoabeachyarn.com/patterns/classicwatchcap.pdf
Beanie No. 212
MATERIALS-- Bear Brand or Bucilla "AA" De Luxe Knitting Worsted, 1 skein, or Bear Brand or Bucilla Standard Brand Knitting Worsted, 1 skein.
2 Pairs (4) Bucilla White 10-inch Double-pointed Knitting Needles, Size 4, Article 3843.
Cast on 96 sts, 32 on each of 3 needles. Join and work in ribbing of k 2, p 2 for 6 inches (about 42 rounds), then work in ribing of k 6, p 2, for 22 rounds. K 1 round plain. Decrease 1 st at both ends of each needle, as follows: * k 1, slip 1, k 1, pass the slipped st over the knitted (slip-k-pass), k to within 3 sts of end of needle, k 2 together, k the last st; repeat from * until 4 sts remain on each needle. Break off yarn, thread end into a darning needle, draw through all sts, twice, tighten and darn in end.
I believe that most of the WWI and II knitting projects were organized by the Red Cross. I have also heard of something called Knittin for Britain ? Okay UK folks jump in here on that one !
Just fun here are a couple of knitting for the war items. I have also included a hat pattern from WWII that I have used for charity knitting.
http://www.cocoabeachyarn.com/patterns/classicwatchcap.pdf
Beanie No. 212
MATERIALS-- Bear Brand or Bucilla "AA" De Luxe Knitting Worsted, 1 skein, or Bear Brand or Bucilla Standard Brand Knitting Worsted, 1 skein.
2 Pairs (4) Bucilla White 10-inch Double-pointed Knitting Needles, Size 4, Article 3843.
Cast on 96 sts, 32 on each of 3 needles. Join and work in ribbing of k 2, p 2 for 6 inches (about 42 rounds), then work in ribing of k 6, p 2, for 22 rounds. K 1 round plain. Decrease 1 st at both ends of each needle, as follows: * k 1, slip 1, k 1, pass the slipped st over the knitted (slip-k-pass), k to within 3 sts of end of needle, k 2 together, k the last st; repeat from * until 4 sts remain on each needle. Break off yarn, thread end into a darning needle, draw through all sts, twice, tighten and darn in end.
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I was taught to knit by my Mum in WW2 in the air-raid shelter when I was 7 yrs old. She used to go to Jumble sales buy old woolies and we used to unpick (frog) ,skein ,wash and re knit. We seldom got new wool and if we did it was rationed and on coupons we used to save coupons for shoes and underwear She taught me to knit beacuse it took our minds of the bombing. Scary at 7 years old. We lived in a dock area where the troops and equipment left for Europe so we spent almost every night in the shelter.
I am a Girl Scout Leader & taught the girls in my troop how to knit. They were between 9 and 11 years old at the time. It seemed like an exercise in futility since you have to practice to get the results you like and there is no instant gratification when you start with your first cast on (unless you are aiming for knots). While my troop is down to only 4 girls (they graduate Thursday), I am still in touch with all the girls. 4 of them are still knitting & their peojects are awesome. 2 of them will put finished items in the county fair this year! Yeay - a new knitting generation
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Yes, I remember knitting with my 5th grade teacher after school. We knit slippers for the hospitalized vets.....it was a fun way to sit with a great teacher..and friends..I also remember we said the Pledge of Alliegence to the Flag, and sang 3 verses of Holy,Holy, Holy, no matter what religion you were while she pounded it out on the piano.....daily"....the times, they are a changing ....
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What beautiful memories, love to read these posts. Thanks for sharing this wonderful bit of history.
I was a GS leader back in the 60's and I taught my girls to knit. Wonder how many still do it. I know my oldest daughter does. Also taught them to do spool knitting II cord) still have several wooden thread spools with nail in them. Guess kids buy them now
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There was a thread here not long ago bu a UK girl/woman who was finishing some plovers to help an old man who knitted them, but find the finishing touches hard (I don't know why, they were so perfect - maybe eyes or something?) - and he learned to knit as a yang boy when children were send out of London during the bombing... and they were making socks for the soldiers... It was such a touching story...
I've always wandered... why are there separate girl and boy scouts?
I've always wandered... why are there separate girl and boy scouts?
My Mom knit for my Dad all throught WWII and I still have many of her pattern books, although the metal needles have rusted and been thrown away.
I learned in Girl Scouts after the War (probably about 1948) and have knitted ever since (am 70 this year).
I learned in Girl Scouts after the War (probably about 1948) and have knitted ever since (am 70 this year).
There were separate girl and boy scouts because their projects were geared for boys to do manly things and girls to do womanly things. Girls didn't chop down trees or build boats and boys didn't learn to take care of babies and sew.
My mother received yarn and a book to knit for the military during WWII. I still have the book. Hers included a sweater for a man in bed, it went over the head, had long sleeves and a front, no back. There are patterns for vests, caps, shooting gloves and mittens and socks. My sister and I could knit so we helped by doing the straight knitting when she wasn't working on the project. A lady from England said her mother knit in the shelters at night. Expert knitters don't need much light. School children in rural schools knit squares that were sewn together and while outdoors, collected the fuzz from milkweed to stuff jackets. Everyone helped with the war effort.
Carol J.
My mother received yarn and a book to knit for the military during WWII. I still have the book. Hers included a sweater for a man in bed, it went over the head, had long sleeves and a front, no back. There are patterns for vests, caps, shooting gloves and mittens and socks. My sister and I could knit so we helped by doing the straight knitting when she wasn't working on the project. A lady from England said her mother knit in the shelters at night. Expert knitters don't need much light. School children in rural schools knit squares that were sewn together and while outdoors, collected the fuzz from milkweed to stuff jackets. Everyone helped with the war effort.
Carol J.
Baden Powell was the originator of the Boy Scout Movement. The girls discovered they were having so much fun that they wanted to join in too - so the Girl Guides (Girl Scouts) was formed soon after.
Cub Scouts were (are) the younger boys and Brownies are the younger girls in the Guide Movement.
Rovers (boys) and Rangers (girls) are the older teenagers.
Brings back fond memories of my own youth and then in my mid twenties (in the 1970s) I set up a Guide Company on an Australian Aboriginal reservation in South Australia and was the Captain for a couple of years but then my husband was transferred back to Adelaide and I had to leave the girls.
A couple of years ago I visited a Craft Show in Adelaide and there sitting at a table giving demonstrations of craftwork was one of the girls in my Guide Company - she's running a craft group for under-privileged youth here in Adelaide. We had a great chat about Guides and how it had influenced her life.
Cheers
Ainslie.
Cub Scouts were (are) the younger boys and Brownies are the younger girls in the Guide Movement.
Rovers (boys) and Rangers (girls) are the older teenagers.
Brings back fond memories of my own youth and then in my mid twenties (in the 1970s) I set up a Guide Company on an Australian Aboriginal reservation in South Australia and was the Captain for a couple of years but then my husband was transferred back to Adelaide and I had to leave the girls.
A couple of years ago I visited a Craft Show in Adelaide and there sitting at a table giving demonstrations of craftwork was one of the girls in my Guide Company - she's running a craft group for under-privileged youth here in Adelaide. We had a great chat about Guides and how it had influenced her life.
Cheers
Ainslie.
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But, Carol, there are still separate boy scout groups and girl scout groups?Carol J. said:
And the children are like 5 - 10 years old?
I wouldn't let a 6 - 7 year old hold an ax and definitely would not put a needle in a 5 year old hand... I just wander why are they now separate? Or do the movies just mislead and feed false information on this one?
Like... there is something called girl scout squirrel cookies? (and are there any squirrels inside the box?..) - but are there boy cookies and mixed gender too?
I'm just puzzled, that's all...
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And how come no one founded any mixed groups?woodart said:
Boys and girls tend to play together here... And in my opinion they play (and learn) better in mixed groups than in gender-separate ones...
i remember my mother-in-law also my mother saying they use to knit a jumper or cardigan for a special occasion then after unpick the wool & knit something else so people would think they had alot of clothes done the same with sewing ,restyling skirts ,dresses etc. with knitting they would unpick the jumper several timesAud36 said:
Memories!!! I also was taught by the Red Cross ladies. I was 10 years old in 5th. grade, in 1941. We did squares, and the ladies would then come, collect them and put them together for the troops for afghans. My motivation was we were then able to do them in class---we never took anything home. I also remember rationing and air raid practice---at school and at night at home.In summer I also remember the Coast Guard patroling the beach on horseback--By the way I have knitted almost everyday for lo these past 71 years.
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Yes there are still separate boy and girl scout groups. I don't know what the ages are 2nd or 3rd grade maybe? And it goes all the way up until they graduate from high school although many do not stay in the groups that long. Yes the girl scouts still sell cookies but I don't know of any called squirrel cookies.......I don't think the boy scouts sell cookies but I might be wrong about that. As far as having them play together most schools are a mix of boys and girls so they get that while in school. The girl/boy scouts are not a part of school. Also, I don't think the boys use axes.....They learn things like survival skills in the woods, how to use a compass, put up a tent, fish I think they also learn woodwork, how to be a helpful member of society, and many other useful things.HandyFamily said:
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When I was in Girl Guides (Girl Scouts in Canada) the two groups were separated by gender but when my son became a Scout in the early 90's it was different. Boy Scouts became just Scouts and started to include girls in the program. It helped especially in the country as there was not enough interested children to keep 2 different groups going. Girl Guides still do not allow boys and are suffering in the rural areas. I agree that having both sexes in the group helped develop a respect for both sides and a close knit group. The girls enjoyed roughing it just as much as the boys and the boys learned cooking, sewing and other household tasks. My son is now on his own and thanks to his Scout leaders is ready for anything. He still keeps in touch with his troop as they move out on their own, marry etc.HandyFamily said:
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Girl scouts now start in kindergarten they qare Daisy Scouts, on to Brownies and up the ranks to Senior girls scouts. Today's Girl Scouts learn thing from all segments of life. Still basic let's say survival skills ( cooking, sewing, etc.) along with car care, camping, technology finance and many other fields. On the other side of the gender issue the boys start out as Tiger Cub, then Cubs and on up the ladder to maybe. Eagle scouts. They also learn the same things as the girls . Girl scouts sell cookies and boy scouts sell popcorn. I was a girls scout leader for years, as well Asa service unit director, and cookie task force member. Husband is a former Eagle scout and went on to help my son's boy scout troop. As far as mixing the two, it is best to keep them separate, especially in this day and age. I.e. inappropriate behavior. We need to give each gender a group to all there own. There are many more activities out there fdor them to comingal(?) let's leave it that way. But what alot of people don't realize is that these group need volunteers to run them. If you have a skills, why not offer your services. You could by making a great impact on a child's life. I have also heard of teachers using knitting in different classes to help children learn concepts. We just need to spread our knowledge around to the younger generation.
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