Armistice Day

These are some of the photographs at The American Memory Collection with a keyword search of "knitting".  I wonder if the ladies were part of a war effort project, so the photos seemed a fitting part of a Veterans' Day remembrance, from the home front perspective.

[Women knitting, as they are sitting outdoors on chairs set in a row]. Chicago, 1917.  DN-0068503, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society.

[Women knitting, as they are sitting outdoors on wooden chairs]. Chicago, 1917.  DN-0068504, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society.

[Miss Sarah Farewell sitting in a chair outdoors, knitting].  Chicago, 1917  DN-0068362, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society.

[Ethel Forgan sitting in a director's chair on a brick patio, knitting with Miss Sarah Farewell, partially obscured].DN-0068395, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society.

Comments

[Kristy]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful pictures with us! Knitting always makes me feel all sentimental anyway and these pictures remind me way. What a great way to honor Veteran's Day/Remembrance Day!

[Ann]

Why don't we look like this anymore? Look how beautiful those women look, how graceful they are. Never mind their surely dreadful constricting undergarments, of course.

Thank you for showing us this window into the past. Wonderful.

Slobbily yours, Ann

[erin]

I love old photos. What lovely clothes & good postures these ladies had. One of these days, when I have the time, I should photograph myself wearing an FO with a flowing skirt and high heels, sitting and knitting with good posture, of course. Thanks for sharing.

[Claire]

I love this post! What wonderful old photos! Thanks for sharing them!

PS: That ostrich plume blanket is going to be divine!

[Jeanne]

Dear everyone -- I'm glad you like the photos. I am fascinated with the way they are both antique and timely. Aside the knitting-group thing, of course -- look at Miss Farewell's bag, for instance. Sewn bag with rickrack trim -- shades of Backtack. And the knitted jacket she's wearing, and possibly Ethel Forgan's too -- knitted in garter stitch, unless I miss my guess.