Knitting in the Movies: "Tell Them of Us"

Here is another picture-heavy post, hard on the heels of the last one, but at least this is about knitting!  I read just this morning about a small independent film in Britain, "Tell Them of Us", about a real Lincolnshire family, the Crowders of Thimbleby in Lincolnshire, during the Great War, a project inspired certainly by the centenary this year of the outbreak of that war.  The call went out for knitters to help recreate the wonderful amount of knitted garments the director wanted for the film, and Mary Lou of Yarnerinas was fortunate enough to have been part of the knitting team -- she tells a bit about the experience on her blog.

There is a book, called Centenary Stitches, available from Northern Lace Press, including "about 70" period patterns used in the film, rewritten for modern knitters.

Robert (played by Reece Ackerman) writing a letter, certainly with "comforts" received from his mother and sister at home, a warm knitted waistcoat and what is either a sock or a balaclava hanging on the X of the table leg.

A wonderfully jaunty ensemble, hat and matching scarf -- with pompoms! -- and the sailor's jumper.  Love the fluffy stripes on the collar!

Notice too the hap that the woman on the left is wearing, garter stitch with a simple lace edging.

Grace (played by Victoria Rigby) is wearing a wrap-around sleeveless jumper, a natural progression from the sontag of her grandmothers' generation.

A hug-me-tight, perhaps! and Mrs. Crowder has put down her knitting to read the letter.

The dark blue cardigan is almost exactly the same shape as the light blue one Grace wears above, but in a brioche stitch here, and with the front buttoned closed. 

Mary Lou admits to having knitted this cardigan, which she adapted from a photograph of the real Grace Crowder, as well as the camel-colored jumper below, which is from a 1912 "sport sweater" pattern.

Notice the wonderful assortment of knits here, from old-fashioned shawls to "modern" jumpers and hats.

I am sorry to say, though, that Robert Crowder was killed at Passchendaele in 1917.  The film was in fact inspired by the local memorial, and a window in the Thimbleby church which his family dedicated to his memory.

Comments

[marylou]

Thanks, Jeanne! It was such a touching project to be involved with - I'll let you know when the film is available for viewing.

[Jane Lawrence]

I was proud to be part of this project. Love the range of photos you've used. Great article.

[Wendy]

Oh my! I think its difficult to underestimate the role of hand knits in everyday wear before commercial knits were widely available. Thank you for this lovely post, Jeanne, and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie!

[Leah]

Wow! I hope to find a copy of that film to watch. Look at all of those lovely works.