PieceWork Presents: Vintage Knitting with Mrs. Beeton eBook

One day in January 2016, if you had been in the PieceWork office, you would have heard shouts of joy. This was a special day—an original 1870 edition of Beeton's Book of Needlework that we had purchased had just arrived! We had been looking long and hard for a copy of this book for the PieceWork collection, and now it was finally here. It did not disappoint.

For PieceWork's first glimpse into the needlework world of 1870, we are very pleased to bring you the knitting content from Beeton's Book of Needlework as an eBook. Here, you'll find instructions for a child's sock; a stunning purse; numerous borders; ready-for-today's-world suspenders; a lovely neckerchief (we would call it a triangular scarf); patterns for counterpanes, a quilt, curtains, and a cover for a sofa cushion; an intriguing veil; and so much more. The section with general knitting instructions takes you from casting on to casting off. This truly is a treasure trove.

Please do note that all of the material presented here is reproduced exactly as it was printed in the 1870 edition. Neither alterations nor corrections were made. And the book was published in London, primarily for a British audience. Nonetheless, it presents a true portrait of what and how people were knitting in 1870. Enjoy!