Friday, September 19, 2014

Flashback Friday: Knitting Muffatees

Knitting has been called the friend of the blind, and is certainly the friend of the aged, as it affords the most easy and graceful employment in which they can be engaged. Then it is a really useful art both for the rich and poor. Knit garments are warmer and more durable than woven. Knitting can be done at times when no other work could be taken up, and during the long winter evenings what a host of useful things can be made by the industrious fingers!--caps, cuffs, comforters, shawls, spencers, stockings, tippets, gloves, mittens. And then what stores of ornamental articles does it afford! What beautiful purses, bags and beadwork will knitting produce! We are sure of the thanks of all ladies, young as well as old, for calling their attention to this useful and elegant branch of female art, and also for the assistance our illustrations will prove. No other periodical attends to these things.
Ladies Work Department--Knitting
Godey's Magazine and Lady's Book Feb 1847; 34, p110.

Photo used by permission of Adrienne Martini, Martini Made
The article goes on to explain the terms used in knitting and gives general tips before providing several patterns for baby's and children's stockings, two muffs and a pair of muffatees. We know the latter today as fingerless mitts. But I demand my friends who knit fingerless mittens start calling them muffatees. Save the muffatees!

8 comments:

riona said...

I'll rally round, "Save the muffatees!" Let's just hope that I don't have one of my senior moments and start shouting, "Save the manatees!"

Margaret said...

Ooooh, I like that term! Have to remember it. Muffatees. Muffatees.....

Linda said...

Nice article Nikki. I too love the word Muffatee.

Linda

Real Live Woman said...

My sister knit me fingerless gloves for my birthday this year. I will start calling them muffatees!

Coral said...

Muffatee, sounds a bit rude. Ergo: I will use it!

Mouse said...

hahahahah just love that word and hope I can pronounce it right :) If you feel like knitting me a pair I won't be offended as I use them a lot in winter* :) love mouse xxx

*you know I can't knit ...lol

Hazel said...

Muffatees! Brilliant. X

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

What's that? Muffins for tea? Don't mind if I do LOL

It's a great word anyway.