Egyptian Knitted Pouches

1. From the Editor
2. Some of my Sprang!
3. Egyptian Knitted Pouches
4. Gifts to the Crown
5. Controversy Corner - Grading & Ranking Guidelines
6. Guild Masters

There are a relatively large number of knitted fragments surviving from Egypt in the medieval period. They are all knitted in the round (knitted as a tube on multiple double pointed needles). The gauge is between 10 and 20 stitches per inch. Surviving examples are made from either wool or cotton, although one example is knitted from coloured wool and from ecru cotton.

Several of these surviving pieces are pouches which are thought to be either coin purses or possibly belt ends. The surviving pieces are long narrow tubes which are closed at one end (although one piece is fragmented at both ends). The pouch shown on the left has several different designs knitted into it, and was used as the inspiration for this pattern.

I decided to write a pattern for one as a sampler and introduction to Egyptian knitting. This pouch will start at the bottom and has a shaped bottom, to introduce people to making toe-up stockings. Then there are several pattern bands, including some with kufic script, so that people can learn how to read graphs and do stranded knitting evenly. Don't worry if you make any mistakes - a surviving piece of knitting has "typos" in the knitting of the word "Allah", so mistakes are period!

Materials:

• fairly fine wool or cotton in two different colours,
• set of 4 double pointed knitting needles,
• scissors (optional),
• tapestry needle (optional).

Gauge:

The gauge is not really important, as variations will just give a smaller or larger pouch.

Pattern:

Starting this project is the hardest part, so don't worry if you find it a bit awkward. The first few rows are hard because it feels like you are trying to knit with a spider. You may find it easier to rest your knitting on a flat surface while you knit the first few rows.

Start by casting on 7 stitches. Put 2 stitches on the first two needles and 3 on the third. Then join into a circle by knitting the first and last stitches together. Make sure you don't twist the knitting or you will make a moebius strip!

1. Knit 1 row firmly.
2. Knit 1, inc 1 (6x) (Use whatever type of increase you prefer. If you use a knit in back of stitch inc, you'll need to do this every stitch).
3. Knit 1 row.
4. Knit 2, inc 1 (6x).
5. Knit 1 row.
6. Knit 3, inc 1 (6x).
7. Knit 1 row. Now it should be getting easier!
8. Knit 4, inc 1 (6x).
9. Knit 1 row.
10. Knit 5, inc 1 (6x).
11. Knit 1 row.
12. Knit 6, inc 1 (6x).
13. Knit 1 row.
14. Knit 7, inc 1 (6x). You should now have 48 stitches, 16 on each needle. If you want your pouch to be wider in diameter, just continue increasing a bit longer.
15. Knit several plain rows. Now knit one or more pattern sections. I've given you some graphs of designs, so that you can choose your own. These pattern graphs are from "A History of Handknitting". Generally graphs are read by starting at the bottom right hand corner and reading across to the left. Because you are knitting in the round, start reading every line of the graph at the same side. Work several narrow pattern bands, or one wide band. When doing stranded knitting with two colours, always carry your main colour (white in this case) over the top and your second colour underneath. Try to keep your knitting even, especially at the corners between needles. You'll notice loops of cotton forming on the inside of the work- these are called "floats". If they are too loose or too long they'll catch on things, but if they are too tight they'll distort your knitting and it won't be very stretchy (important for when you knit socks). If the floats are more than 4 or 5 stitches long, catch the cotton into the knitting every few stitches.
    
    

    Pattern Examples.
    Click for larger Image.
16. When your pouch is the desired length, knit a few rows plain. Then you are going to work a row of eyelets to run your cord through.
17. Knit 1 row of yarn forward, then knit 2 together (24x).
18. Knit 1 row.
19. Cast off. For a pouch you can cast off using a standard cast off as long as you keep it fairly loose, but if you later knit socks you should use a tubular cast off to give a stretchier edge.
20. Sew your loose ends in. Make a twisted cord for the top. Make a tassel and sew it to the bottom (optional).

References

• "A History of Hand Knitting" by Richard Rutt. Batsford, 1987.
• "Tissus D'Egypte Temoins du Monde Arab VIIIc-XVc siecles: Collection Bouvier", Societe Presence du livre, 1993.

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