Knitting Day in Russia

The history of needlework in Rus' dates back to the early Middle Ages Both women from peasant families and city dwellers were engaged in lace knitting and embroidery Mastery of the basics of needlework, which was under the patronage of the goddess Mokosh, made it possible not only to produce fabric for home textiles, but also to decorate bedspreads, towels and tablecloths with fancy patterns Russian lace, which was very popular in Europe, was called gold Skilled craftswomen used shiny threads when weaving them, which were combined with precious stones and brocade fabric When crocheting or knitting, the finest threads of wool, cotton, silk, flax and even nettle were used, which were made by hand by spinners In the summer, during the time of agricultural work, women could not devote all their free time to needlework Gatherings with knitting and embroidery accompanied by leisurely conversations and folk songs were most often held after the end of field work - in autumn and winter A holiday has been established in honor of the ancient craft December 14th is a cozy and warm Knitting Day in Russia The date for the celebration was not chosen by chance On December 14, 1887, the St Petersburg publishing house of the Pantelev brothers “Fashion Bulletin” published a series of three books, “A Course in Women’s Handicrafts” Thanks to this, a wide range of Russian women learned about the secrets of craftsmanship and knitting techniques, to which the second volume was dedicated Leading experts in this field were involved in writing the book, which took three years The result of the work was a real encyclopedia of needlework with original drawings and diagrams, which was republished in 1902 and later in Soviet times Today knitting, which in the XV-XVI centuries From an artisanal home craft it has grown into a profitable industry and is a hobby Previously, craftswomen made blouses, sweaters, stockings, hats, socks and scarves for sale Under Peter I, women were taught in schools how to use spinning wheels, knitting needles, frames and other devices During his reign, at fairs it was possible to buy needlework kits made in Europe and China, which included needles, threads and canvas Craftswomen knitted clothes on knitting needles and hooks that not only kept them warm, but also emphasized the individuality and beauty of women, for themselves and for sale With the advent of weaving machines and the beginning of industrial production in the twentieth century products made of wool, cotton and knitwear, the popularity of embroidery and other types of needlework has practically disappeared A surge of interest in knitting and sewing at home occurred during the Soviet era In conditions of total shortage, housewives created real masterpieces using hooks, knitting needles and machines “Severyanka”, “Ruta” and “Bukovinka” Soviet craftswomen found diagrams and drawings in supplements to the magazines "Peasant" and "Rabotnitsa", and since 1986 - in the printed edition of Burda Moden Today, knitting, one of the varieties of decorative and applied arts, is considered a hobby and an interesting way of spending leisure time Unhurried and measured movements of the knitting needles make needlework similar to contemplative meditative techniques Knitting as a traditional craft of the Slavs received attention during the Year of the Cultural Heritage of the Peoples of the Russian Federation in 2022 This is how the holiday appeared, which is celebrated annually by matrices who are in love with their work on December 14th