Of course they do! Though we did not see a single knitter in France, we are told by reliable sources that they are indeed there. A recent TripAdvisor thread advised that, though knitting in public is not illegal, it is considered “un-sexy”. We didn’t care! We did it anyway!
The French people inject such glorious style and elegance into everything they do and knitting is no exception. Though Bergere de France is arguably France’s largest purveyor of yarns, independent retailers like Les Tricoteurs Volants strive to bring French indy dyers and unusual lines to the fore.
Though knitting is certainly not as trendy in France as it is in Canada, the US and the UK, French knitting has a long and varied history. Take for example the Tricoteuse, tireless revolutionaries who knitted next to the guillotine during the Reign of Terror.
Consider Madam Defarge from A Tale of Two Cities who worked the names of aristocratic candidates to the guillotine into her knitting.
Through the years, the powers of French knitters were used for good…
…and in modern times have produced some of the most elegant technical solutions in the craft. Have you encountered the Ziggurat Method?
This ingenious method of seamless knitting creates the cleanest, most beautiful set-in sleeves I’ve ever seen! Do check out Asa Tricosa and her wonderful tutorials for how to craft these perfect seamless shoulders and sleeve caps.
Each and every year ’round about February or March Paris hosts the Salon Aiguille en Fete, a needlework festival featuring over 220 vendors plus classes and lectures AND the annual speed knitting contest! How many knitted stitches can you produce in three minutes flat? Better hurry. The record is 264!
Perhaps the most appealing and whimsical trends in French knitting must be the little Tricoter.
Known as French knitting, corking, or spool knitting, these charming little spools produce knitted tubes that resemble I-cord. The tubes are then configured into pretty projects like these:
So all things considered, we must conclude that they do, in fact, knit in France. I think that to be absolutely sure though, we’d best go back and check again!
Love,
Cheryl
