14 July 2020 – Bastille Day

I am very tired and this is a bit convoluted, so as briefly as possible:

• It’s Bastille Day in France 
• I’ve made croissants before and nearly broke a tooth on them, wasn’t going to make that mistake again
• So thought I’d try French knitting, aka spool knitting, or corking, or tomboy knitting, reel, box or bung knitting
• Didn’t have a loom
• Had to make a loom
• Out of a toilet roll and four lollypop sticks
• French knitting looms have many other names like Knitting Nancys, knitting knobbys, and corkers
• French knitting is very easy
• And fiddly
• And quick
• Toilet rolls are a perfect palm size 
• A Knitting Nancy is sometimes fancy. I think I had a doll one when I was little
• French knitting was used as therapy for wounded soldiers in the First World War
• It’s said French knitting was a traditional way of making medieval monks’ girdles
• I made a tricolour i-cord instead
• The cat is now playing with it

Here’s some pictures:

And here’s my favourite bit in Casablanca where they sing La Marseillaise:

No, you have something in your eye.

Resources

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/bastille-day-2016-what-is-it-when-france-national-holiday-parade-say-in-french-a7136431.html

http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/knittingnancys.html

http://spoolknitter.blogspot.com/2007/07/henley-knitting-nancy.html