February 2022 Exhibit: Auto-knitter Sock Making Machine 1/31/22

Описание: Display Case Exhibit
Hilde Bensheimer’s Auto-Knitter cast iron vintage hand-crank circular sock knitting machine and Black Sheep Woolens socks

HILDE BENSHEIMER: A semi-retired gardener/landscaper by profession, I have been interested in fiber arts since an early age starting with knitting and sewing as a child. When not gardening or attending my seasonal shop, Pure Maine, in Southwest Harbor, I spend much of my time working with fiber either knitting, dyeing, or felting. Some 25+ years ago I discovered the Auto-Knitter, a cast iron vintage hand-crank circular sock knitting machine. First manufactured in the 19th century, sock machine usage became a cottage industry in World War II with the increased need for wool socks. Machines and yarn were given to rural families by the Red Cross with the promise of knitting socks for soldiers. Usage declined in the 1930's with production of commercial socks but in the late 1970's the cast iron Auto-Knitter, was revived by George Fricke, then owner of Bartlettyarns, Inc in Harmony, Maine. Today you can still find the old machines in people's attics or on ebay. New steel machines, modeled after vintage machines, are now being manufactured both in New Zealand and the USA. My socks, Black Sheep Woolens, are made using mostly Bartlett Yarn, Inc wool or wool/alpaca blend yarn and can be found at the Common Ground Fair, in local shops and coops and on our website puremaine.com. To learn more about the Auto-knitter, visit https://www.angoravalley.com/CSM/harm....

Socks are available for purchase $24/pair with 20% of sales benefitting the library.

Call 207-244-7065 or email [email protected] for details.