This week we had a different kind of event at ROAAr: Rare Stitches: Knitting Inspired by Illuminated Manuscripts with Dr. Kristen Howard. Knitters and book lovers alike gathered to hear about manuscript knitting – or converting illuminated initials into knitting patterns. As promised, we include links below for your inspiration and exploration.  

Many of you joined from all over and we look forward to hearing about the creative projects that you all create. The pattern Kristen Howard created is based on Manuscript 73, a fifteenth century italian antiphonal, see the link below. The pattern is available below and for free on Ravelry – For the Ravelry community, connect with Dr. Howard there as @theclosestknit, or on Twitter as @krchoward  

Get the Manuscript Cowl Pattern

Knitting Resources

Want to learn to knit?

Very Pink Knits https://verypink.com/category/techniques/basics/

Looking for beginner-friendly patterns?

Can Knits, The Simple Collection – https://tincanknits.com/book/the-simple-collection

Ready to try fair isle?

Tin Can Knits, Anthology – https://tincanknits.com/pattern/anthology

Unsure how to catch floats in two-handed fair isle?

Chai Knuckles Knitting video https://www.chaiknucklesknitting.com/blog/2018/4/26/galloway-cardigan-capturing-floats-in-stranded-knitting-video

Interested in creating your own colourwork charts?

Stitch Fiddle – https://www.stitchfiddle.com/en

Manuscript Resources

Browse through Manuscript 73 on the Internet Archive.

Watch the Manuscript 73 Playlist on YouTube

Horae Digital Collection – Explore the richly illustrated Books of Hours Online

The Cantus Database

– An international project based out of the University of Waterloo, here you can explore chant melodies and texts. Rather that the images of the manuscripts, this projects traces the melodies and contents.

Contact Ann Marie Holland, curator of the manuscript and incunabulae collection by email: ann.marie.holland@mcgill.ca

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