The Knitting in Early Modern Europe is an ongoing research project which began as an EU-funded Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship at the Centre for Textile Research at the University of Copenhagen. The main focus of the project was knitted caps from the 15th to the 17th centuries (see below for research results so far). It has now expanded to look at other knitted garments as part of The Tudor Tailor’s publication plans, including knitting instructions for garments typical of lower class people in the early modern era.

A key part of the production process for knitted goods in the early modern era was fulling (beating the fabric and raising a nap) to thicken it and improve its surface. Key to successful fulling was the appropriate choice of yarn. The search for a 21st century fleece which makes a good substitute for the raw material used in the early modern era continues.

How to get involved

If you would like to join the KEME Team, take part in the experimental archaeology, and/or follow the progress of the research, there are three ways to participate.