During the European Middle Ages, Egyptians were hand-knitting socks using yarn and both adults and children wore socks such as these daily, probably with sandals. They were doubtless sold in the markets in Cairo, but it is unknown how widespread hand knitting was in the Islamic world. The socks were worked beginning at the toe and were knitted in the round using four or five needles. The horizontal stripes of patterns on these socks fall into three distinctive types: 1) geometrics; 2) flora and fauna; and 3) figures that imitate Arabic script. This one has geometric patterns and Arabic inscription.
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Geography:
Egypt
Culture:
Islamic
Collection:
The Textile Museum Collection
Accession Number:
73.696
Credit Line:
Acquired by George Hewitt Myers in 1953
Date:
10th century-12th century
Copyright:
Public domain
Object Type:
Textile
Dimensions:
50.00 L x 16.00 W cm (19 11/16 L x 6 5/16 W in)
Structure:
interlooping
Style:
Islamic
Bibliography:
Nancy Bush (Author), Folk Socks: The History & Techniques of Handknitted Footwear, Interweave Press, Loveland, CO, 1994, p. 78
Stevens, Rebecca A. T. (Author), Old Traditions/New Directions, The Textile Museum, Washington, D.C., 1981., p. 7
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Exhibition History:
Looping and Knitting, A History, The Textile Museum, Washington DC, February 07, 1997 - July 27, 1997