A fisherman’s family faced hard economic times in this era, so women and girls knitted to supplement the family income, as well as to clothe the family.

Women knit constantly- while walking, doing errands, doing chores, attending the children, even into the late night without electricity. The needles were double pointed to allow for knitting in the round. If the needles, known as “wires” were scarce, bicycle spokes or umbrella ribs could be substituted.

There were no written patterns at this time, so knitting designs were by memory and handed down within families and communities. This contributed to familial identity and pride and a sense of belonging in one’s village homeland. Often the wearer’s initials were knitted above the welt. The various stitch patterns were chosen to symbolize familiar objects in everyday life, superstitions, and beliefs. Popular motifs included ropes, nets, anchors, herringbones, shells, quay steps, lighthouses, wavy shapes of the sea, and zigzags known as marriage lines, denoting the ups and downs of married life.