The Michael Harvey Collection

The recent bequest to the museum of significant artefacts from the collection of the late Michael Harvey, who was very well known for his research and documentation of craft textile work, has established the museum’s collection. We now have more than forty historic ganseys as well as related objects, accessories, books and other research material as part of our collection within the museum, making it one of national significance.

In this video, Lesley Lougher introduces Michael Harvey and this spectacular collection. Various garments and accessories from his collection were on display as part of our 2021 Summer Exhibition.

The Craske Collection

We also hold an excellent collection of embroidery work by John Craske (1881 – 1943). Born into a Sheringham fishing family, Craske was dogged by ill health throughout his life.

He occupied himself when he was incapacitated by painting; in later years when often bed-bound and unable to paint, he embroidered scenes of coastal life and events from his memory.

His naive but perceptive style impressed collectors and he achieved international fame in his lifetime.

Ganseys and Knitting Accessories

The Museum holds an extensive textile collection, including a number of very fine old ganseys.We have a team of textile enthusiasts researching their origins, their patterns and the knitting techniques that were used to make them.

The group meets monthly (3rd Tuesday of the month). We knit or sew in support of the museum exhibitions and displays.

One of our researchers is Martin Warren, who became very interested in ganseys during his time as manager of Cromer Museum, which also holds a number of ganseys in its collection. Martin has documented his research results and you can see his work by clicking here.

You can read more about knitting accessories below here.

Knitting Sheaths

How were they used?

The sheath was worn at an angle, tucked into the knitter’s belt, called a ‘cow-band’ or an apron waistband or string. The hole at one end would be made according to the diameter of the needle used, thereby the smaller the hole, the finer the gauge of knitting.

Sometimes the ball of yarn was held inside a purse attached to the knitter’s belt by a hook, or stuck onto a nail hammered into the back of the knitter’s clog. This hook was called a ‘clue-holder’, a ‘clue’ being the name for a ball of yarn. Clue holders were in use up to the mid 18th century.

Another old-time device was a wooden pin onto which the yarn was wound, which was pointed at one end and broad and flat at the other. This was known as a ‘broach’ and was inserted into the side of the clog or shoe of the knitter and held the yarn tensioned whilst knitting.

Types of Knitting Sheaths

The illustrations below show some of the many designs used, from very simple constructions up to very fine pieces of craft work. Spindle, Pierced, Ball and cage and Chain, Bundley Sticks, Chip-carved, Goose wing, Chisel shaped, Heart & novelty shaped, Ceramic, Blown Glass or metal, Forked and shafted sheaths. These are all types of handknitting sheaths.

Spindle sheaths

Relatively simple in form with a turned appearance and date from the early 19th century. Later, more complex turned ‘spindle’ sheaths were made in the North of England, these were produced by the textile mills in quantity and on the same industrial machinery which made the bobbins and pirns used to hold the yarn for loom weaving.