Knitting and Crochet in <i>My Weekly</i> , <i>Woman’s Weekly</i> , and <i>Woman’s Own</i> , 1914–1918: Patriotism, Productive Leisure, and Profit

Abstract

During the First World War, women in Britain were encouraged to demonstrate their patriotism through knitting and crocheting woollen comforts for servicemen. Scholarship has acknowledged the contribution made by popular domestic magazines to knitting and crochet campaigns, by urging readers to participate and supplying them with patterns. The role of knitting and crochet in magazines has not, however, been examined. This article explores knitting and crochet in three British domestic magazines, My Weekly, Woman’s Weekly, and Woman’s Own, during the First World War. It demonstrates that, while these publications urged their readers to knit and crochet for servicemen, of greater priority was the production of items unrelated to combat. These supported readers’ ongoing domestic responsibilities and, crucially, helped to safeguard the mental health of those who were experiencing anxiety and trauma. Finally, it will make the point that the magazines’ interest in knitting and crochet was motivated by commercial considerations: the need to boost the profits of publishers, advertisers, and the manufacturers of knitting and crochet products. In doing so, they participate in a distinctively modern culture of consumerism that was emerging at the time.