Knit in Gold: An Examination of a Seventeenth-Century Knitted Waistcoat

Abstract

Seventeenth-century knitted-silk waistcoats have mystified dress historians for years since little is known about how these intricately patterned knitted garments were worn or used. This paper documents the examination and research of a seventeenth-century woman’s knitted-silk waistcoat from the Burrell Collection, Glasgow Museums, Scotland. This waistcoat, acquired by the museum in 1937, is knit in silk yarns and illustrates the impressive craftsmanship of seventeenth-century knitting techniques. In documenting the close study of this seventeenth-century waistcoat, this research report shows that this garment was significantly altered for sale prior to the acquisition into the Burrell Collection and serves to contribute to knowledge of early modern knitting techniques.