It’s not hard to spot–the hands facing each other, close above the lap, each holding a needle. Maybe her attention is on the project; or maybe she doesn’t need to look. Sitting, standing, walking; old and young; there’s a whole lot of knitting going on across the Commons. (For a larger collection, check out the Knitting Across the Commons gallery.)

“Elderly woman, knitting”–clearly a formal portrait, but she’s not about to put down her knitting for the occasion.

George Eastman House

“Mrs. Lewis, Y Borth at 84 Years Old”–notice that, in the time the shutter took to open and close, Mrs. Lewis was completely still except for her hands.

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru / The National Library of Wales

“Herring girls, Scarborough, Yorkshire”–no idle hands for these herring girls, c1910; knitting is a time-honored way to make use of wait time.

National Maritime Museum

“Breien in lagere school in woonwagenkamp”–two girls learning to knit in wartime Holland, 1941; commenters point out that the girls are knitting “English Style,” not “Continental Style”.

Nationaal Archief

“Girls Knitting, 1918″–long before Barbies or Wiis, knitting served the purpose of a social activity for little friends, on a summer day in Ohio.

UA Archives/Upper Arlington History

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