Casgliadau Arlein

Scimitar-shaped, upper part turned, glass inset. The head of this sheath has been decorated with an inlaid rectangular panel of glass which covers a slip of paper with the initials M and M.

Knitting needle sheaths were sometimes worn by knitters to hold one of their needles while they worked. This allowed them to use their free-hand to manipulate the yarn. The sheath was either tucked into the knitter’s waistband or tied around their waist. The most common material used in the making of knitting needle sheaths was wood. In its simplest form, a sheath could be a roughly shaped piece of wood with no decoration at all, but the vast majority were carefully made using a variety of techniques, including carving and inlaying. The surface of a sheath was often inscribed with text and motifs. Although a number of sheaths were made by professional woodworkers and turners, the vast majority were made by untrained craftspeople.