In the cooler climates homes used to be bitingly cold and often damp, especially when constructed of stone. Fireplaces and hefty iron stoves warmed toes in wet socks, provided heat for cooking and for many was the only opportunity to get the laundry dry during winter. Many confined days and evenings were spent knitting up supplies of all manner of items, some quite wacky, to keep our various body parts from freezing to the bone.

Apart from the obvious thick socks, there were family needs to be considered; often the elderly and invalid were cared for at home. Women and children knitted bandages and medical garments. Among the woollies required you would find bed socks, heel-less bed socks, slippers, long-armed gloves, caps, tubular sleeves, knee-caps, wrist warmers for arthritis, scarves, bed-jackets, wraps and miser's gloves (fingerless or short-fingered for counting money, writing and knitting).

One intriguing item is the body warmer, worn of course over the abdomen if one suffered severely from the weather. It no doubt was used for the bed-bound and aged, and proved a soothing layer of wool for those with icy marrow. You might make this up for amusements sake and then find it toasting your tummy under your nightgown next winter. An old folk cure for revitalizing thin winter blood recommended placing ice over the body warmer, then covering with thick blankets. One would thus expect to be thrilled by a flush of fire whooshing through the blood vessels.

MATERIALS

50g balls 4ply wool in cream (heavier weight baby wool)

3.25mm/US 3/UK 10 circular needles (80cm length)

3.00mm/US C/2-D/3/UK 11 circular needles (80cm length)

PATTERN

Knit gauge samples in pattern stitches to determine number of stitches per 2.5cm/inch. Decide on your preferred cast on method; you may want to try one of the soft tubular edges with matching cast off. Using 3.00mm needles, cast on number of stitches according to measurement of tummy. Join into circle and slip over a round place marker to indicate start of each round. Begin plain 1 x 1 ribbing:

Row 1: *k1, p1* repeat around, working in the round. Rib for 12-15cm/5" to 6".

Change to 3.25mm needles continuing in stocking stitch for length required (20-26cm/8" to 10"), then repeat the rib as for beginning. Weave ends. If preferred, use 8ply wool and suitable needles, adjusting number of cast on stitches. Other snug ribbing stitches may be switched for plain 1 x 1 rib. Here are some examples arranged for circular knitting allowing a seamless, smooth undergarment.

Hunter's Rib (in the round):

Round 1: *P4, (K1 through back of loop, p1) 3 times, k1 tbl*.

Wide Rib (in the round): Row 1: *p1, k4*. Row 2: Knit.

Slip Stocking Stitch Eyelet (in the round):

Rounds 1 and 2: *Slip 2 purlwise with yarn at back, k2*. Rounds 3 and 4: Knit. Cord or ribbon can be threaded through the formed eyelets.