Fishermen’s Woolen Nippers
Earlier members of the Annisquam Sewing Circle knit nippers like this pair.
Fishermen working trawl lines in the 19th century often suffered cuts and rope burns on their hands. They typically wore mittens or gloves to protect themselves when hauling the long lines aboard and removing the fish. These sturdy but soft rings, called nippers, are knitted of woolen yarn and stuffed with more wool. They would have fit around a fisherman’s palms, protecting his hands while his fingers remained free for tasks requiring dexterity.
These nippers were probably made in Gloucester, Mass., for use by local fishermen working on offshore schooners. The shallow, fertile banks stretching from Georges Bank east of Nantucket to the Grand Bank off Newfoundland, Canada, were prime fishing areas for Gloucestermen. Cod, haddock, and halibut were the principal species caught by fishermen working aboard schooners in these waters in the late 19th century.
These nippers were among the fishermen’s clothing, tools, and apparatus featured by the United States in the 1883 International Fisheries Exhibition in London.
- ID Number:
- AG*102074
- Place Made:
- Gloucester, Massachusetts
- Material:
- woolen
- Date:
- 1880s
- Dimensions:
- 5 in x 3.365 x 1.7717; 12.7mm x 85 x 45 mm
- Source:
- U.S. Fish Commission
Preparing for a Nor’easter
Let it snow, let it snow… Twenty-four inches in twenty-four hours are predicted.
In the meantime, there are rumors that a Talent Show is in the works. This photograph is from an earlier time when the Talent Show was held in the Village Hall. Recognize any of the performers?
The Annisquam Sewing Circle Feeds the Members of the Leonard Club
The ladies of the Sewing Circle use to prepare and serve a dinner to the men of the Leonard Club.
At a meeting of the ASC Grace Tomlinson Murray, a long-time member shared her memories of an unforgettable evening.
Knitting on the right! Knitting on the left!
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/03/29/how-politics-tested-ravelry-and-the-crafting-community
From the “Annisquam Village Cookbook” 1945 edition
Resource for Knitters
Found a new knitting pattern but having difficulty figuring out the language?
You might find your answers here:
Knitting Abbreviations
Knit Chart Symbols
Knitting – How to Read Pattern
Backyard Growers
Why the Members of the ASC selected Backyard Growers to receive support…

Backyard Growers Mission: We connect kids, families and seniors to healthy food through school, community and backyard vegetable gardens.
https://www.backyardgrowers.org/