Featured Antique Crochet Piece ..Any help appreciated

Hi all..I have had this piece since 1999. Given to me by my aunt..who said it was from my great great grandmother. Though I doubt it goes back that far. My great grandmother was born in 1857. My great great grandmother lived 1816-1877. Both born in Germany.
I was also told it was crochet. (I know nothing about textiles!!!)

Size approx. 24x24 . Very good condition. My aunt kept it wrapped in tissue in a box for over 50 years.

I really would like to determine age and if indeed crochet and anything else of interest.

TIA janette

 

Looks knitted to me, rather than crochet but do wait for others to weigh in. I doubt an age will be able to be determined... My mother was doing this type of stuff in the 1970s/80s but similar patterns have been around longer than that and are still available.
Very pretty!

 

Not a clue how to crochet, but I think it's gorgeous!!!!!!

 

Think bluumz maybe correct.
I can't enlarge your pictures.
This looks like the pearl stitch - knitting.


@Northern Lights Lodge might be able to help

 

What ever it is, it is lovely.
A lot of work went into it. If knitted they used tiny needles.

 

Just want to add that it puts me in mind of all the christening blankets mom used to knit for friends and relatives... though yours is rather small in size for that.

Found a very similar example which used this modern pattern:
https://www.knitpicks.com/baby-counterpane-christening-blanket/g/12041220

 

Thanks all...I am posting a better close up ...but have no idea why it is green !!!!
Stitches are VERY VERY tiny. This photo on super micro setting.

 

Definitely knit, not crochet.

 

thanks !!! I can't believe how small the needle must have been. I am going to take a better picture tomorrow of the "stitch" size.

 

Knitting needles are available in a wide range of sizes/diameters, some very skinny.

 

Hi JanetteKay,
WOWZA!!! What a great piece! Yes, to those who said it was knit! It is indeed knitted and yes, WEE tiny needles! I have some of those needles... they are just steel...only a bit larger than a wire; but real stiff. They were my Great-Grands and Grandmothers... they used them for knitting bandages during WWI in England. Yes, because of the size thread; and the pattern...it is definitely older. What is the fiber... cotton? or a wool?

I think Bluumz is on the right track with baby blanket. But I'm thinking Victorian era "pram" blanket. I can see that in an ornate wicker baby stroller! With the raised petals; I don't think it is a home decor table topper... and Bluumz is right it is too small for a Christening blanket....

A sweet piece!
Leslie

 

Hi @janettekay, I took the green out and only enlarged a little bit......

 

Hi Leslie!
Just wondering how you came to think Victorian? My mother was knitting stuff just like this with the same lacy leaf motif in the 1970s/80s/90s and patterns like it are still available now. (Trying to educate myself.)

 

I think for me, it is the petite size of the piece... not big enough for a christening blanket and it looks too “heavy” or “dense” for a christening blanket. It looks like it was made for warmth. Christening blankets seem to be more decorative than functionally warm. It doesn’t look large enough for a crib blanket and I think it is too fancy for an everyday crib blanket. So I keep going back to pram blanket. Yes, it could be a bit more modern in terms of age - but by the 40’s and 50’s it seems like most stroller sets were lighterweight wool in fancy stitches. She didn’t say if it was wool or cotton, but it looks like cotton to me from the pics... and pieces worked in that fine dense cotton, seems to have fallen out of vogue by circa 1920-30. There are always exceptions! And then if we add in that she said her great-grand (assuming she did) make it (which certainly could date it to the mid to late 1800’s) — I stıll vote for pram blanket! I’d love other opinions...
Leslie

 

Depends if the christening took place in early fall or winter. Are German winters really cold with snow?

Also a pram blanket if used regularly would have been washed a lot. This looks almost pristine. Special occasion. It was wrapped and put away for safe keeping.

 

Thank you so much !! Yes..it appears to be cotton certainly not wool.
And I really do believe it is a very old piece. My aunt was very specific in her info to me and even had me write it down. She did say it was it was from my "great grandmother and given to her by her mother." She said it was "special" and had kept it wrapped and stored since she got it.
There is no damage at all..and no discoloration at all (except for one 1/8" spot/stain.
It is lightweight .

 

CORRECTION...I am so sorry...but need to correct my posted info re: ancestry.
.my great great grandmother was born in Alsace region and her dates were 1828-1908. She immigrated to US in 1840.

 

@Northern Lights Lodge
When you reply to someone - If you type outside the quote box, your response doesn't look like you are quoting the original poster.
Will also allow others to quote you. I've copied and italicized your comment below.

So Cluttered, are you thinking Christening blanket? Certainly possible, as Christening blankets were often more for "show" than warmth. Or are you thinking some sort of table linen?

I have no thoughts as to what this was used for. Other than to think that it was used for a special occasion. Christening would certainly be the first thought.

 

Oh, thanks Cluttered... I'll try to do that...thanks for the tip.

I can go with Special Occasion; Christening...
Leslie