Women in the Stacks: Miss Annie Stirling

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This cowl and mitts set is inspired by the architecture of the main library at the University of Glasgow. Originally housed in the Gilbert Scott building, it is now a towering block on Hillhead Street and its stern vertical windows form the main feature of this design. Four women came to work at the library in 1918-19 for £75 pa (much less than their male counterparts) - Miss Chalmers, Miss Irving, Miss Stirling and Miss Todd. Little else is known about them - there are no images and their first names are recorded just once in the Library Assistants’ Calendar.

With enormous thanks to Sam and Fiona at University of Glasgow Archives and Special Collections for detailed research into their early librarians.

Cochno Farm Wool is produced from fleece of Scotch Mule sheep raised at the University of Glasgow’s Veterinary Medicine base at Cochno Farm - the ‘place of little cups’ where a neolithic stone stands.

It exists thanks to Prof Lynn Abrams and Prof Marina Moskowitz and their work on the history of knitting in the School of Humanities.

Funded by the University of Glasgow Chancellor’s Fund and Royal Society Edinburgh, it is available to buy from the University of Glasgow shop (international shipping available), with all profits donated to the university: 

University of Glasgow Cochno Farm DK wool approx 100m per 50g ball: 2 x Slate Grey; 1 x Natural; 1 (or 2) x Thistle Pink*

Wool amounts are for the ‘natural windows’ cowl and ‘pink windows’ mitts, leaving you with approx 10g each in grey and pink and 25g in natural once finished. If you want your cowl and mitts to match exactly, you will need another ball in Thistle Pink

4mm needles: 80cm circular for magic loop; 23cm mini-circular or dpns if working in the round; straight pins for working flat

Instructions for knitting in the round or flat