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Story: Sewing, knitting and textile crafts

Knitting in the ladies' gallery at Parliament, 1880

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Knitting in the ladies' gallery at Parliament, 1880

Knitting is a portable craft and can be done almost anywhere if the hands are not needed for another purpose. Women have knitted in the debating chamber of Parliament since the 19th century. The women shown here, listening to the debate, are probably wives and relatives of members of Parliament, along with a 'lady newspaper reporter' or two.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/2-C-16700-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, Sewing, knitting and textile crafts – Home textile crafts, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/40518/knitting-in-the-ladies-gallery-at-parliament-1880 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 12 December 2012.