# What is this hand knitted object? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460 "2012-10-11T21:30:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/21 "2012-10-17T14:34:22Z")
[Cat mermaid.](http://kittenreach.blogspot.com/2009/10/hmmm-i-wonder-if-mermaid-cats-really.html) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/22 "2012-10-17T14:37:13Z")
An extra-fancy washing mitt? [http://www.zarinas.com/mitts.shtml](http://www.zarinas.com/mitts.shtml) You put the soap inside along with your hand, that way the soap doesn’t get all hairy. Still doesn’t solve the flap question though. Why a flap if there’s no hole underneath it? I’m sure answering that is the key here. . . ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/23 "2012-10-17T14:56:29Z")
[You put your weed in there!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muA5EBmpDhA) ---
**Author:** ![vectorsdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5fc32e/32.png) [@vectorsdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vectorsdog)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/24 "2012-10-18T23:24:55Z")
it’s a rice bag…for slinging over a Camel…or a horse. I collect them. It is a relative of the Sozani (laundry bag)…They are used by Nomads…to serve rice at desert stops. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/25 "2012-10-19T21:42:51Z")
I’m not getting the visual here. “Slinging over a camel?” it’s the size of a mitten. But anyway he question I really want to ask is - what is the flap? I was thinking last night that maybe it’s a knitted symbol that shows who owns it? ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/26 "2013-01-11T00:55:16Z")
Stumbled across this link on Pinterest. Is your object an arm warmer? Scroll 1/3 down the page, or search “Peruvian arm warmer” on this site. [http://spinsjal.blogspot.com/2010\_11\_01\_archive.html](http://spinsjal.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html) ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/27 "2013-01-11T11:59:23Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I’m not getting the visual here. “Slinging over a camel?” it’s the size of a mitten. So is the camel. I wonder if it may be a failed student project. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/28 "2013-01-12T12:10:00Z")
Wow, still going. The flap doesn’t have a different design or signature so it’s not a place with the name. Also, it is too small to sling over a camel, unless its a toy camel. As for an arm warmer, I’d Say no. It’s just not the right shape and the central bit is all wrong for that. Interested about how this thread’s on Pinterest though. ---
**Author:** ![midnight-dreary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@midnight-dreary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/midnight-dreary)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/29 "2013-01-12T13:39:14Z")
i wonder if it’s meant to clean the rug? Specifically, I wonder if it’s meant to be dampened, then you put your hand in it and drag it across the carpet, picking up hair and fluff etc. I was told that using a damp cloth could help me clean my rugs of fur/fluff/hair/etc, and it reminds me of those cleaning clothes that go over your hand… ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/30 "2013-01-12T14:09:25Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Wow, still going. The flap doesn’t have a different design or signature so it’s not a place with the name. Also, it is too small to sling over a camel, unless its a toy camel. > > As for an arm warmer, I’d Say no. It’s just not the right shape and the central bit is all wrong for that. Interested about how this thread’s on Pinterest though. Thread’s not on Pinterest, weird knitted object is. I saw the arm warmers and remembered the thread. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/31 "2013-01-12T14:27:11Z")
There’s a knitting website called Ravelry. I’m going to post a link to this thread over there and see if anyone has any ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/32 "2013-01-12T16:11:22Z")
Of course, thanks Throppus. And much appreciated kayT. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/33 "2013-01-14T02:29:21Z")
Well, we got a few guesses on Ravelry but the only one that seems likely is this one: > [@](#): > > My guess is it’s a miser’s purse of some type (coin purse/bag) that can be found in many cultures and time periods. Likely this one was worn folded over a belt. Narrowed middle and rounded opening at the top would allow you to pour some of the coins into the top to pick what you wanted without pouring everything out (also kept you from reaching into the bottom and drawing out a fist full of coins). Many bags of this type have drawstring tops and/or string to wear them around one’s neck. Draw string in the middle isn’t unheard of. A few styles look like weird socks with individual toes for each type of coin. The flap is one style of covering a small opening in a stretchable fabric in which a single coin could be added or removed from the lower portion without removing the bag from your waist (some had two beads between which you had to reach between). It’s possible whoever knit it forgot to leave an opening. Just like we keep trying to improve the convenience and security of wallets, such things were designed miser’s purses. The little drawstring cloth pouch we see in cowboy movies is not a very secure coin purse (easily spills, not especially secure on a belt), but then, a lot of what’s in the movies isn’t very accurate 🙂 What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![blueblonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@blueblonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueblonde)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/34 "2013-01-14T09:43:10Z")
If it helps at all, I think it’s upside down in the first photo - looking at the animals (birds?) in the pattern, they seem to have legs that indicate which way would be up. Perhaps it’s a tea cozy with a built in pad to protect a table from the heat? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460/35 "2013-01-14T13:40:55Z")
Thanks kayT I think that’s the best shot at a correct answer yet. And yes blue blonde I think you’re right and that it is upside down. Now you’ve pointed it out I’m wondering if looking at the symbols might provide further clues. Here are a few symbol meanings but not sure if seeing waves/water really gives much insight [Uri Jacobi Oriental Carpets & Rugs in Chester, Cheshire](http://www.urijacobiorientalcarpets.co.uk/aboutus/#symbols) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-hand-knitted-object/637460.md?page=1)