This is a pineapple reticule from 1810 or so. It is crocheted. In Of Noble Family, I have Jane making a silk fabric version of the same.Why?
Because I have absolutely no idea how to crochet. I know fabric and how to make this shape out of it. There were cloth reticules. The smocking technique she’s using is available. The pineapple shape is available. So… I decided to opt for sticking with things I knew how to do rather than doing a bunch of research for something that is basically texture in the scene.
Speaking of scenes… There’s a new chapter for those of you reading along.
Edited to add: I have been told that it is probably knitted (thus proving how little I know about crocheting and knitting) and that there’s a pattern for it.
I saw someone last year at Teslacon with this reticule and I have been lusting after it ever since!
I’m officially on a campaign to make the reticule the lion of Noble Family. I totally want it to come up again.
Jane could totally hide a verre in there, right? Or bean someone with it?
I don’t even know I just want it to be a thing.
We’ll see…
(I totally understand if it is not a thing. I just like funny-shaped purses).
Not just you! I have been an outspoken fan of the Pineapple Reticule character since it first appeared!
Me too! Hiding a verre in the reticule was the first thing I thought of.
I even looked it up online and found the knitted one. But at least in my mind’s eye, the sewn version is so much cooler.
The TV show “Psych” features a pineapple or reproduction thereof in every episode. Usually as unmentioned background decor.
I think the pineapple reticule should be used for something later on. And instead of Chekhov’s Gun, we’ll refer to Kowal’s Pineapple Reticule.
There’s a comedy theatre troupe in my town called Pineapple-Shaped Lamps; I think their name was inspired by Psych.
I, too, would enjoy seeing the pineapple reticule show up as a plot point, but of course Mary Knows Best.
Yeah, it’s knitted. I have the pattern. And I’m totally going to make one. Soon. Of course, I need to get my gown made first. But it’s much harder to pop a gown into my bag and surreptitiously work on it when I’m at the bookstore. Not that I wouldn’t try.
The great advantage of the smocked fabric one (besides not being as insane-sounding as the knitted one) is that it needs no lining. Thus it can carry either tiny things that would slip through the holes, or heavy things like a Verre Obs. or a villain-clonking rock.
Practical!
There is a modern version of this bag is available for free at Knitty here if knitters want to make their own:
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss12/FEATss12SIT.php
It is updated by Franklin Habit, who has done a lot of this kind of update, and is used to smoothing out some of the problems that can arise between modern knitters and older patterns.