Throughout history, intelligence operations often relied on ingenious methods of communication to carry out their missions. Among these methods, one unexpected but remarkably effective technique stands out: knitting. Indeed, the seemingly innocuous craft of knitting has served as a means for spies to transmit secret messages and collect intelligence.
During the two World Wars, operatives transmitted covert messages, concealing them within the very stitches of fabrics, to allies. These allies possessed the skill to decrypt the encoded strands and strategize their responses accordingly. This practice, known as steganography, involves concealing sensitive messages within ordinary objects to evade detection [Source]. Ordinary objects, such as those crafted by needle and yarn.
As such, this article delves into the history of knitting tradecraft, exploring key figures, intricate methods, and the tactical implications of the practice in the clandestine world.
1. History
Knitting comprises various stitches, with the most common ones being known as knit and purl. These two stiches function similar to binary code. Because of this function, there lies the potential for covert messaging as explained by Melissa Kemmerer, co-creator of Nomadic Knits magazine.
Knit stitches form ‘V’ shapes, while purl stitches create horizontal bumps, offering a basic framework for encoding messages. Through Morse code, conveyed by alternating knit and purl stitches, a knitter could embed secret communiqués within garments, such as a sweater. This method enabled message transmission to undercover agents, who, undetected by non-knitters, could decode the information and relay it discreetly to headquarters [Source],[Source].
The intricacies of knitting stitches camouflage hidden messages. Even if one notices a variation, one might dismiss it as a simple mistake in the pattern. This deception relies on the familiarity and expertise of seasoned knitters to discern irregularities. During times of conflict, knitting served as an ideal cover for espionage. For instance, in World War I, Belgian intelligence operatives recruited elderly women near railway stations to covertly observe enemy train movements. The women integrated their observations into their knitting, subtly encoding vital information through stitches. Similarly, in World War II, knitting continued to play a role in boosting morale while serving as a veil for espionage [Source].
In the literary realm, Charles Dickens drew inspiration from the concept of knitting codes to craft a character. In his novel “A Tale of Two Cities” the character of Madame Thérèse Defarge was inspired by the heroic knitting spies. As a tricoteuse, Madame Defarge encoded the names of those sentenced to the guillotine into her knitting during the French Revolution. Dickens masterfully depicted the chilling narrative of revolution and retribution intertwined with the seemingly innocuous act of knitting [Source].
2. Key Figures
2.1 Phyllis Latour Doyle
Known by her code name “Paulette,” Phyllis Latour Doyle, descends from a lineage of knitters. Paulette utilised her handicraft expertise to weave encoded messages into scarves and beanies while traversing enemy territory on her bicycle. Her courageous contributions to the Allied forces earned her the Legion of Honour [Source].
Phyllis Latour Doyle, a British secret agent, operated during World War II. To transmit vital messages to British forces, Doyle used Morse Code. This method of communication is represented by long and short signals, commonly represented as dots and dashes. Employing her knitting skills, she concealed silk yarn with secretly knotted messages within her knitting kit. Silk yarn, chosen for its durability, flexibility, and ability, holds knots securely while maintaining a subtle appearance in her knitting. Doyle selected specific lengths of silk yarn, which she then threaded into her knitting needles alongside regular yarn [Source].
Using specific patterns of knots within the yarn, Doyle encoded messages that represented letters and numbers according to Morse Code. For instance, she might use a series of long and short knots to represent different letters or words. Doyle tied knots in predetermined patterns, each representing a letter, number, or part of a message in Morse Code. These knots were strategically placed within her knitting to avoid detection. Knitting allowed her to transmit vital intelligence to British forces while maintaining the appearance of an ordinary civilian. Through her resourcefulness, Doyle effectively used silk yarn as a crucial component of her espionage efforts during World War II [Source].
2.2 Molly “Old Mom” Rinker
Hailing from the American Revolutionary War era, Molly “Old Mom” Rinker emerged as a pioneer in the art of knitting-based espionage. Acting as a spy for George Washington’s forces, Rinker ingeniously concealed sensitive information within balls of yarn. She then tossed the yarn over cliffs to hide soldiers below. Rinker operated as an innkeeper and tavern keeper in Philadelphia during the British occupation. Her tavern, known as the “Sign of the Black Horse,” became a hub for gathering intelligence and supporting the patriot cause. [Source],[Source].
These messages, discreetly retrieved by operatives aligned with General Washington, facilitated the dissemination of vital intelligence to the patriot forces. Concurrently, Molly’s outward activities, such as knitting socks for the rebel army, provided cover for her clandestine efforts. Besides her knitting-based espionage, Rinker is remembered for her courageous actions on the battlefield during the Revolutionary War. [Source].
3. Knitting Methods
The origins of computer code have parallels with the ancient art of knitting and crocheting. Just as digital data flows through Internet fibre, fibres of yarn interlace to create intricate patterns in the analogue realm. In the language of knitting, the fundamental stitches of knit and purl mirror the binary 0s and 1s of computerese, forming the building blocks of both crafts [Source].
Morse Code knitters employ single purl stitches for dots and sequences of three for dashes. The sequences translate into short and long coded signals. Drawing inspiration from this analogue-digital fusion, Dr Elisabetta Matsumoto of Georgia Tech explores yarn as a programmable material. She also investigates stitch patterns beyond the binary, unveiling the potential for knitting in the realm of coding[Source].
In the realm of espionage, traditional handicraft skills take on a covert dimension. Granny’s intricate slipknot topologies serve as mathematical blueprints, highlighting the potential for elder wisdom in the realm of code. Organisations like Knit to Code also utilise knitting as a teaching simulator for computer coding. This practice bridges generations and skill sets [Source].
Source: Art Crime Archive
3.1 Code Knitting
For some women, the phrase “knit your bit” took on a clandestine meaning. Instead of crafting socks and sweaters, female spies ingeniously wove hidden messages or codes into their knitting. Knitting offers a myriad of techniques for message transmission. In its basic form, knitting operates in binary, employing stitches known as knit and purl. Thus, it lends itself seamlessly to binary codes like Morse code. By skillfully incorporating Morse code into their knitting, spies embedded messaging into ordinary items such as hats or scarves [Source].
Knitters also utilised Morse code through knots. They tied specific configurations of knots to represent dots and dashes, or varying the distances between knots. These encoded messages could then be discreetly passed across enemy lines or integrated into knitted items to be decoded upon interception. Moreover, modern knitters have devised additional methods for concealing hidden meanings in their crafts, such as assigning letters to the number of rows in a particular colour. However, these techniques were not widely adopted among knitting spies [Source],[Source].
The prevalence of this covert code transmission method became significant enough that the U.S. Office of Censorship imposed a ban on disseminating knitting patterns abroad, fearing that they might contain indecipherable secret codes to those not versed in knitting. Even in contemporary times, knitting patterns, with letters and abbreviations, can appear perplexingly similar to code to the untrained observer [Source].
3.2 Concealed Communication
Source:LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/LC-USZC2-670
Knitters used Morse Code and other encoding methods to transmit messages, often concealing silk yarn or knots within their knitting projects. This clandestine communication allowed agents like Phyllis Latour Doyle to relay vital information to allied forces, outwitting adversaries with their covert ingenuity [Source].
Knitting provided spies with a plausible cover for their operations, allowing them to operate undetected within civilian environments while carrying out intelligence-gathering missions. By exploiting societal expectations and stereotypes, operatives like Molly Rinker were able to execute their spying with remarkable finesse. They evaded suspicion while advancing their clandestine agendas [Source].
4. Conclusion
The history of knitting espionage stands as a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of spies throughout the ages. From the intricacies of Morse code embedded within stitches to the ingenious concealment of messages within balls of yarn, knitting has proven to be a remarkably effective tool for transmitting vital intelligence across enemy lines. With advancements in technology and evolving methods of communication, the future of covert operations is bound to incorporate innovative techniques and modern tools. Dr. Matsumoto’s research on yarn as a programmable material hints at the potential for further exploration and experimentation in the realm of code knitting. The intersection of traditional handicraft skills with contemporary coding practices also presents opportunities for continued innovation and collaboration across diverse disciplines.