The snood is a very traditional form of headgear, but it retains its popularity in the modern world because of how it combines comfort, style and practicality, and because it presents a fun, relatively simple project for crafters.
What is a snood?
If you purchase a beginners knitting kit such as those available at //www.stitchandstory.com/collections/knitting-kits, you might not be surprised to see various types of hat or other head covering, but you might not expect a snood. This garment, generally made of wool knitted into a mesh, is traditionally used to hold the hair back from the face. The name “snood” comes from “snod”, an Old English word used to refer to a hair ribbon.
What are its origins?
Women in particular have been wearing variations of the snood for many years. It was the height of fashion in the 1860s, used to keep carefully oiled and pinned hair in place when you were heading to an occasion or were likely to be posing for a photograph.
There was a period when snoods were less fashionable, but they were still frequently worn as a hairnet, providing protection in jobs that involved manual or messy tasks. At the same time, a silk ribbon would be worn as a symbol of chastity among some women in parts of the UK. The snood’s popularity rose again during the Second World War, when many women were involved in factory work.
What is it used for today?
Today, a snood can be a fashion statement, whether worn on the head as a balaclava or round the neck as a warm and cosy scarf. It also still serves a practical purpose, like for religious women who believe they should cover their hair when dressing modestly. The snood is just one of many head coverings worn in different contexts in Judaism particularly as part of the Orthodox custom known as Tzniut.
Snoods have a range of practical uses, but they have also become something of a fashion statement in the modern world. Many knitters consider creating a snood to be an interesting and enjoyable project.