What kind of research?

The kind that requires a knitters unique view.  For instance I like to imagine what would have motivated an individual to creat a certain type of knitting pattern during a particular moment in history. Many social and economic as well as cultural factors have influenced the historical patterns we are familiar with Fair Isle, Aran, Orenburg, Scandanavian, etc.  Events in our American History - The Revolutionary War, US Civil War,the Great Depression, migration across the US during the expansion period, Knitting for soldiers in WWI, WWII are all types of motivating events in certain points in time. What tpe of yarn was available, what type of garment was knit? What advantages did a certain fiber have over another and what caused the advantage?  So I free write about much of this. ...just a hobby hoping to turn into an article, short story or better.  I am a huge fan of Piecework Magazine, particularly Nancy Bush. I admire her aventurous spirit.

I welcome any comments or stories that you might have about expansionism knitting. Did your great grandmother knit on the way to the Oklahoma territory? What about knitters of the Gold Rush? The Railroad, the trading posts?