Knitting as Espionage, Part One: Secrets in the Stitch
Ridiculous History
iHeartPodcasts
4.2 • 4.7K Ratings
🗓️ 17 March 2026
⏱️ 34 minutes
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Summary
For a lot of folks in the modern day, knitting is more a relaxing hobby than a household necessity. However, not too long ago, this needlecraft was a genuine -- and effective! -- tool for spies. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the fascinating history of knitting as espionage.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Ridiculous History is a production of IHeart Radio. Welcome back to the show. |
| 0:27.9 | Fellow ridiculous historians, thank you, as always so much for tuning in previously on ridiculous history. |
| 0:36.2 | We examined the phenomenal story of people conducting |
| 0:42.6 | tradecraft, of people conducting espionage and acts of spying through something as humble as knitting. |
| 0:50.6 | Crafts. |
| 0:51.4 | Crafts. Yeah. There we go. Perfect. |
| 1:02.5 | And we want to give a shout out to our big homie, our super producer, Max, Crochet, croquet, |
| 1:03.5 | croquette. |
| 1:04.4 | Wait a minute. |
| 1:06.0 | Different things. |
| 1:06.9 | Williams. |
| 1:08.9 | That is. Phalcasar. |
| 1:09.5 | Phalcas. |
| 1:18.1 | We also have lightly pitched the idea of a falcon czar to ourselves off air. |
| 1:24.8 | We took a quick break, but through the magic of editing, we are rejoining you today. |
| 1:29.9 | Let's hear it for none other than the one and only Mr. Noel Brown. |
| 1:30.5 | Does I? |
| 1:38.1 | Tis you, my friend. They call me Ben Bullen in this neck in the global woods for tax purposes. |
| 1:47.8 | You can obviously communicate my comings and goings through a V or a pearl in a scarf. |
| 1:51.2 | I'm wearing a scarf right now because it's kind of got chilly today. |
| 1:52.3 | It's unpredictable. |
| 1:55.4 | I walked out and I yelled at the sky. |
... |
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