The History of Knitting

A Brief History of Knitting

• Knitting is a process of using two or more needles to pull and loop yarn into a series of interconnected loops to create a finished garment or fabric.

• Knitting does not require a loom or other large equipment, making it a valuable technique for nomadic and non-agrarian peoples.

• The oldest knitted artifacts are socks from Egypt, dating from the 11th century.

• The earliest known knitted items in Europe were made by Muslim knitters employed by Spanish Christian royal families.

• Knitting was an important occupation among those living on the Scottish Isles during the 17th and 18th centuries.

• The stocking frame or the mechanical knitting machine was invented in 1589 by William Lee, an English clergyman.

• During World War I, men, women, and children knitted large quantities of clothing and accessories to help the war effort on the Allied side.

• The 1920s saw a vast increase in the popularity of knitwear in much of the western world.

• The prominence of knitwear in fashion of the 1920s continued, but reflected the changes of fashion.

• Hand-knitting reached its peak during World War II following the encouragement to knit for the war efforts.

• The popularity of knitting showed a sharp decline during the 1980s in the Western world.

• Technological advances such as computerised knitting machines saw new designs and approaches to knitting.The Resurgence of Knitting

• Knitting was originally developed as a practical skill for making clothes, but gradually became a popular hobby in the 20th century.

• The 1960s and 70s saw an increase in knitting's popularity, with many people learning the skill in school.

• In the 1980s, the focus shifted to knitting as an art form, with more attention paid to design possibilities.

• The decline of suppliers and wool shops led to a reduction in knitting's popularity, but it still had a loyal following.

• The growth of the internet and the ability to share patterns and advice led to a resurgence in knitting in the early 21st century.

• Natural fibers from animals and plants have become more widely available, and novelty yarns and quick-knitting patterns have also contributed to knitting's popularity.

• Celebrities such as Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz have helped to popularize knitting.

• Men have also returned to the art of knitting, and there are now books aimed at a male readership.

• The internet has allowed knitters to connect and share interests, and knitting podcasts and blogs have emerged.

• Traditional designs and techniques are finding a wider audience.

• Yarn bombing, a type of graffiti, has also become popular.

• The 2006 Knitting Olympics and the founding of Ravelry, an online community for knitters and crocheters, are further signs of knitting's popularity.