History of Knitting

Here is a very basic history of knitting.

Knitting has been practised for thousands of years. Although knitting is now mainly seen as a hobby, in days gone by knitting was necessary for making clothes.

No one knows when or where people first started knitting. However, various early knitted items have been found, such as some knitted socks found in Egypt which date back to the 11th Century.

In the Middle Ages, knitting flourished and became an important industry. The manufacture of stockings was particularly important in Briton (not surprising really, given the weather) and a number of knitting schools were established. What may shock you is that it was men (and not women) who were the first to make a career in knitting!

Then in 1589, an English Clergyman by the name of William Lee created the first knitting machine. His machine was designed to make stockings and was a truly remarkable invention. Many modern knitting machines are still based on the technology used in William Lee’s original model.

A circular knitting machine was invented in the 19th Century and this made the manufacture of hosiery possible. As a result, commercial knitting centres developed in places such as Nottingham and Leicester in England.

With the advent of the industrial revolution, hand knitting grew less popular but it still continued. Over time, recognisable regional patterns emerged like the well-known “Fair Isle” pattern.

Even with the availability of knitting machines, hand knitting was regarded as a useful skill. For example, during the 1940s the British Wartime Government encouraged women to knit items for soldiers to help the war effort.

During the 1960s and 70s knitting remained popular and girls were still taught how to knit in school. Various knitted items became fashionable, especially the twinset (a matching short sleeved top and cardigan).

The decline of knitting began in the 1980s when you could buy a machine knit garment for less than the price of knitting the same item yourself. Knitted was also regarded as out of date.

Since the turn of the century, knitting has seen a remarkable resurgence. An increased interest in traditional values and a simpler life lived at a slower speed (or downshifting) have contributed towards this. No doubt the celebrity knitters have also helped to bring this hobby back into the public eye.

This short history of knitting shows that hand knitting has had its ups and downs. No matter what the current status of knitting popularity is, hand knitting is an amazing craft that has been going for thousands of years and it is definitely here to stay!