The Early History Of The Art Of Knitting
No one is really sure where the art of knitting originated, though some thing it was before the meridian of time. Given that there are few records, this is just a guess. We do know the more recent history, however.
In Egypt, scholars have dated some knitted socks to as early as the 11th century. At the time, there was no purl stitch - only knit stitches. In order to make the stockinette stitch, knitting would be done in the round and then cut apart. The purl stitch was not made mention of until the mid-16th century.
In the early 14th century is the first real reference to the art of knitting in Europe. During the Elizabethan period, stockings were being manufactured from fine wools. The men during that time wore short pants, so the fitted stockings were a necessity. There were knitting schools established for the poor to have an income, and stockings made in England were exported to Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. Queen Elizabeth preferred silk stockings, because they were softer, more decorative, and cost more. Some of these still exist, and researchers look to them as the finest stockings of that age.
The British Isles have had quite an impact on the art of knitting. In the 17th and 18th century, those on the Scottish Isles created what we know as the Fair Isle techniques, resulting in elaborate patterns using a lot of color. The wool sweaters helped the fishermen stay warm, and the oils in the wool would help protect the fishermen's skin from the elements. In the early 20th century, Ireland is credited with coming up with the cable stitch as we know it today.
Once the industrial revolution began, knitting and spinning began to be done in factories, instead of by individuals in their homes. During the time of World War I, wool was scarce. Women were encouraged to un-pick and re-use any woolen items they had.
After the war, the art of knitting was invigorated as there were soon more colors and types of yarn available - thousands of patterns, and a lot of bright colors. In school, girls were taught to knit, since it was considered a useful skill to have. There were magazines available with patterns for many things: clothes, blankets, lace curtains, bags, etc. These were of various difficulty levels so that everyone could enjoy the art of knitting.
In the 1980s, the art of knitting suffered a decline. Knitting was seen as old fashioned, something their grandmothers did but not them. There were many things available that were machine knitted, so buying the ready-made items were often cheaper than buying a pattern and the yarn for it - never mind the time to make it.
There was a revival in the 21st century. Suddenly, there were many new fibers available, like alpaca and angora, and there were plant fibers that were now cheaper to get, like cotton. Some knitters also like exotic fibers, like silk, bamboo, and soy. The novelty yarns that appeared also had an impact on the revival of knitting, as a beginning knitter could end up with a special piece without much experience. There were also new patterns available for those who want the project done much sooner, made on great big needles. It has also helped the resurgence of the art of knitting that some celebrities have made public their love of the art of knitting. For example, Cameron Diaz, Julia Roberts, Dakota Fanning, and Winona Ryder have each been seen knitting.
