The History of Knitting . . .

From Socks to Sweaters to Fuzzy Yarns!

As with many fiber arts, the early history of knitting is hard to pinpoint. The oldest artifacts are - you ready for this - socks. Yup - knitted socks. And, they were made from cotton - wool didn't come along for knitters until later.

During the Elizabethan period, knitting schools were established to keep up with the men's fashion of the day - short trunks and knitted stockings. Men were the first who knitted as an occupation.

Our next stop is Scotland. Entire families would be involved in the knitting business, and new techniques such as the cable stitch were developed. Fair Isle Techniques (used to create patterns with multiple colors) because popular when the Prince of Wales (who later became Edward VIII) woe Fair Isle tank tops in public.

During the Industrial revolution, wool was spun in factories, and machine knitted lace became poplar.

During WWII, wool was in short supply. Women were encouraged to unpick old, unwearable woolen items, and to re-use the wool to make items for the Army and Navy, including gloves and socks.

Haute Couture during the 1950s and 1960s is the next topic in our introduction to the history of knitting. With the advent of more colors and styles of yarn, knitting enjoyed a boost. Girls were taught to knit in school, magazines dedicated to knitting were born, and new patterns for non-clothing items were published.

The 1980s brought a decline in knitting popularity. With the popularity of the new knitting looms, people are again exploring knitting as a craft. This was aided by new yarns made from alpaca, angora, merino, and cotton. Even exotic fibers, like silk, bamboo, and qivut have become more available and inexpensive. And finally - there's the novelty fuzzy yarns, which makes knitting fun again!

Let's Start Knitting!

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