Knitting in my great-grandmother and grandmothers day was a very popular pastime/hobby. My mother learnt to knit through my grandmother, who taught her to knit and then my grandmother taught me to knit at the aged of 6-years-old. However, if you are new to this hobby/pastime you may well be curious about the basics of knitting before you starting to knit. Knitting not only provides you with a hobby/pastime that is fun, but it also requires you to have self-discipline and steadfastness, whilst allowing you to feel a sense of achievement when you have completed a project.

Knitting is defined as being a craft in which two knitting needles are required along with either thread or yarn that can be used to create fabric pieces or a garment that is done by creating loops in the yarn. Knitting can be used to create various types of fabric; from a framed knitting artwork to a sweater/cardigan, for your children, husband or a friend or a relative, to an afghan quilt, bed throw, blanket, shawl, mittens, scarf, hat, or even bedroom slippers.

 

Early Origins of Knitting

It is impossible to exactly pinpoint the geographical origins of knitting. It is widely believed that knitting was developed in pre-Christian times; however; in the 21^st century some people in society strongly dispute this believe. 

The oldest knitted artifact is a type of sock. It is thought that socks and stockings were the first pieces of garments to be produced using very similar techniques to that of knitting. Those socks and stocking were produced by a technique called ‘NALEBINDING’; NALEBINDING in Danish literally is ‘binding with a needle’ or ‘needle-binding’, also NAALBINDING or NAALEBINDING’ is a fabric creation that pre-dates both crochet and knitting; a technique of making fabric by creating multiple knots or lops by using a single needle and thread.

The first reference to true knitting or knitting, as we know it today within Europe dates back to the 14^th century; however, the first knitted socks from Egypt pre-dates the 14^th century, some scholars date those socks as being made during the 11^th century. During this era, the purl stitch (the opposition action to that of the knit stitch) was still unknown, knitting in the round and then cutting the piece open produced STOCKINETTE FABRIC, – this process was known as STEEKING. The first reference that can be found for the purl stitch is from the mid- 16^th century, but the purl stitch technique could have been developed earlier that that.

Elizabethan Period

During the Elizabethan era, the manufacturing of stockings was of vast importance to the majority of the British female population, who knitted with very fine wool and exported their wares to Germany, Netherlands, and Spain. Knitting schools were established and did the fitted stockings providing an income to the poor, the fashion of the era was for the men to wear short trunks, make a great source of as fashion necessity of the era.

Queen Elizabeth 1 proffered silk stockings, as these were a lot finer, softer, more decorative, and a lot more expensive. Some stockings that belonged to Queen Elizabeth 1 still exist today; these demonstrate the high quality of the items that were specifically knitted for her.

During the Elizabethan era, it was not only the women whom had the occupation of knitting; men during this period also had the occupation of knitting.

Knitting The Importance In Scottish History

Knitting was a very vast occupation amongst the populations living on the Scottish Isles during the 17^th and 18^th centuries; in the majority of the homes during this era, the whole family would be involved in making accessories, sweaters, socks, stockings, etc. Another knitting technique called the FAIR ISLE technique was used to create elaborate colourful patterns. The Fair Isle Knitting Technique gets its name from a tiny island in the North Of Scotland, which is situated between the Orkney and Shetland Islands. Fair Isle Sweaters were essentially made for the fishermen of the Isles, as the natural oils in the wool would provide them with some element protection against the harsh weather whilst they were out fishing. In Ireland, during the 20^th century many designs that are more elaborate were developed such as the CABLE STITCH, which can be seen on any ARAN KNITWEAR.

 Industrial Revolution

Rudimentary knitting devices had been developed before the industrial revolution, there were one off creations, and with the advent of the industrial revolution, wool spinning, and cloth manufacture began to be done in the factories. More women than men were employed by the factory owners to operate the machinery, rather than producing home spun wool and knitted items. Factory spun wool was a lot better than home spun wool as the consistency from the factories produced wool was far better in that it was alot more uniform, an the weight could be gauged a lot more better. 

The City of Nottingham was better known as the LACE MARKET and dominated the production of machine-knitted lace during the industrial revolution and decades that followed.

 Knitting for Victory ~ 1939 to 1945

 During World War 2, the Ministry of Information produced a booklet titled ‘MAKE DO AND MEND’. Like everything during World War 2, wool was in short supply too. The booklet tried to encourage women to unpick old, unwearable, woollen items that they could be reused to make new items such as BALACLAVAS and GLOVES for the Navy and Army in the winter months. The Ministry Of Information also release the knitting patterns for these useful and much needed items, it also gave those individuals whom were at home a positive sense of achievement towards the war efforts.

 Haute Couture ~ 1950s and 1960s

 Not long after the War ‘Knitting for victory’ was over, knitting was given yet another huge boost when different styles of yarns and various colours were introduced. Numerous knitting was introduced, which fed a hungry market for fashionable designs, knitted in bright colours.

 A very popular knitting pattern for the home knitter was the TWIN SET, which was a short-sleeved top with a cardigan in the same colour, which was worn together. Schools during this era taught girls how to knit, as it was regarded as being a very useful skill and not just a hobby.