What is Knitting?

Knit is derived from the word for “to knot” – Middle English knitten, Old English cnyttan. Knit stitches are all open stitches until bound off, while crochet stitches are all closed stitches from start to finish. Knitting can be done by hand or by machine.

Notable Knitting throughout History

Many theories exist on the origin of knitting, but it remains a mystery dating back over a thousand years. Most historians agree that knitting most likely originated in the Middle East. The oldest knitted item found was a sock from the 11th century in Egypt. In Europe, archeological sites have been discovered containing knitted items dating back to the 14th century.

Knitting Machines

The first knitting machine was developed during the Industrial Revolution and it was a sock knitting machine that eventually evolved into a circular knitting machine. These first knitting machines were made for in home use and it wasn’t until the middle of the 19th century that larger steam powered knitting machines became common in factories.

Home knitting machines were quite popular and continued to be manufactured by numerous factories until the late 1980’s. The most popular brands of flatbed machines were Brother and Singer at their peak. Many of those knitting machines are still in use to today thanks to proper care and detailed service manuals that accompanied many of the machines so they could be maintenanced and fixed at home.

Haute Couture Age of Knitting

While knitting remained quite popular over the years, after World War II knitting really hit its stride. New types of yarn and more yarn colors became available to the public. Knitting was taught in schools as a life skill and not just a hobby. Once the 1980’s arrived, this surge in popularity began to wane as the word knitting became associated with being old fashioned.

Modern Knitting

Knitting has made a comeback in the age of DIY crafting and the homemade revolution. It is no longer looked at as old fashioned and while some newer knitting patterns are quite abstract, century year old patterns are still being knitted up daily.

Future of Knitting

The sky is the limit for the future of knitting. With all the versatility of knitting, you can create almost anything. You can knit a full-size Ferrari if you want. Get creative and make whatever you want. Your yarn stash is the limit!