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An overview of the history of knitting, celebrities who knit, yarn bombing and knit graffiti, and more!
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History of Knitting
What is knitting? Knitting is one way that thread or yarn can
be turned into cloth Basically loops called stitches pulled through
each other Stitches are held on a needle until another
loop is passed through them Knitting may be done by hand or by machine. Different yarns and knitting needles result in
different end products Using needles of different thickness as well
as different varieties of yarn adds to the effect
What Knitting Looks LikeSource: Wikipedia (accessed October 25th, 2009)
Diagram – notice the loops
Photograph of Knitted Cloth
History of Knitting The word “knit” comes from the word “knot”
Uncertain start date because fabric disintegrates
Earliest sample – blue and white cotton socks made in Egypt ~ 1000-1300 A.D.
Mid 1300s to 1400s – Italian paintings showing knitting suggest that by the late Middle Ages knitting had arrived in Europe
Both men and women knit in those days– Men only guilds where men trained for six years to
become a master knitter
Knitting Origins Archaeological
evidence points to knitting originating in the Middle East
Most common materials were cotton and silk
Knitting is created by working right to left (in imitation of reading Arabic)
Knitted items are luxury, non-essential items
Middle Ages Art depicts knitting in
everyday life, and a series of “Knitting Madonnas” appear
Knit socks and leggings come into fashion
Around the World Knitting follows trade routes
and is adapted in many cultures
Victorian Era Knitting becomes a parlor-art, approved for
women of leisure and as a source of income for the lower classes
Literature features scenes of knitting The Prince of Wales sports a Fair Isle sweater
Wartime Before cheap, ready
made clothing, knitting was produced by a cottage industry
Men & women were enlisted to knit socks and blankets for soldiers
Patterns were widely available in books, magazines, and newspapers
Late 20th Century
Knitting falls out of fashion with the affordability of manufactured garments
Improvements in knitting machines make factory knitted items more available
Today Knitting has surged into popularity as
people view it as a leisure-time activity, and wish to recapture the nostalgic memories of youth
Celebrities have embraced the art• Daryl
Hannah• Dakota
Fanning• David
Arquette• Sarah
Jessica Parker
• Kate Moss
• Tracey Ullman
• Ryan Gosling
• Julia Roberts
• Russell Crowe
• Kate Middleton
Knitting In A New Generation
– Knitting Books, Videos, and TV Shows abound
– Knitting clubs and guilds spring up across the U.S., Canada, Britain, Australia, and elsewhere
– Online sites like Etsy and Ravelry attract millions of members
– Knitting becomes a political statement, popular with eco-conscious citizens
– Knitting graffiti and Yarn Bombing events become popular