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LOVE TO
KNIT
A Division of
LoveToSew.com |
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All About Knitting:
The History of Knitting
Knitting has been around for much longer than you might have guessed. Bits
of knit fabrics have been unearthed in archeological sites in Egypt that
date to about the year 1000 AD. That means knitting has been around for at
least a thousand years so that’s quite a lot of history. The best
documentation is in art, where knitting was used often in depictions of
the Virgin Mary. Depicting a woman knitting, spinning, or weaving in her
home was a way to signify that this woman was not only skilled, but also
humble, hard-working, and focused on her home.
As time
passed, guilds, or formal groups of craftsmen or craftswomen formed and
knitting became work that was done outside the home. This change was more
drastic after the Industrial Revolution, when factories produced machine
knitting, but still needed workers to run the machines. More frequently,
knitting was done for special projects, like wedding accessories, or socks
for a loved one.
This changed
slightly in the 20th century. During both World Wars, drains on
supplies of every kind forced the citizens of countries like the US and
Great Britain to rely on hand knitters to mend socks, shirts, sweaters,
and even re-knit them in different sizes so children could wear them as
they grew. There were many war posters urging women to, “Knit Their Bit!”
for the troops fighting overseas and even photos of injured soldiers in
hospitals knitting while they recuperated. These photos and posters are
easily found online and are a reminder that knitting is more than just a
hobby.
Knitting had small waves of popularity in the decades following World War
II but it was always seen as an outsider hobby, a past skill that didn’t
quite fit with the times. Then, in the late 1990s the knitting trend
started to gain strength once again. Today, knitting is more popular than
it has been in years, even as far back as the oldest knitting grandmother
can remember. There are yarns shops all over the country and there are
knitters of all kinds bonding over their love of yarn. At this point,
knitters come in every age, stage of life, and background, but they all
seem to understand the pleasure knitting can give.
by Sarah Carbone
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