Guide Note

Similar to crochet, knitting is a craft done by hand or machine in which thread or yarn is turned into a length or tube of cloth. Knitting involves pulling loops of yarn through each other to create a cohesive cloth. Knitting needles aid fingers in pulling the stiches together, and machines can knit on a much larger scale than humans. There are many different types of stitches used in knitting, and there are infinite variations on knitting depending on the type of needles and yarn used.

Fast Facts

1. The first knitting trade guild was started in Paris in 1527
2. First items knit were probably socks or stockings
3. Flat knitting produces a length of cloth with two straight needles
4. Circular knitting produces a seamless tube using circular or double-pointed needles
5. Men were the first to knit

The first type of knitting done was probably of socks. Knitting was a household task until the industrial revolution, which caused most knitting to be done on machines in factories. People who might have stayed at home to knit now worked in the factories. Originally a male-only occupation, knitting in the home became known as a woman's craft. After a period of decline in popularity in the second half of the 20th century, knitting has experienced something of a renaissance in the 21st century. The number of women knitters in the U.S. between the ages of 25 and 35 has increased 150% in recent years.