Hand knitting started in the 18th century but was confined to items like stockings, hats, mittens or gloves. Knitting is believed to be an evolution of the ancient craft of nålbinding, the Norwegian word for “needle binding.”
The English word for ”knitting” didn’t appear until the 14th century, and the craft was thought to have originated in the Middle East and was brought west by the Crusades.
The World War 1 poster was to encourage people to knit socks for the troops.
The booklet below was produced by the British wartime government department. Wool was in short supply at that time, and the booklet encouraged women to unpick old woollen items in order to make new ones.
In the 1950s and 60’s, knitting was ‘Haute Couture’, and lots of colours and styles of yarn were introduced. The well-known ‘twinset’ was something every woman had to have in their wardrobe. Girls were taught knitting at school at that time as it was thought to be a useful skill rather than a hobby.
Magazines such as “Pins and Needles” in the UK carried patterns of varying difficulty, including not just clothes, but also blankets, toys, bags, lace curtains and items that could be sold for profit.
However, during the 1980s, knitting was not the ‘in’ thing anymore, and sales of patterns and yarns dropped drastically, so much so that schools took knitting off the curriculum.
But, like everything else, what goes around comes around, and in the early 21st Century, there was a resurgence of knitting. Before Tom Daley, other celebrities were getting on the bandwagon, including Winona Ryder, and apparently, Julia Roberts taught Cameron Diaz to knit in between takes.
Historically,, it was a male occupation where knitting was exclusively done by men, particularly in European guilds during the Middle Ages.
The internet has helped fuel the hobby with knitters connecting with other knitters and exchanging patterns. Knitting groups are popping up all over the UK and the world to connect with others who are enjoying doing something that started so long ago.
Studies show that knitting acts as therapy, reducing blood pressure, lowering heart rates, and promoting a meditative state.
The first knitting machine was invented in 1589 by William Lee, an English clergyman.
Some of thebest places to buy vintage knitting patterns include online marketplaces like Etsy and eBay, which offer a wide selection of physical and digital copies. Specialized, affordable sites like fab40s.co.uk and Susan Crawford Vintage are also excellent, while Ravelry provides extensive, often free, archived options. A exceptionally cheap Vintage Knitting Book on EBay below is a steal at £1.99
Source: EBay EBay Etsy Fab40’s Susan Crawford Vintage
Crafted By B Studio 