Top knitting facts to know

Knitting is a word derived from the phrase ‘to knot’ and since the time of the ancient Egyptians, it has been an art form that has changed fashion, economy, politics and world trade. In this blog post, we will explore some of the top knitting facts you need to know.

Knitting History

The first documented piece of knitting history is from ancient Egypt in the form of a pair of socks. However, as the design of the socks is very complicated, it is suspected that the process of knitting began much earlier than archaeologists can actually prove.

Knitting Was for Men Only

Knitting is thought to have been a men-only occupation at first. The first ever knitting union was founded in Paris in 1527 and no women were allowed to join.

Knitting Machines

The first knitting machine was invented in 1589 by William Lee and these machines turned knitting into a cottage industry during the 17th and 18th centuries. The precursor to the modern knitting machines that are still used today was invented in Lancashire by William Cotton in 1864. After the knitting machine was invented, hand knitting became a leisure activity rather than a necessity.

Knitting Patterns

The first known knitting pattern book was the 16th-century Modelbuch. This had patterns for lace and embroidery but by the mid-17th century, there were pattern books made specifically for knitting.

Susanna Dorothea Kriegl wrote an early pattern book just for knitting in 1761 which was called Strikkemostre which translates to ‘knitting patterns.’ If you need a stash of chunky yarn for your knitting pattern, specialist outlets such as /www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/the-chunky-yarn can help.

Knitting Challenges

Knitting has inspired many challenges around the world. The fastest knitter in the world is Miriam Tegels who lives in the Netherlands and she can knit 118 stitches in just one minute.

The largest collection of knitters who knitted together was in the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2012. 3083 dedicated knitters knitted for 15 minutes simultaneously but the longest nonstop knitting record, set in Norway, is 4 hours and 50 minutes.