Knitting fun facts

Have you been knitting or crocheting for years and wondered where these crafts actually came from? Or are you a complete beginner looking to be inspired by world record-holders?

In this article we’ll go through some knitting fun facts and how it has become a pretty important hobby worldwide. Today, this timeless craft continues to inspire every handmade knitwear manufacturer that combines textile heritage with design.

No one really knows how old knitting is

Archaeologists have difficulty determining when knitting first appeared due to the unfortunate fact that knitted fabrics tend to decay with time. Sharpened sticks that are found at dig sites might be knitting needles, or they might be tools used for completely different things.

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 brought west by the Crusades.

Men Were the Original Knitters

As a matter of fact; the first knitting union was established in Paris in 1527 and didn’t even allow women to join. Knitting was serious business back then, dominated by men who meticulously crafted garments for hours on end.

This male monopoly lasted until the invention of the knitting machine in the late 1500s, which shifted knitting from a profession to a leisurely activity. Once knitting became a hobby after it opened the door for women to participate and after Queen Victoria made it popular, knitting was turned into the inclusive craft we know today.

The knitting machine was invented in 1589

Invented by an English clergyman by the name of William Lee during the reign of Elizabeth I, the knitting machine changed the way we think about clothing and fabric. The business of making clothing transferred into small cottage industries, making hand knitting non-essential, a leisure activity.

Early needles were made with ivory, bone, and tortoise shell

 These early needles were designed to be strong and pointed to facilitate knitting, but used materials that we might think are very strange, truly part of everything you didn’t know about knitting. Today’s needles can be made with a huge range of materials, from plastic, to aluminium, to bamboo, to beautifully coloured wood.

Knitting was considered a national duty during times of war

In many countries, the women who were left behind in times of war were tasked with picking up where the men left off. Their jobs included making aircrafts, weapons, farming, and more; they were also charged with the duty to knit socks, hats, and scarves for the soldiers that were stationed in cold places.

For the first 400 years of knitting, wool wasn’t popular

During the days of early knitting, wool was far from the most popular fibre to knit with – this is likely due to the lack of availability of wool outside of agricultural areas. Among the many interesting facts about knitting,cotton and silk were the most popular among knitters for the first 400 – 500 years of the craft’s existence.

Eventually wool became the reigning queen of the kit world, and wool farmers began to breed sheep specifically for sustainable, strong, and soft wool, like with the Merino sheep breed. The 21st century has seen a huge resurgence in plant based fibres like bamboo, linen and cotton. Alpaca wool from the Andean Highlands has also become a popular choice when making knitwear.

Knitting Has a Unique Language of Its Own

Knitters use specific terms to describe techniques, stitches, and tools, creating a language that differs from everyday conversation. For example, “frogging” refers to the act of unraveling your work (like a frog jumping backward), while “WIP” stands for “work in progress.” Words such as purl, garter, stitch and circular knitting are also part of this vocabulary.

This specialized vocabulary not only fosters a sense of community among knitters but also makes it easier to share patterns and techniques across different cultures and languages.

Hope you enjoyed this article! Here at Knit-Lab Peru we are committed to offer premium quality products that combine modern technology with ancestral tradition. Contact us if you want to learn more or work with us.