History+of+Knitting

__**ORIGINS AND EARLY HISTORY OF KNITTING**__

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The first evidence of hand knitting was not easy to find, because of the yarn, which can degrade overtime. However, the earliest known evidence of hand knitting is a pair of knit socks found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 3rd to 6th centuries AD. A brass rod, dating back to the Iron Age, was concluded to be to earliest example of a knitting needle.=====

In the Elizabethan period in England, the knitting of fine silken stockings was important to the queen and her subjects. The rich wore the stockings, while the poorer people of the community made them. Knitting schools were established for the poor, and this ability provided them with an income, because these stockings were a large part of the fashion of the period.

In the Scottish Isles during the 17th and 18th centuries, knitting was a common occupation for families living there. They made items such as sweaters, with a colorful pattern known as Fair Isle.

During the industrial revolution knitting machines were beginning to be created. Factory spun yarn was then becoming used more widely. Women began to be hired to work in factories where knit fabric and yarns were produced, so less home knit work was being made. However knitting was still a practice that was commonly taught to children in schools or at home.

During WWII, the citizens of the USA were ready to do anything they could to help for their troops and country. Because the soldiers off fighting in Europe needed clothing to keep them warm, American women were told that they could help the war effort by knitting socks, sweaters, and other clothing items for the soldiers. Also, because these pieces were made by people who put their dedication within each stitch, it gave a soldier a comfort, and also provided comfort to the knitter. The donated items were free for the military, which was a plus, not only for the decreased cost, but taking into account the fact that hand knit socks last much longer than machine knit ones. Soon, the Red Cross was designated the center where knitted items would be cleared and sent off the the battle front. However, because wool was expensive, and harder to come by, because the production of wool was affected by the war, Red Cross leaders were trained in carding wool and spinning wool, which allowed items to be made even more inexpensively! Many patterns were issued by the Red Cross, such as patterns for fingerless gloves, sweaters, socks, mufflers, and objects to keep injured body parts warm. Not only were pieces of clothing knit, but bandages, made out of pure cotton, were knit to send off to Europe.
 * __KNITTING FOR WAR EFFORT__**

In the 50's and 60's, knitting was still popular. It was taught to children in school. and there were many fashionable patterns for people to knit and wear. As the 80's came and passed, knitting became less and less practiced. It was viewed as old-fashioned and grandmotherly, and wool was espensive, and it was easier to go out to a store and buy a machine knit sweater, and less costly. Now, in recent times, knitting has surged back, becoming a funky craft that is chic and fun. There are new patterns, and numerous blogs with knitters commenting and sharing their patterns and views. Technology has created yarns of different materials, such as acrylic, which is much cheaper than wool, alpaca, silk, or any other natural fiber. Celebrities have been spotted knitting, and some men even knit! Hopefully as time continues marching on, we will see this creative pastime continue to rise in popularity.
 * __KNITTING UP TILL NOW__**

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