Timeline
4th Century
The earliest known knitted fabric was a pair of socks found in an Egyptian tomb, which dates back to the 4th century B.C. Today, it is known that these early socks were worked in Nalebinding. Nalebinding is an ancient craft which involves creating fabric from thread by making multiple knots or loops, and is done with a needle made of wood or bone.
13th Century
Knitted cushions have been found in tombs dating from the thirteenth century in Spain.
14th Century
The art of knitting seems to have been perfected in Western Europe in the 14th century. It is said that in Europe, hand knitting was an important industry, which developed into an advanced craft by the 16th century. Hand knitting spread rapidly throughout Europe within a few generations. There is evidence of four surviving paintings from the 14th century showing the Virgin Mary knitting, suggesting that this craft was a familiar activity among women.
16th Century
In 1589, William Lee, a clergyman, invented the first knitting machine, which knit 8 loops to 1 inch of width. This was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He worked nine more years to develop a machine that could knit 20 loops per inch for silk stockings. Thus, during this era, the manufacture of stockings became very important to many British and these were sent to the Netherlands, Spain and Germany. It was also considered fashionable for the men of those times to wear fitted stockings under short trunks. Queen Elizabeth I herself wore silk stockings which were finer, softer and much more expensive.
17th and 18th Centuries
After the invention of the first knitting machine, the art of knitting was gradually taken over by guild-organized cottage industries in the 17th and 18th centuries.
19th Century
The Industrial Revolution, which started in the late 18th century in Britain and spread throughout the world, played a key role in spreading wool spinning and cloth manufacture to factories. The full-fashioned knitting machine was invented in 1864 by William Cotton of Leicestershire, England. This machine was a part of the original model by Lee. Also known as the lace market, the city of Nottingham dominated the production of machine- knitted lace during the Industrial Revolution and the following decades. In the 19th century, power was applied to the knitting machines and subsequently, circular-knitting machines appeared on the scene.
20th Century
Seamless stockings were knitted on circular machines. England became famous for its stockings. In fact, the word hosiery is derived from the old English word "hose" which means a covering for the leg. Initially cotton, wool, silk and later rayon yarns were used for making hosiery. Then came nylon in the 1940s when women preferred nylon hose. The use of nylon improved the fit of hosiery due to its stretchable properties. Subsequently, in Great Britain, hosiery came to be associated with all types of machine-knit garments which is also known as knitwear. In the United States, hosiery products are still known as stockings, socks, panty hose, and tights. Knitwear was mainly associated with women's fashion, but later on, knitted pullovers, cardigans, shirts, men's underwear, sportswear, and swimwear also became popular.
21st Century
Developments in the 20th century led to an increase in the production speeds of knitting machines and offered a wider choice to pattern the knitted fabrics. Now, computer controlled knitting machines have entered the scene, and these are highly versatile. Today, knitted garments have evolved as fashionable and functional wear for men, women and kids.
