Knitting in Britain has gone in and out of fashion as a hobby for the last hundred years. However, in recent years, it has become an extremely popular pastime for people of all ages and backgrounds, and everywhere we see balls of wool on sale, knitting kits for older and younger generations and knitting patterns printed in magazines which, only a few years ago, would not have dreamt of including this in their pages. But how has it developed into the hobby pursued by so many women today?
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when and where knitting originated as natural materials such as wool and the subsequent garments which would have been created using this natural resource are subject to rotting and leave little evidence behind. However, as the word “knit” means to tie or join, this suggests that knitting as we know it probably took some other earlier, slightly different form.
Development of Hand-Knitting Through the Centuries
Modern-day knitting recognized as such by us nowadays developed in the Middle Ages. The craft is suspected to have arrived in Britain from the Middle East, through the trading which took place between countries.
Hand knitting became very popular in Tudor times. Knitted garments were very fashionable, particularly at court and would, of course, help to prevent coldness wracking the bones of those people who lived with no real heating system and often in cold, drafty castles.
Henry VIII had to import his fine knitted stockings from Spain. But by the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth I, knitting was far more widespread, as the poorer classes learnt how to knit in order to make money supplying garments such as stockings and gloves to the wealthy classes.
By the seventeenth century, cottage industries sprang up, many of which were highly organised ways of working and capitalised on the need for knitted garments. The more wealthy classes did knit, but merely for pleasure. Doubtless, they found the end result a worthy and fulfilling reward, and it is here that we see knitting being done purely for pleasure as nowadays.
A More Industrialised Way of Knitting
As more and more people saw the benefits of wearing knitted garments, the canny businessman would be able to see a gap in the market for a larger, more cost-effective and easy way of capitalizing on woolen clothing. The knitting industry was developed by William Lee who, in 1589, created the first knitting frame, forerunner to the modern day knitting machine.
During the Industrial Revolution, this design was modified extensively by William Cotton. As the much larger production of knitted goods made knitwear more affordable and readily available for everyone, hand knitting has generally become a hobby, rather than a means of income.
Patterns Passed on Through the Generations
Throughout history, knitting patterns were passed down from mother to daughter, who would add her own inventions and quirks to the pattern to create a new version. Different regions of the British Isles created different patterns. One interesting example of this is the various coastal fishing communities.
The women knitted thick, weather-proof sweaters for their seamen husbands and other loved ones. These had “signature” designs so that fishermen could be identified by their sweater, should they become lost at sea. Quite a sad, but unfortunately rather necessary reason for functional and individualistic design patterns
It was only in the early twentieth century that these patterns were written down, and nowadays there are many types and varieties of patterns, readily available in both specialist shops and a wide range of books and magazines for the budding knitter and the practised enthusiast alike.
One thing is for certain: Knitting may go in and out of fashion, but will always remain a practical hobby for all kinds of people. What other hobby could allow you to have so much enjoyment, and then let someone wear the end result? And if you are very good at it, what other hobby would you be able to do without looking?!
Selective Bibliography:http://www.eribe.co.uk/knitting/history
http://www.ancestryaid.co.uk/boards/history-board/1195-history-knitting.html
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