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1 CE
Origin of Knitting
The exact location and time of the origin of knitting is unknown. It is generally agreed upon that it began in the Middle East, likely Egypt. Early knitters used silk, wool, and cotton, which decompose easily, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact date of origin. -
200
Fishing Nets
Fishermen in Arabia had no method of catching several fish at once, until around 200 AD when they developed an early form of knitting to create fishing nets. At this point, creating these nets was seen as a man's job. -
500
Oldest Knit Item
The oldest found knit item was a pair of socks discovered in Egypt and is estimated to be from the year 500-1200 AD. The pattern is so complex that archaeologists believe knitting has been around much earlier and has had time to develop to this point. -
1350
Knitting in Spain
Once the art was introduced in Spain in the 11th century, it was mainly used by the Catholic church to create garments for priests. There are paintings of the Virgin Mary from this time that portray her knitting such garments, depicting that at this time, knitting was an activity for women to do, to create clothing for men.
