History of Knitting: 10th century to modern times

Knitting historian Liz Kristan explores the history of knitting from the 10th century to modern times, including the influence of the internet on knitting and the rise of the "celebrity knitter."

A necessity, an art, a form of meditation; from 10th century Egyptian artisans to the online hobbyist forums of today, knitting has been a treasured part of the human experience. Explore the changes in the craft as it spread around the world and evolved alongside fashions, always reflecting the cultures and needs of makers.

Liz Kristan blends historical images, antique items, and handmade recreations to explore the little known secrets of knitting.

Along with being a knitting historian, Liz has been knitting for 20 years and has appeared on the Fiber Nation Podcast.

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[CrystalMouse]

As a disabled person knitting is INCREDIBLY powerful for my well-being! I get a community, a sense of empowerment and it’s a tie to history. It’s something that I can do from my wheelchair and it can help others around me in ways my body can’t otherwise accomplish

[pjtfd]

I am a textile nerd. There! I said it. I just watched an hour plus of knitting history and loved it.
Knitter, crocheter, weaver. All things sticks and strings

[elizabethgabriellewillox]

I'm a college textile student. This is a wonderful historical overview of knitting. I have learned so much. Definitely worth a watch.

[FabricofTime]

As far as I know, the gusset under the arm of the gansey isn't a separate piece; it's a double increase that grows out of the seam stitch (a purl stitch that is traditionally worked along each side of the gansey to mark the sides and aid in blocking). When you reach the point where the sleeves are going to start, you put the gusset stitches on waste yarn and knit the front and back flat and rejoin them at the shoulders. You then pick up the sleeve stitches along the sides of the back and front as well as the gusset stitches, which is decreased back down to create that diamond shape. The purpose is to allow ease of movement so that when you raise your arms over your head, your sweater doesn't ride up, and also to avoid having a seam under the arm, which reduces bulk. Having that be a separate piece would add bulk. Ive knit a gansey and read quite a bit on them, and I've never heard of the gusset being a separate piece. Maybe it was at some point in history, but it hasnt been for a very long time.

[franciryyy]

I loved this lecture. I'm passionate about knitting and how it improves our creativity while connecting us to people from all over the world from all periods of time. how cool it is that we're able to knit the same things our ancestors did, and dress up just like them! time traveling in real life!

[mariannevalentine]

If you had read the Outlander novels on which the TV show is based you would know that Jamie Fraser already knew how to knit from his upbringing, as did his nephew Ian. They taught Claire how to knit between the two of them when they were newly-settled at Fraser's Ridge.

[janematthews]

Thank you so much for this very clear and comprehensive history of knitting. I am working on my Master Hand Knitting program with The Knitting Guild Association and have found this to be a helpful resource when researching for my Level 2 History of Knitting report. You will receive proper professional credit.

[heatherrobertson]

This was absolutely fascinating! Thanks so much for posting! Just for clarity -you say Fair Isle is in 'Northern England, Scotland' - it's just that Scotland and England are different countries within the United Kingdom. Fair Isle is in the Shetland Islands in Scotland.

[catblues]

This is super interesting :) I'm an avid knitter, and I knit a "Big Lebowski" Cardigan for my husband, so I'm happy to learn about Cowichan Sweaters (about 17 minutes in)

[dorteweber]

very nice presentation. May I mention that the precursor to knitting is properly translated into English as "needle binding" not "nail binding. The Danish word nål means needle.

[Kaelynn-oufu]

I have watched this lecture several times over the years and every time I watch it I am just as enthralled as the first. Youre a great speaker and I wish you had more lectures

[anitamorrison]

my mom was in the Air force her mom, worked and her sister & in laws were at home they knitted many gloves and socks. the government gave a person the wool. the finished project was turned in and one got more wool. Those socks are the best. mom made all us kids socks and gloves from the army pattern. I still have the pattern books. today we can not get that beautiful WOOL. wool is the best material to use, (when wet still keep you warm). thanks for this program.

[yumyummoany]

Great documentary! Regarding caps, the Tudor knitted cap is often found, or remnants thereof, in Thames mud by Mudlarkers. I loved the Monmouth cap, it would be needed in the winter. I hope raw wool was used as Wales is a rainy place!

I saw a documentary on the knitting done by British armed forces members who were prisoners of war of the Germans. The Imperial War Museum has a collection of these garments.

[LemonThymeArt]

Just started knitting, and I’m so fascinated by all the history surrounding it!

[MindYourBusinesses]

Long time old head knitter here. The video was useful, informative, and helpful.

[shannitagarcia]

Thanks I went to a class on oxaca and a family that owns all of the Mills in Mexico!
I enjoyed it!
Thank you for creating this complicated class!

[cynthiaearly]

Absolutely LOVED this post. I enjoyed watching while kitting my 4yr olds sweater. Very interesting info. Thank you so much for filming this. 🥰💗💖

[goatsandroses]

Incredible presentation. It's always fascinating to hear someone talk about a subject like this in detail and with authoritative knowledge. I found the history of nalbinding being confused with knitting very valuable.

[dostagirl]

Fascinating. Loved the clarification of some of the iconic knits as well as the knowledge of how elaborate ancients knits were and that heel turns and color work are not modern inventions - particularly knitting in the round. I had thought all this time that flat knitting came first. I was knitting a pair of socks on magic loop while watching this and found myself switching over to double pointed needles as a sort of nod to the traditional method. 😁

[magiccookie]

Thank you for your dedication to this topic! I remember when I started knitting when I was 10, entirely self taught off of youtube videos and library books. That was just the beginning of the recent knitting renaissance, where knitting was just then becoming trending with younger populations. It was as if knitting had skipped an entire generation. I'm so glad younger people are still picking up this art form because it has such a rich and storied past.