Knitting - A fascinating art

Apart from the chilly wind another sign of winter’s arrival is the emergence of our moms’ hobby . We find mother sitting on an arm chair, holding yarn and needles, controlling and winding the yarn around her fingers, casting on, and knitting away.

The word ‘knitting’ comes from the old English word, ‘knot’. Early Victorians were legally obliged to teach this art to their children — both girls and boys. Today, apart from being an important source of income, knitted garments are in fashion. A great collection can be found at leading couturiers. Knitting is also used in making wall hangings and various other decorative items.

Generally, we think that knitting is a women’s job. However, in the past it was often tribal men, skilled at the craft, who used to knit while, watching over their flocks in the fields, and there was no shortage of material. Their women gathered wool from animals, spun yarn which they cleaned at home for their men. The articles produced were scarves, robes and socks.

Obscure history

It is not possible to give its exact date of birth but it has grown with civilization. It is believed that it first developed about 3000 years ago among nomadic tribes, in Arabian deserts. Another knitting sample has been found dating from the time of the ancient Egyptians. Sailors and Crusaders spread this art, like many other crafts, across the known world.

In many countries fishing villages had a knitting tradition. Each village had its own special stitches and fishermen could be identified by their jersies ashore. Jersey and Guernsey are also names of particular fishermen garments.

Between AD1000 and AD1200 Egyptians made ‘coptic caps’ - knitted caps, worn by monks and missionaries. Egyptian craftsmen carried this knowledge to Spain, then to Italy and France, later it was passed on to England and the New World — all over the Europe. By the middle ages knitting became a common craft. Under Church patronage, Italy and France became its mediaeval home with organized guilds.

England was the world leader in knitting. During Queen Elizabeth I’s reign fine work was being produced by master craftsmen. Gradually it became an important village industry in the dales of Yorkshire where fine wool was available.

In England, during the 19th century after the Industrial Revolution this handicraft declined but was soon revived. Although machine knitting had gained popularity this ancient craft, using needles was popular than it has been before.

Once you have cast the stitches then you can hold the yarn and needles comfortably — it’s very easy to begin. If you want to try knitting or knotting your best instructors are your granny and mom. Basic knitting stitches are ‘knitting’ and ‘purling’. If you want to learn more, beginners project books are available in the market at reasonable cost. It is essential to collect your tools of trade before you start, including yarn and needles, in addition you’ll need scissors, sewing needles, metal scale, a cloth or polythene bag in which you can keep your work clean.

Always follow these hints before beginning: wash your hands; to keep your knitting clean, keep it in a bag; never leave knitting in the middle of the row it spoils the line work; never stick needles though a yarn ball it spilts yarn; when measuring, place work on flat surface and measure it in the centre not at the edges and never knot new yarn ball in the centre row always join at the beginning. So lets’ try. (Amna Nasir)