THE KNITTING ODYSSEY

Knitting has evolved over time. Jasvinder Kaur traces the history of knitting from being an ‘essential’ made by hand to being created on machine to making way into high fashion wear.

An exhibition titled ‘Knitwear Chanel to Westwood’ held at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London in 2014-2015, showcased a century of knitting in fashion. On display were vintage styles with a 1995 image of Audrey Hepburn wearing knitwear and also the latest knitted skirts from H&M. It had an exciting combination of famous names and their creations over the years of knitwear designs.

PAGES OF HISTORY

There are many theories attached with knitting and its spread.

According to one narrative, it is believed to have developed by the Egyptian Copts (a Christian Sect), who were famous for their skills. Knitting went places with the spread of Christianity, reaching as far as Peru in the sixteenth century.

The Scots, on the other hand, claim to have invented knitting. This is more so because the first ‘Knitting Guild’ founded in Paris, took for their patron saint, St. Fiacre, the son of a Scottish King.

According to another school of thought, Italy and Spain knew knitting before England. It first came to the Shetland Islands in Scotland and then to England in the sixteenth century. The story goes that the Spanish ship Armada owned by the Duke of Medina Sidonia was wrecked at Fair Isles (part of Shetland Isles). The rescued sailors of the ship then taught knitting to the inhabitants of Fair Isles. From there it spread to England. Even today, Shetland wool is considered to be of superior quality. Sweaters created with lot of patterns in multiple colours are called Fair Isle sweaters, perhaps, deriving their name from the knitting traditions associated with the island.