Origin of Knitting

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 23, 27 January 1934, Page 7

Origin of Knitting

■No one knows-definitely where knit-1, ting originated, remarks, a,.London writer. The oldest specimens; that' w:e; have are 2000 years old. j They, came from Egypt and are in';the* Victbria' and Albert Museum, S6uth;_Kensi.n'gton.: Knitting was, also known 'mi Peru . be-: fore the arrival of-the Spaniards. The theory of the "best authorities; of its origin is that itdevelopedindependent]y in different countries'and in widclysepqi'ated areas whereverl wool was grown or used to any extent, ■' ; j;

In the British" Isles knitting .origin-^ ated in Scotland about the beginning of 1400. A-.D. From, there*it spread toFrance, where there was ■ founded a guild of knitters,,'.under the patronage of St. Fiacre.'. ; ' : , . - ' ' ■, i

We find references.to.-.knit/ woolV lon vests and capsiin an: Act"of Parliar ment of Henry! V-ll's' reign, arid agaiii. in the reigns' ,6f'Jlcnry :VIII and Ed' w^rcl, VI, but-the general are few. -Theresis'a.story that, when Queen-Elizabeth was given a ,pair of silk stockings^ knitted she. affirmed that she would never again wear; any. other kind.

From what one can. gather. the only form of stocking in the .olden days was either a, continuation: of/ the breeches worn. •by men, • and called "trunk hose," .or; strips of material gartered criss-cross on the ; legs, or wound, as the modern- puttee, round the teg.-/--; '■ '.• .i . •.■■■" ■ ' • ;. ; :

1n,1589 one William Lee; of Nottingham, invented a knitting1 machine. Though many improvements have since taken place, the principle of the machinery today is the same as it was when Lee first produced his idea.

An elderly'Me.xic.an, parrot 'has her own private -fortune of, ,£IO3O, on which- she recently paid income tax of £1 4s (states a correspondent). Since she lives a" quiet," homely life, her expenses'are low for such- a rich parrot—only j£s4a-year for "cage, board, and incidentals. Polly and her estate are in the care of, Mrs. Nina B. Allen, whose late, husband, Mr. Frederick D. Allen; left •»; £ 1000. trust. .; : .