AN INTRODUCTION
Any attempt to research and record a history of Handknitting
must be a daunting and difficult task,
The bio-degradable nature of the natural raw materials used, and the lack of recorded information ,
has left us with only small fragments of conclusive evidence.
It is still not possible to be sure of where
or when the practice of handknitting was born.
Over the years some very well intentioned and enthusiastic, journalists,
authors and lovers of handknitting, have produced written works on the history of handknitting
some of which have become influencial and legendry
however with the advantage of modern technology and advanced research methodologies,
it is now thought that much of this early work
relies rather too heavily on hearsay and myth.
Many of the conclusions reached are not
supported by hard evidence,
and may be misleading or even inacurate.
It was not until 1987 that, with great delight, handknitters
welcomed the first full history of Hand Knitting
'A History of Hand Knitting'
by Richard Rutt
to date the most comprehensive, and
well-researched book on handknitting
If you really want to know about the history of hand knitting,
you need to read this book
In the mean time, and with great humility, the following brief notes have been put together.
This task would not have been possible without help from a number of sources
which include, the above book,
plus,
"Patons A Story of Handknitting" by Micheal Harvey
several "Vogue" publications, and a host of Fashion History books and periodicals
as well as my own student teaching notes
and bits and pieces gleaned from years of experience
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