Those who have never tried to knit or crochet might not realize that the fiber arts have quite an interesting history. Even experienced crafters might not know that there are tons of fun facts about cotton yarn and the practice of knitting. If you’re looking to impress your friends or fellow knitters, here are some facts about knitting yarn that you probably never knew:
1. No one knows exactly how long knitting has been around
Because knitting yarns decay with time, it’s nearly impossible for archaeologists to determine how long this art form has been around. Although the sharpened sticks found at numerous digging sites resemble knitting needles, they could also be tools with totally different uses. Experts think the craft may have originated in the Middle East and later brought to the west. What we do know is that the word “knitting” didn’t appear in the English language until the 1300s. The art of weaving is thought to be older than knitting, but most people think that crochet came after the practice of knitting.
2. Knitting was thought to be a man’s enterprise
While knitting with cotton yarn is now seen stereotypically (and unfairly) as “women’s work,” it was initially a male-only occupation! In 1527, the first knitting union was established in Paris, France — and no women were allowed to join. After the knitting machine was invented in the late 1500s, knitting by hand became a useful hobby, rather than a necessity. Since it transformed into a leisurely craft, this may explain why it was no longer considered a male task.
3. Knitting is a record-breaking pastime
Runner David Babcock broke a Guinness World Record for his time in the Kansas City marathon: five hours, 48 minutes, and 27 seconds. If you’re wondering what’s so special about his time, he managed to run the entire race while knitting a scarf that measured over 12 feet long! And in 2012, knitters gathered in the Royal Albert Hall in London set the record for the most people knitting simultaneously; they had 3,083 people knitting, all told.
4. Knitting is a healthy activity
Not only can knitting or crocheting with cotton yarn relieve stress, improve motor function, and prevent arthritic diseases, but it also burns calories! When you knit for a half hour, you can burn up to 55 calories — so if you spend a good couple of hours working on your knitting, you could potentially burn off 200 calories or so.
5. For the first 400 years of knitting, wool wasn’t popular
During the days of early knitting, wool was far from the most popular fiber to knit with – this is likely due to the lack of availability of wool outside of agricultural areas. Cotton and silk were the most popular among knitters for the first 400 – 500 years of the craft’s existence. Eventually wool became the reigning queen of the kit world, and wool farmers began to breed sheep specifically for sustainable, strong, and soft wool, like with the Merino sheep breed. The 21st century has seen a huge resurgence in plant based fibers like bamboo, linen, and cotton.
Between 2002 and 2004, the number of women knitters in the U.S. ages 25–35 increased nearly 150%. That is awesome! So don’t you worry about people making fun of you for having a “old people hobby”. Remember though, it is very stylish to not be stylish...so be you, and let it shine using unique fibers. Worldwide Knit Day began in 2005. This is a great day to show the world your passion.
