A Brief History Of Knitting:

Judging by the archaeological evidence at hand, the Middle East seems to have been the "cradle" of knitting. The hypothesis is based largely on examples of sandal socks, dating from the 4th century, found preserved in Egyptian tombs. The fact that only these examples have been found does not necessarily mean that the craft of knitting was not being developed in other parts of the world at that time; it simply means that no other evidence has survived.There have been archaeological hints from other civilizations, however-the system of loops, built up using a single needle, found in Peru or the "sprang" from Viking tombs which is a cross between weaving and knitting-but no true knitting needle. In fact, much of the early Arab knitting may have been produced on small frames, rather like the bobbins of today, but the structure of the fabric would have been the same as needle knitting.

It has been generally accepted that the craft of knitting spread from the Arab countries along the tade routes, through Spain and then the rest of Europe. By the Middle Ages, knitting had become firmly established on the continent of Europe; historical records show that the creative skills found among members of the French and Italian guilds were the most hightly regarded.

By the time the continent of North America was being settled, most European countries had developed their own distinctive knitting traditions. These skills, which included the texture patterns of Dutch, and the colour work of the Scandivavians, travelled with the settlers, creating a broad base from which modern American knitting has developed.

*The Encyclopedia of Knitting Techniques by Debby Robinson