Knitting and Crocheting Sweaters

It has been suggested that evidence of the oldest known form of knitting was performed as long ago as pre Columbian Peru and also in locations close to the Euphrates River. This knitting was done to create images of animals and to make socks worn with sandals. Knitting traveled to Europe via the Arab cultures and in the 15th century and gained widespread popularity. Once in Europe, some cultures used knitting as a regional handcraft to depict their particular region by design and and color. Patterns used by some regions were passed around in the form of books, while other patterns were kept a strict secret and not shared. The first machines for knitting were used in the late 1500's to create socks in England, and further developments in knitting machines were made throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.

Knitting is an activity that can be performed by using two long needles creating chains of loops called wales. When creating wearable items or blankets, patterns are followed and through the intricate series of wales, different sections can be knitted and sewn together to create an entire piece of clothing or blanket.

Crochet creates chains with loops that are interlocked. Crotchet is the French word for hook, and this is how the loops are interlocked. No needles are used and new loops are created by catching the loose yarn at the end of the previous loop and drawing it through the loop just created. The chains of crocheted loops are planned in advance and measured thus by connected crocheted chains. There are multiple crocheted stitches, including a popcorn stitch, ribbed stitch for afghan creations, single and double stitches and pineapple stitches.

The history of crotchet starts as a finger type of handwork and a material similar to lacework is described as Renaissance crochet work. Irish lace is an example of early crochet work as was introduced to Ireland in the early 1800's and the craft then made its way across the European continent during the later 1800's.