Frame Work Knitting of England
Definition Based on 1911 Encyclopedia

KNITTING (from O.E. cnyttan, to knit; cf. Ger. Knutten; the root is seen in " knot •'), the art of forming a single thread o strand of yarn into a texture or fabric of a loop structure, byo employing needles or wires. " Crochet " work is an analogou art in its simplest form. It consists of forming a single threac into a single chain of loops. All warp knit fabrics are built on this structure.

Knitting may be said to be divided into two principles, viz. (i) hand knitting and (2) frame-work knitting, see HOSIERY). In hand knitting, the wires, pins or needles used re of different lengths or gauges, according to the class of work vanted to be produced. They are made of steel, bone, wood or vory. Some are headed to prevent the loops from slipping over the ends. Flat or selvedged work can only be produced on hem. Others are pointed at both ends, and by employing three r more a circular or circular-shaped fabric can be made. In land knitting each loop is formed and thrown off individually and in rotation and is left hanging on the new loop formed. The cotton, wool and silk fibres are the principal materials from which cnitting yarns are manufactured, wool being the most important ,nd most largely used. " Lamb's-wool," " wheeling," " fingering " and worsted yarns are all produced from the wool fibre, but may differ in size or fineness and quality.

Those yarns are largely used in the production of knitted underwear. Hand knitting is now principally practiced as a domestic art, but in some of the remote parts of Scotland and Ireland it is an industry to some extent. In the Shetland Islands the wool of the native sheep is spun, and used in its natural colour, being manufactured into shawls, scarfs and ladies' jackets. The principal trade of other districts is hose and half-hose, made from the wool of the sheep native to the district. The formation of the stititches in knitting may be varied in a great many ways, by ' purling " (knitting or throwing loops to back and front in rib form), " slipping " loops, taking up and casting off and working in various coloured yarns to form stripes, patterns, &c. The articles may be shaped according to the manner in which the wires and yarns are manipulated.


Taken from the 1911 Encyclopedia copyright obsolete.

FWK Is Not A Rude Word
Leicestershires Hosiery District
Ginger Weston

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