Early history of knitting

Items

• Carpet
  This is a hand knit carpet indicative of the requirements journey men had to make in order to become part of any Hand-Knitter's Guilds around Europe. Knitting Guilds developed as early as the 14th century. It is believed to have taken three years of trained to become a journeyman. To gain membership into the guild, journeymen knitters had two produce what are called masterworks. This example from the 18th century probably meets one of the requirements: a wall hanging patterned with flowers. This artisan from Strasbourg went above and beyond with the carpet featuring the figures of Adam and Eve, Jacob's Dream and the inscription "Hilfe wirt gott ferner schicken meinne feinden zum verdus" : God will continue to send help in despite of mine enemies. 
• Petticoat
  Mysterious knitted garment due to its intricacy and lack of seeming but size made it unusual for this time and hand knit nature. Knit with 2-ply wool, this petticoat has surface decoration of animals, birds, and trees knitted in purl and plain stitch. There are no seams meaning the piece was knitted in the round (not possible on a frame at the time) with a circumference of over 3 meters. The pattern does not repeat. A true mystery of knitting this is probably the work of a master knitter, possibly for entry into a guild, knit on fine needles with 2-ply wool.
• Pair of hose
  The stocking stitch got it from items like this. The tops of these hose were designed to fit inside the Cavalier boots popular during the reign of Charles I (reigned 1625-1649). The wide boots were worn with tops turned down. The shape of these hose imitate those of the cloth hose also fashionable during this time even those woolen hose became more popular. The 2-ply wool hose are knitted in stocking stitch, top down, in the round with the knitter casting on 375 stitches which were reduced as the knitter worked down the sock. At 140 stitches the knitter kept this number down the leg of the hose. The heel uses a “Dutch” heel (turned heel) until the piece was cast off at the toes. 
• Jacket
  This loose fitting jacket was constructed from separated panels of knitting joined together including the sleeves. The floral patterns in stocking stitch and purl were influenced by contemporary woven tapestry designs. Like the previous example, the combination of knit and purl stitches create a very interesting hem of the basket weave stitch. The combination of faded coral colored and gold silks was common in England with a paper of 1712 reporting the theft of “a green silk knit waistcoat with gold and silver flowers all over it.” (Victoria and Albert Museum)
• Jacket
  One of the earliest examples of knitted clothing, this silk jacket shows extreme craftsmanship within the variance of stitch. The artisan moved between stocking, purl, and lace techniques to create a variety of effects throughout the piece including the chevron design along the bottom hem. The two pieces were knit flat and then seamed together as indicated by the brown stitching along the sides. This was type of construction was typical of period where most pieces were made in Italy (the center of production) and then assembled by the buyer at the final destination. 
• Pair of gloves
  A pair of red silk ecclesiastical gloves from Spain, marking some of the earliest examples of knitting on the European continent. These gloves also show how intricate color work had become. Knit in the round, the maker used yellow silk wrapped in silver strip to create many religious symbols on the glove like a cross surmounting a heart, a shepherds crook and reliquary. The cuffs have a geometric pattern and Greek wave which is repeated on the fingers. Yellow bobbin lace gives the appearance of seam lines.
• Flat cap
  Similar to other caps from this time, this cap of green wool highlights the protective nature of these caps with ear flaps and a longer neck. Construction suggests that this cap was worked flat joining in the round for the top and the ear flaps were constructed separately and seamed at the end. During this time, knitted caps were usually felted heavily in order to imitate velvet.