KNITTING (from O.E. cnyttan, to knit; cf. Ger. Knutten; the

See also:

• ROOT (late O.E. rot, adopted from Scand., cf. Norw. and Swed. rot, Dan. rod; the true O.E. word was wyrt, plant, represented in Ger. Wurz or Wurzel; the ultimate root is the same in both words, and is seen in Lat. radix)
• ROOT, ELIHU (1845– )

root is seen in "

See also:

• KNOT
• KNOT (O.E. cnotta, from a Teutonic stem knutt; cf. " knit," and Ger. knoten)

knot ")  , the art of forming a single thread or strand of yarn into a texture or fabric of a loop structure, by employing needles or wires . " Crochet " work is an analogous art in its simplest form . It consists of forming a single thread 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 . (1) hand knitting and (2) frame-work knitting(see HOSIERY) . In hand knitting, the wires, pins or needles used are of different lengths or gauges, according to the class of work wanted to be produced . They are made of steel, bone, wood or ivory . Some are headed to prevent the loops from slipping over the ends . Flat or selvedged work can only be produced on them . Others are pointed at both ends, and by employing three or more a circular or circular-shaped fabric can be made . In hand 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 knitting yarns are manufactured, wool being the most important and 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 to-day principally practised as a domestic art, but in some of the remote parts of Scotland and Ireland it is prosecuted as 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, ladies' jackets, &c . 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 stitches 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 .