It is difficult to establish accurately instant of knitting as handicrafts, since this art most ancient examples hasn’t survived – it is very difficult to save harmless yarn and ply. We can look out for ancient images only, which pressed either the process of knitting or men in woolen clothing.
In Amenemhta tomb at Beni-Hasan was detected wall drawing, dating to about ?1? century BC and depicting the Semites. Four female figures among them are dressed in a sort of knitted jackets. In the ruins of the Senaheriba palace at Nineveh was found relief of a warrior in his socks strikingly reminiscent of modern.
Imprint stocking was found in the frozen lava of Pompeii in year 79 AD. In Egypt were found baby socks of III-IV century AD, which already take into account sandals’ shapes - Egyptians in sock manufacture knitted big toe separately, as mittens. Later even knitted texts appeared on their knitted socks - in Detroit museum, for example, are saved such samples of ancient Egyptian knitting of cotton yarns with ancient Arabic text.

Oldest knitting wares, found in the Old World, belong to the IV-V centuries AD and in the New World (Peru) - to the III century BC. At first, the knitting became to thrive in the East, and from there came to Europe, where until that time stockings were sewn from cloth and thin leather. In Europe the knitted stockings came on. Kings and their retinue wore them.

In XV-XVI centuries, the knitting actively spread through Europe, becoming not only a favorite pastime in spare time, but a profitable industry, there were knitting work shops. In 1589 priest galvertonsky William Lee invented the first knitting machine, but Queen Elizabeth I refused him a patent, as well as stockings, connected to this machine, it seemed her thicker than sewing silk, and advised the inventor to earn money by honest labor.  Lee moved to France and founded the first mechanical knitting workshop in Rouen city. In the late 18 century in France the circular knitting machine, knitting fabric in the form of tubes was invented. Stockings, knitted on the machine, quickly replaced handicrafts, as they were much cheaper.

Over time, masters’ productions turn into art, knitted products found themselves in museums. There are two knitted sweaters XVII century saved in the North Museum in Stockholm and Gothenburg Historical Museum.

Nowadays, this art continues to evolve and finds more and more fans.