When Queen Elizabeth I made a state visit to Norwich in 1579 children appeared before her and some were spinning worsted yarn and some knitting that yarn into stockings on knitting needles.

"The first thing a man needs after food is clothing"

About the project In June 2001 Leicester City Museums Service and its partners successfully gained a grant from the New Opportunities Fund to develop a website celebrating the history of the East Midlands knitting industry.  The Knitting Together…

His size was so great that he found it impossible to find hose to fit so had them made specially. These were made by the knotting method patented in the 1770s by William Horton - this produced a mock ribbed effect and, as it was worked lengthways on…

The earliest machine-made lace was made on the stocking-frame by transferring stitches to make a net. These two borders have a simple geometric pattern in plain knitting, net in transfer stitches and outlines put in by hand. They are part of a…

Called 'double pressed point net' this net had the appearance of hand made net and was much firmer than 'single pressed point net'. It was invented in about 1784. Both sorts of net were embroidered by machine to imitate handmade lace. This piece…

Shears for cutting away lead sinkers on stocking frames. ID Number: DBMYU 1976-437/63

White cotton knitted on a hand frame in a lace pattern. ID Number: L-C-569-1977

Knitted on the stocking frame in purple and white silk in a brick pattern with stripes to represent the points on the back of the hand. Each glove is made in one main piece and seamed on the outside and around the fingers. The thumb is made…

A woman's stocking of very fine pink silk made on a 60 gauge stocking frame. It has an English foot and is reinforced with thicker silk at the heel. ID Number: NCM 1891-55