Renewed interest in knitting

• Very old garments show that knitting was practised internationally.

• A familiar image is a 1.  sitting beside the fire.
• A 2.  ago, the craft was expected to die out.

• More people are enrolling in knitting classes.

• Sales of knitting 3.  are increasing as well.

Advantages of knitting

• can help families facing 4.  problems
• requires only 5.  abilities and little initial expense

• provides relief from the pressures of modern life

Origins and early practice

• The date when knitting began is unknown.

• The earliest surviving garments were generally 6.  rather than flat.
• The first needles were made from materials including wood and 7. .
• Early yarn often felt 8.  against the skin.

• The spinning wheel helped wool become the leading yarn.

• Each region developed a characteristic 9. .
• People knitted during duties such as watching over 10. .