The oldest artifact with a knitted look is a type of sock, created in a process called Nalebinding, which seems to be a knit fabric made by combination of knitting and sewing. Looks dang hard, if you view the photo of the artifact.
So apparently, most histories of knitting place its origin somewhere in the Middle East, where it then spread to Europe by Mediterranean trade routes, and then to the Americas with the advent of European colonization.
The earliest known examples of knitting have been found in Egypt and cover a range of items, and include complex colorful wool fragments and indigo blue and white cotton stockings, which have been dated between the 11th and 14th centuries.
Much of this info is thanks to Wiki:
The earliest known knitted items in Europe were made by Muslim knitters employed by Spanish Christian royal families. Their high level of knitting skill can be seen in several items found in the tombs in the Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas, a royal monastery, near Burgos, Spain. Among them are the knitted cushion covers and gloves found in the tomb of Prince Fernando de la Cerda, who died in 1275. The silk cushion cover was knit at approximately 20 stitches per inch. It included knit patterns reflecting the family armory, as well as the word baraka ("blessings") in Arabic in stylized Kufic script. Numerous other knit garments and accessories, also dating from the mid-13th century, have been found in cathedral treasuries in Spain.
At this time, the purl stitch (the opposite action to the knit stitch) was unknown and purely stockinette fabric was produced by knitting in the round on multiple knitting needles. Sometimes the knitting was cut open, a process now known as steeking.
Several paintings from Europe portray the Virgin Mary knitting, and date from the 14th century, including Our Lady Knitting by Tommaso da Modena (circa 1325-1375) and Visit of the Angel, from the right wing of the Buxtehude Altar, 1400–10, by Master Bertram of Minden.
Knitting was such a vast occupation among those living on the Scottish Isles during the 17th and 18th centuries that whole families were involved in making sweaters, accessories, socks, stockings, etc. Fair Isle techniques were used to create elaborate colorful patterns. Sweaters were essential garments for the fishermen of these islands because the natural oils within the wool provided some element of protection against the harsh weather encountered while out fishing.
1939 to 1945: Knitting For Victory: Make do and mend was the title of a booklet produced by the British wartime government department, the Ministry of Information. Wool was in very short supply, and the booklet encouraged women to unpick old unwearable woollen items in order to re-use the wool.
Knitting patterns were issued so that people could make items for the Army and Navy to wear in winter, such as balaclavas and gloves. This not only produced the much-needed items, but also gave those on the "home front" a positive sense of contributing to the war effort.
I love the resurgence in interest of the craft of knitting. It really is a timeless art, one of many, that I hope will not be forgotten.
Madonna Knitting, by Bertram of Minden 1400-1410
1855 sketch of a shepherd knitting, while watching his flock.
A World War I poster encouraging people to knit socks for the troops.
