Beautiful knitwear
Knitwear for ladies’ fashion only really became popular in the 1920’s. Of course women knitted before this time but only for underwear or sportswear. In fact, polo neck jumpers received their name from polo players and the word ‘sweater’ is supposed to have derived from fanatical 19th century health fiends who exercised dressed in wool. The V-neck also became synonymous with cricketers. Furthermore, on the golf course, both men and women wore brightly patterned knitted tops, often in a marked, large check design.
A rapid progress in technology meant industrial knitting machines were introduced in the 1920’s. Textile workers operated knitting looms and produced huge quantities of jersey material. This was then cut up into shapes and sewn together.
By dint of further advances in knitting, the 1930’s bore witness to knitwear becoming more elaborate and chic. A fashionable woman would look coolly glamorous in a short sleeved knitted top.
The beauty of today’s knitwear is its adaptability and adjustability: a knitted cardigan can assume an open look to allow the T-shirt, top or shirt underneath to be visible; a knitted jacket can be worn closed with a pretty pin or tasteful brooch, or to draw attention to the buttons which in themselves can be a pleasing feature.
