From ancient times, the art of hand knitting remained an occupation for women folk. Other than knitting many crafts are practised today. Among them are crocheting, making cloth toys and dolls, flower crafts, shell crafts, woodcraft, candle making, decorative inlay and sculpting. However, hand Knitting still remains pastime of women folk in many parts of the world. Originally knitting remained entirely confined to making socks and women's stockings. Earlier than this the leg and foot coverings were woven. Now they hand-knit all sort of garments, sweaters, cardigans, blouse and even skirts.
In 1589, William Lee, a clergyman invented the first knitting machine in England. After this invention, in the 17th and 18th centuries the art of knitting was gradually taken over by guild organised cottage industry. Interestingly, the basic technology of the modern day knitting machines is similar to Lee's machine. Even the full-fashioned machine invented in 1864 by William Cotton of Leicestershire, England used the same bearded-spring needle, which was part of the original model of Lee.
In the 19th century power was applied to the knitting machines and simultaneously circular-knitting machines appeared on the scene. Women's stocking when knitted on original machines were a straight knitted tube, because stitches could not be added or dropped on circular knitting machine. So these products were known as hosiery. The word hosiery is derived from the old English hose, which means a covering for the leg. Now seamless stockings are knitted even on circular machines, developed in the mid-19th century. To start with cotton, wool, silk and later rayon yarns were used for making hosiery, but with the emergence of nylon in the 1940s women preferred nylon hose, because they could be permanently formed into the desired shape by heating. The use of nylon also improved the fit of hosiery due to stretchability of nylon fabrics.
Subsequently, in Great Britain, hosiery came to be associated with all types of machine-knit garments, now called knitwear. In United States they still call stockings, socks, panty hose, and tights as hosiery products. Between 1880 to 1910 knitwear was mainly a female fashion, later knitted pullovers, cardigans, skirts, men's underwear, sportswear and swimwear became popular. Developments in the 20th century increased the production speeds of the machines and offered wider choice to pattern the knitted fabrics. Now computer controlled knitting machines have come on the scene, which are highly versatile. Knitted garments have now become every day dress.

J.N.Vohra