techniques that had been preserved by a relatively small number of hand-knitters are now finding a wider audience as well. In addition, a type of graffiti called yarn bombing, has spread worldwide. Like traditional graffiti, this consists of creating knitted pieces in public spaces without permission. On 14 January 2006, author and knit-blogger Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, otherwise known as Yarn Harlot, challenged the knitting world to participate in the 2006 Knitting Olympics. To participate, a knitter committed to casting-on a challenging project during the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, and to have that project finished by the time the Olympic flame was extinguished sixteen days later. By the first day of the Olympics, almost 4,000 knitters had risen to the challenge. As another sign of the knitting's popularity in the early 21st century, a large international online community and social networking site for knitters and crocheters, Ravelry, was founded by Cassidy and Jessica Forbes in May 2007. At first available by invitation only, the site connects knitting and crochet enthusiasts around the world and, had over 6.21 million registered users. See also History of knitwear Row counter Jersey (fabric) References Cornu, Georgette, Marielle Martiniani-Reber, et al. Tissus d'Égypte: témoins du monde arabe, VIIIe à XVe siècles, 1993. Gosling, Lucinda. Knitting for Tommy: Keeping the Great War Soldier Warm. Stroud, Glouchestire, UK: The History Press, 2014. Macdonald, Anne L., No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting, 1988. Rutt, Richard, A History of Hand Knitting, Interweave Press, 1987. The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts Notes External links History 101 A history of knitting by Julie Theaker. History of knitting website with various helpful resources Information on the Heritage of the East Midlands Knitting Industry in the UK Needle Conversion Chart Shows conversion between current and past US and European knitting needle sizes. Victoria and Albert Museum provided 1940s knitting patterns Free vintage knitting patterns and resources The Physics of "Knitting" (NYT; 17 May 2019) Knitting Knitting