▁there ▁is ▁a ▁similar ▁variety ▁of ▁methods . ▁ ▁In ▁kn itting ▁certain ▁articles ▁of ▁cl othing , ▁especially ▁larger ▁ones ▁like ▁swe aters , ▁the ▁final ▁kn itted ▁gar ment ▁will ▁be ▁made ▁of ▁several ▁kn itted ▁pieces , ▁with ▁individual ▁sections ▁of ▁the ▁gar ment ▁kn it ▁separately ▁and ▁then ▁se wn ▁together . ▁Se am less ▁kn itting , ▁where ▁a ▁whole ▁gar ment ▁is ▁kn it ▁as ▁a ▁single ▁piece , ▁is ▁also ▁possible . ▁Elizabeth ▁Z imm ermann ▁is ▁probably ▁the ▁best - known ▁pro ponent ▁of ▁se am less ▁or ▁circular ▁kn itting ▁techniques . ▁Sm aller ▁items , ▁such ▁as ▁so cks ▁and ▁h ats , ▁are ▁usually ▁kn it ▁in ▁one ▁piece ▁on ▁double - point ed ▁need les ▁or ▁circular ▁need les . ▁( See ▁Circ ular ▁kn itting .) ▁ ▁Social ▁aspects ▁ ▁One ▁of ▁the ▁earliest ▁known ▁examples ▁of ▁kn itting ▁was ▁fin ely ▁decor ated ▁cot ton ▁so cks ▁found ▁in ▁Egypt ▁in ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁mill en ni um ▁AD . ▁The ▁first ▁kn itting ▁trade ▁gu ild ▁was ▁started ▁in ▁Paris ▁in ▁ 1 5 2 7 . ▁ ▁With ▁the ▁in vention ▁of ▁the ▁kn itting ▁machine , ▁however , ▁kn itting ▁" by ▁hand " ▁became ▁a ▁useful ▁but ▁non - ess ential ▁craft . ▁Similar ▁to ▁qu il ting , ▁spin ning , ▁and ▁need le point , ▁kn itting ▁became ▁a ▁social ▁activity . ▁ ▁Hand ▁kn itting ▁has ▁gone ▁into ▁and ▁out