The Community Roots of Fiber Crafts
While it's hard to say when and how spinning, knitting and their associated fiber arts originated, history does reflect that people have been playing with wool, silk and yarn for a very long time, with physical evidence of knitted products that go back as far as the 11th century. There are even pieces of art such as Bertram's Knitting Madonna that depict the Virgin Mary clicking away with creativity. Traditionally, the fiber arts have been a very social craft as projects were both a labor of love and a necessity of life, meaning yarn and needles were carried everywhere so that artisans could sneak in a stitch whenever they found opportunity. Though modern manufacturing has changed the way we live significantly, the social life of the fiber arts is still an important and fulfilling part of the craft.
