#HistoryStitch: North African Two-Needle Knitting in the Middle Ages

Knitting in the Middle Ages? Yes – and much earlier than many believe. Between 1100 and 1300 CE, artisans in North Africa were already creating socks on two needles, using intricate geometric patterns crafted through a fascinating technique of directional knitting and needle switching. Though overlooked for centuries, these early examples – now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) – prove that knitting history stretches far beyond Europe.

🧦 Historic Treasures from Fustat, Egypt

One key site is Fustat, a medieval city that predates Cairo.
Excavations in the 20th century uncovered nearly intact socks from the 12th to 14th century, showcasing:

• Work done on two knitting needles

• Geometric motifs – stripes, diamonds, arches

• Natural fibers: wool and cotton, often dyed with indigo or pomegranate

• Color and pattern changes achieved via needle orientation, not stranded colorwork

Several of these pieces are preserved in the V&A Museum, London, and have become crucial to rethinking textile history.

🧶 Technique: Two Needles, Multiple Directions

The knitting was worked:

• In rows, not rounds

• On two pointed wooden or bone needles

• With directional shifts to create bold motifs

• Likely passed through family or guild-based instruction

Interestingly, the stitch tension and structure resemble modern mosaic knitting, though the technique predates it by centuries.

🪔 From Artifact to Reconstruction

Scholars and reenactors have begun to reverse-engineer these techniques:

• Dr. Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood (Textile Research Centre, NL)

• Ruth Holroyd (V&A)

• Historical crafters in Morocco, Spain, and the UK

They found the yarn carried across rows in unexpected ways, and twisted floats used to build sharp outlines – unlike common European styles.

💡 My Final Thoughts: History Through Stitches

The North African two-needle knitting tradition is a beautiful reminder that textile knowledge knows no borders.
Each stitch preserves not just warmth, but cultural exchange, social identity, and centuries of technique.

If we listen carefully, old socks can still tell stories. 🧦📖

Ever tried a historical knitting technique?
Reimagine the past – share your modern version or reconstruction with #HistoryMasche.
Let's keep the craft – and the stories – alive. 

#HistoryStitch #MedievalKnitting #TwoNeedleTechnique #TextileArchaeology #strickenimtrend

Until next time,
where stitches bridge centuries and yarn becomes a storyteller. 

Yours,
Kathrin ☀️🧶