Knitting is an interesting example, as it’s a relatively recent invention (less than 1000 years old). Previously to make fabric you needed some kind of weaving method, which requires some kind of structure to hold the fabric. With knitting, you can do it anywhere, and just need a stick or two. It’s an interesting technology in how important it was, in a very subdued way. Knitting uses more materiel, but you get a flexible and warm garment which you can produce while on the go (apparently Chinese caravan men would pluck out camel hair to continue knitting).
It’s also interesting in how quickly it was abandoned as soon as cheap fabric was available from other sources—knitting is what grandmothers do (this used to make a lot of sense) and so was low status. It’s only recently become a normal hobby.
Knitting is an interesting example, as it’s a relatively recent invention (less than 1000 years old). Previously to make fabric you needed some kind of weaving method, which requires some kind of structure to hold the fabric. With knitting, you can do it anywhere, and just need a stick or two. It’s an interesting technology in how important it was, in a very subdued way. Knitting uses more materiel, but you get a flexible and warm garment which you can produce while on the go (apparently Chinese caravan men would pluck out camel hair to continue knitting).
It’s also interesting in how quickly it was abandoned as soon as cheap fabric was available from other sources—knitting is what grandmothers do (this used to make a lot of sense) and so was low status. It’s only recently become a normal hobby.