[f. as prec. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the verb KNIT. Fastening in or with a knot, tying, binding, conjunction, compacting, etc. lit. and fig.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 4542. Opne hem [bags]; hir knyttynge al to sore annoyeth.
c. 1430. Life St. Kath. (1884), 42. Þe lawfull knyttyng of matrimony.
1550. Bale, Image Both Ch. (1560), A iij. The very complete summe and whole knyttyng up.
1617. Bp. Hall, Quo Vadis? § 4 Wks. (1628), 691. Blossomes … nipped … with an Aprill frost when they should come to the knitting.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 4. 131. The knitting of Christian nations together into a vast commonwealth.
† b. concr. A tie, fastening, knot (lit. and fig.). Obs.
13[?]. Sir Beues (MSS. S. and N.), 149/3220. On hur gurdul ȝhe made a knyttyng riding [other MSS. knotte riding], Aboute his necke ȝhe hit þrew Him to honge hard and fast.
1495. Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., XVII. clxxiv. (W. de W.), V iv b/1. Bendes and knyttynges [Bodley MS. knyttels] made to bynde vp vynes.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 96. Betwene the knittynges Flowers of Golde.
1610. Barrough, Meth. Physick, I. xxv. (1639), 43. Apply it to the Hanches, and to the … Knittings of the joynts.
2. spec. The formation of a fabric by looping (see quot. 1883). b. concr. Work so done or made, knitted work.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 108, ¶ 3. A Pair of Garters of his own knitting.
1880. Miss Braddon, Just as I am, vii. Aunt Dora was occupied with her knitting.
1882. Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlework, s.v., The art of Knitting was unknown in England until the sixteenth century.
1883. Chambers’ Encycl., V. 810. Knitting consists in using a single thread, and with it forming a continual series of loops across the whole fabric; the next row [of loops] passes through these; and they in their turn receive another set, until the whole is completed.
1892. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ For his Sake, I. 220. Please bring me my knitting.
3. attrib. and Comb., as knitting-cotton (cotton thread for knitting), knitting-machine, -mill, -silk, -work; knitting-case, (a) = knitting-sheath; (b) a case for keeping knitting-needles in; † knitting-cup, a cup of wine handed round at a marriage feast; knitting-pin, † knitting-prick, knitting-wire = KNITTING-NEEDLE; knitting-sheath, a cylindrical sheath for holding a knitting-needle steady in the act of knitting; knitting-stick, an elongated form of the knitting-sheath. Also KNITTING-NEEDLE.
1851. Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib., 786. Complete fancy *knitting-basket. Ibid., 785. *Knitting cases.
1888. E. Eggleston, Graysons, xxx. 332. She paused to take the end of one needle out of the quill of her knitting-case.
1851. Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib., 1106. *Knitting and sewing cotton yarn.
1632. B. Jonson, Magn. Lady, IV. ii. Doe, doe, and mind The Parsons pint … A *knitting Cup there must be.
1858. *Knitting machine [see KNITTED].
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 1236/2. The Bickford knitting-machine … is a specimen of the circular system.
1898. Folk-lore, Sept., 219. The old *knitting-parties which once formed centres of social life in winter evenings.
1870. Miss Bridgman, R. Lynne, I. xi. 178. The … click of the *knitting-pins ceased.
1597. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees, 1860), 283. ij lbs. and a half of *knitting prickes 2s. 1d.
1755. Smollett, Quix. (1803), IV. 82. In making *knitting-sheaths and plain-work.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., II. xix. 8. Miss Ophelia … pulled out her *knitting-work, and sat there grim with indignation.
