Q 01/05

The oldest known true knitted artifacts are cotton socks from which country?

A) Egypt

B) China

C) Greece

D) Norway

Answer · why

A) Egypt

Egypt's socks already show fine gauge and complex colourwork, so knitting was probably practised there well before these finds.

Q 02/05

Which looping technique worked with one needle made sturdy socks and mittens before knitting was known?

A) Crochet

B) Nålebinding

C) Tatting

D) Tablet weaving

Answer · why

B) Nålebinding

Nålebinding works short lengths of yarn much like sewing, and some ancient pieces once thought to be knitting turned out to be made with it.

Q 03/05

Europe's earliest known knitted items were made by knitters of which faith, employed by Castilian royals?

A) Jewish

B) Orthodox

C) Coptic

D) Muslim

Answer · why

D) Muslim

Muslim knitters worked the Arabic word baraka, 'blessing', into a cushion cover buried with the Christian prince Fernando de la Cerda.

Q 04/05

The Buxtehude Altar, painted around 1400, shows which holy figure knitting?

A) Virgin Mary

B) Saint Anne

C) Mary Magdalene

D) Saint Elizabeth

Answer · why

A) Virgin Mary

The Virgin Mary knits Christ's seamless tunic on four needles, the garment medieval tradition said he wore until his crucifixion.

Q 05/05

The cardigan is named after an earl who led which cavalry charge?

A) The Charge of the Light Brigade

B) The Charge of the Heavy Brigade

C) The Charge of the Union Brigade

D) The Charge of the 21st Lancers

Answer · why

A) The Charge of the Light Brigade

The Charge of the Light Brigade made Lord Cardigan a brief hero at home, and the knitted waistcoat named after him became a hot commodity.