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In hand knitting certain articles of clothing, especially larger ones like [[sweaters]], the final knitted garment will be made of several knitted pieces, with individual sections of the garment hand knitted separately and then [[grafting (knitting)|sewn together]]. Seamless knitting, where a whole garment is hand knit as a single piece, is also possible. [[Elizabeth Zimmermann]] is probably the best-known proponent of seamless or circular hand knitting techniques. Smaller items, such as socks and hats, are usually knit in one piece on double-pointed needles or circular needles. Hats in particular can be started "top down" on double pointed needles with the increases added until the preferred size is achieved, switching to an appropriate circular needle when enough stitches have been added. Care must be taken to bind off at a tension that will allow the "give" needed to comfortably fit on the head. (See ''[[Circular knitting]]''.)
== Machine knitting ==
Knitting can also be performed by machines. The first knitting machine, known as the stocking frame, was invented in England in 1589.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Friedman |first=Michael |date=2023-02-17 |title=Leibniz and the Stocking Frame: Computation, Weaving and Knitting in the 17th Century |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11023-023-09623-3 |journal=Minds and Machines |language=en |volume=34 |issue=S1 |pages=11–28 |doi=10.1007/s11023-023-09623-3 |issn=1572-8641}}</ref> Modern knitting machines, both domestic and industrial, are either flat-bed or circular.<ref name=":4" /> Flat-bed knitting machines knit back and forth, producing a flat piece of fabric. Flat-bed machines can produce uniform-width fabric which can be cut and sewn into garments, or they can produce shaped pieces which can be seamed to make garments without cutting. The latter is known as full-fashioned knitting.<ref name=":3" /> Circular knitting machines knit in a continuous circle, producing a tubular piece of fabric. Similarly to knitted fabrics manufactured on flat-bed machines, a tube of uniform-width fabric may be cut along one side to produce flat fabric which can be cut and sewn into garments. Fabric produced in this way can be cheaper than fabric produced on a flat-bed machine, as circular machines can operate at higher speed. Circular knitting machines can also be used to create shaped, finished articles, such as socks.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Spencer |first=David J. |title=Knitting technology: a comprehensive handbook and practical guide |date=2001 |publisher=Woodhead Publ. Lim |isbn=978-1-85573-333-6 |edition=3. ed |location=Cambridge}}</ref>
==Materials==
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