This item is under development

William Lee 1589

Society:1500s
William Lee invented the first stocking frame knitting machine in 1589. His machine took the traditional heavy hosiery to fine silk stockings that became popular with ladies.

The process of creating leg hosiery involved taking a piece of cloth this was cut to the shape of a leg and the edges sewn together to create a stocking. Hand knitting stockings to produce a finer garment had become a cottage industry.

Lee's first machine was refused a patent by Queen Elizabeth I as it was not superior to the hand made stockings and she wanted to protect the people making a living from hand knitting.

MUIB Made up in Britain

• Inventions
• Site Map
• By Date
• Time Line
• Search:
• Try a Random Page

Page: Stockings:: Total hits: 68262
Made ^up in Britain.