A knitting inventionSourced
A machine for stockings dates to 1589
William Lee invented the stocking frame in England in 1589. It imitated hand-knitting movements. Early versions made coarse fabric, while later improvements enabled silk stockings. Lee also took machines and workers to France while seeking support.
An everyday garment has a long history of mechanical experimentation.
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Stocking frame · Wikimedia contributors
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Reviewed: 2026-10-10