Knit Fabrics

Knit fabrics were popular amongst the herding tribes, originating with the Dzuamut and soon spreading to other communities whose nomadic lifestyle did not facilitate the use of larger loom structures. Because 2 to 5 sticks (and later, wire with sanded tips) were used, Dzuamut men and women could hold spare knitting sticks in their hair or behind their ears whilst on horseback.
Knitting, in practice, allows the craftsman to pull loops of a fiber thread through former loops to weave a structure whose individual parts look like v shapes, as opposed to loom woven fabric's + shape intersections. The practice of knitting can create both flat pieces of textile as well as shaped pieces, using the Thas short-row technique or Authoka round-knitting. When knitting practice traveled west to the Authoka region, knitting sticks began to be produced out of metal rather than wood, allowing knitters in the west to create knitting sticks that were joined in-between with flexible wire. This was a game changer for knitters as they no longer had to knit pieces to a pattern and sew them together, but could make a garment entirely in one step as they knit tubes for sleeves, hats, socks, leggings, and neck coverings.
In the modern day, many young people maintain the practice of knitting and combine cultural iconography from various tribes to represent the merging of the various ethnic groups into the UTK. In this way, knitting and weaving is often considered to be a metaphor for the UTK's strength. By combining techniques originally developed by the Dzuamut people and expanded upon by the other tribes, knitting is reflective of the myriad ways in which the people of the Kaivasa region are stronger in unity than they were as warring tribesmen. Spinning practices of the Matkosh and Vasaifa allowed for new textiles to be produced out of linen and other plant based fibers, resulting in lightweight knit materials that perfectly suited the construction of uniform pieces to supply for the UTK armed forces.

Distribution

Law & Regulation

Previously, certain motifs were used exclusively to denote tribal and familial affiliations. While not legally put into code under the High King, these knitting motifs were recognized by the community as highly regulated patterns.
Under the First Scion, the people of the UTK mix knitting motifs but professionally knit goods are strictly regulated. For example, red thread is only usable for the knit materials of the uniforms of members of the Chamber of Care and ranking officials in the civil service. Thread weights and fiber content is also strictly regulated by the UTK government to ensure treatment runoff from plant-based fiber manufacturing doesn't taint the water supply of nearby communities.

Motifs commonly of use in the UTK include: a wave pattern mirrored top and bottom, a large X with specks between each crossbar, a spiral, and a V with a dash above it. For the Authoka, swiveling serpentine patterns are often used as embellishments, as well.

Wool products were popular amongst the herdsmen of the Dzuamut as well as the Ishgud, Authoka, and Thas. Where the Kotuishuth people have historically crafted thick clothing from fur and leather, supplemented by traded knit and woven woolen goods, the aforementioned tribes raised wool-growing mammals called Mutane whose long fibers could be woven into threads by use of a drop spindle. It wouldn't be unusual to see a Dzuamut herdsman dressed in woolen fiber from head to toe, in those times. He might be wearing a felted cap, which was made by knitting a wool article and then using hot rocks and water to bind the fibers together and shrink the material, closing any gaps in the weave. Then he'd cover a simple but durable linen shirt with a woven pullover sweater whose motifs would be handed down and denote his family and status. The more colored stripes in his sleeve, the more senior a member of his community he may be. His trousers would be made from knit wool and close around his feet in one article to keep the wind from funneling up his legs as he rides his pony, and he'd wear riding chaps of buckskin or leather. These chaps would last him nearly his whole life, and would be a point of pride, adorned with beads and embroidery.

Type

Textile

Related Locations

• Dzuamut state

While traditionally knitted goods were made with animal fibers, especially that of the Mutane, there are folk legends attributing certain powers to knitted goods with certain animal fur inclusions and even some supposed charms could be made with the hair of the knitter. Weaving your own hair into a knitted garment for a loved one would ensure they stayed close to you and seldom strayed. In modern times, some people will knit small vests for their cats with their own hair, to ensure their pet does not run away. Other popular fur attributions are listed below:

• Bear - bounty