William Lee, (born 1550?, Calverton, Nottinghamshire, England—died 1610?, Paris, France), English inventor who devised the first knitting machine (1589), the only one in use for centuries. Its principle of operation remains in use.

When did knitting machines become popular?

Some hobby knitters took to part-time work, hand-knitting for extra income. The 1930s also saw a rise in the popularity of commercial machine knitting.

What is the name of the first knitting machine?

The stocking frame was the first mechanical knitting machine and was invented by William Lee of Calverton, near Nottingham, in 1589. As its technology developed and the stocking frame became more refined and efficient, factories opened and the rural knitting industry began to die out in Britain.