Men who knit

"Another point which must be emphasized is that the knitters at this time were always men. The women would sit in their homes and spin, while the shepherds and fishermen, who were probably the first knitters, took the wool on the mountain sides and in their fishing boats, making it into garments for themselves and for members of their families."

Norbury, James & Agutter, Margaret (n.d.), Oldham’s Encyclopedia of Knitting, Odham Press Ltd, Long Acre, London, p.15

more on men who knit at http://www.menknit.net/