Knit cap
Found all over the world where the climate demands warm clothing, knit caps are known by a variety of local names.
Dating from the 15th century,[2] the earliest type of knitted wool cap was produced in the Welsh town of Monmouth.
The yarn tail was wrapped around just below the castoff stitches to gather them, leaving the little lump commonly, but inexactly, referred to as a button.
Historically, the wool knit cap was an extremely common form of headgear for seamen, fishers, hunters and others spending their working day outdoors from the 18th century and forward, and is still commonly used for this purpose in the northern regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and other cold regions of the world.
However, in parts of Canada and the US, the word 'beanie' can additionally be used to denote a different design of brimless cap, which is floppy and made up of joined panels of felt, twill, or other tightly woven cloth rather than being knitted.
[6] During the Crimean War, handmade pull-down caps were sent to the British troops to help protect them from the bitterly cold weather before or after the Battle of Balaclava.
It is traditionally made of wool and worn in the winter,[11] though in recent years knit toques have resurfaced as an extremely popular daily fashion item.
[12][13][14][15] The fashion is said to have originated with the coureurs de bois, French and Métis fur traders, who kept their woollen nightcaps on for warmth during cold winter days.
The French Canadian term likely has its origins with the long hats that were worn by the Voyageurs as they traversed westward on the rivers of North America.
Another source suggests that it is a Francization of the Spanish tocar, to touch, as the long "end of the sock cap" of the Voyageurs hung down and touched their shoulders;[16] yet another source suggests that the word is borrowed from "the old Languedoc dialect word tuc" meaning "summit" or "the head of a mountain".
Though the requirement of the toque to have a pom-pom or no can be a hard line for some Canadians, most of the country agrees: one of these three spellings must be “correct,” no matter what the hat's shape may be.
A surprise rise in popularity, driven initially by the Geek-Chic trend, saw them become a fashionable and with a real fur bobble, luxury designer item.
[27][28] In the late 20th century, in the United Kingdom, they (like the anorak) were associated with utilitarian un-fashionability or with older football supporters, as they had been popular in club colours during the 1960s and 1970s.
Bill Murray wore this type of hat in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, possibly as a parody of the red tuque (or Phrygian cap) worn by French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau.
Michael Nesmith of The Monkees also wore a knitted cap in his television series, as did Jay in the films of the View Askewniverse, Robert Clothier's character "Relic" in the long-running Canadian TV series The Beachcombers, and Hanna-Barbera's character Loopy de Loop wore a knit cap as well.
Everest from the series PAW Patrol wears a teal knit cap with white trimmings that she is rarely seen without.
Characters in the animated series South Park, including Eric Cartman and Stan Marsh, usually wear knitted caps.
Jayne Cobb from the TV series Firefly wore an orange sherpa knitted and sent to him by his mother in the episode "The Message".
Tom Delonge, guitarist and vocalist of the pop punk band Blink-182 is also known to wear a knitted cap during live performances.
Lee Hartney from The Smith Street Band is regularly seen in a black knit cap, even during an Australian summer.
