13 Facts About Elizabeth Zimmermann

Elizabeth Zimmermann was a British-born hand knitting teacher and designer.

Elizabeth Zimmermann revolutionised the modern practice of knitting through her books and instructional series on American public television.

Elizabeth Zimmermann advocated the Continental knitting method, claiming that it is the most efficient and quickest way to knit.

Elizabeth Zimmermann helped to re-introduce continental style knitting to the United States.

Elizabeth Zimmermann learned to knit first from her mother and aunts and then later from her Swiss governess.

Elizabeth Zimmermann immigrated to the United States from England in 1937 with her new husband, German brewery master Arnold Elizabeth Zimmermann.

Elizabeth Zimmermann is credited with knitting the first example of an Aran sweater seen in an American magazine.

Elizabeth Zimmermann's PBS knitting series is still available on VHS and DVD.

Elizabeth Zimmermann's "EPS" is still widely used by designers: it consists of a mathematical formula to determine how many stitches to cast on for a sweater, given that the sleeves and body are usually proportionate no matter what yarn or gauge is used.

Elizabeth Zimmermann is known for the "i-cord", and the "Baby Surprise Jacket," which is knitted completely flat and then folded, origami-style, to create a shaped jacket.

Elizabeth Zimmermann is credited with introducing the Mobius scarf, a continuous one-sided cowl knit as a rectangular strip, then attached end to end by rotating one end 180 degrees.

In 1974, Elizabeth Zimmermann founded a series of knitting camps that continue to this day under her daughter's direction.

Elizabeth Zimmermann died in Marshfield, Wisconsin, on 30 November 1999 at the age of 89.