The art of knitting and weaving textiles has been an enduring tradition among the Coast Salish First Nations, predating the arrival of the Europeans by countless generations. By the mid-19th century, Coast Salish women in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island infused these ancient techniques with European two needle and multi-needle knitting methods. This fusion of cultures and techniques resulted in the Cowichan sweaters that we see today. A trademark characteristic of the sweaters is that they are knitted all in one piece.
The Cowichan Sweater is now recognized as being of national historical significance by the Government of Canada. See here to learn more about the history of the Cowichan Sweater and here to learn more about the Cowichan Tribes.
