Figure 1.--This German clothing catalog advertizes a knitted sweater and suspender shorts set in sizes 80-92 cm, but I'm not sure what is being measured--perhaps the boy's height.

We have at this time very limited informtion on knitted shorts. Although sweaters were the more common garment, pants were also knitted. Almost always these were short pants. Knitted shorts were a rather popular style for younger boys. The most common knitted shortpants were those made for toddler boys. But we have noted younger primary-age boys also wearing them. Some knitted shorts were made for sizes up to about 8 years. Knitted shorts for older boys were much less common. In part this was because of the complications of adding a fly. The sinple styles usually without pockets and belt loops were only suitable for younger boys. Note that the German knitted shorts pictured here were made as suspender shorts (figure 1). Most of the knitted shorts that we have seen were done in a brief, short cut style. We do not hve a lot of information on knitted shorts. I do not think that theywere very popular in America. We have noted them being worn in Europe. They appear to have been especially popular in Belgium, France, and Germany. We believe that they were worn in several other European countries as well, but our information here is very limited. Hopefully our European readers will provide some additional information here. We note that swimwear before World War II was often made in kntted fabric, but was not very practical.

Knitting

We have at this time very limited informtion on knitted shorts. Although sweaters were the more common garment, pants were also knitted. We believe that knitted shorts were often done by mothers and grandmothers, but we also noted them being offerred in clothing catalogs.

Chronology

We do not have a good idea on the chronolgy of knitted shorts. We have noted them in the 1940s and the Germn add here is from the 1960s. We have noted Japanese ads from the 1970s.

Length

Almost always these were short pants. Long pants may have been knitted for very young boys mostly infants, but we do not think that they were very common for older boys.

Age

Knitted shorts were a rather popular style for younger boys. The most common knitted shortpants were those made for toddler boys. But we have noted younger primary-age boys also wearing them. Some knitted shorts were made for sizes up to about 8 years. Knitted shorts for older boys were much less common. In part this was because of the complications of adding a fly for home sewers.

Styling

The sinple styles usually without pockets and belt loops were only suitable for younger boys. Note that the German knitted shorts pictured here were made as suspender shorts (figure 1). Most of the knitted shorts that we have seen were done in a brief, short cut style. We do not have a lot of information on knitted shorts styling.

Countries

I do not think that they were very popular in America, other than for babies. That is my initial assessment, our American readrs may have further comments. We have, however, noted them being worn in Europe. They appear to have been especially popular in Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. We believe that they were worn in several other European countries as well. They were probably worn in England, Italy and Spain, but our information here is very limited. We also notice Japanese boys wearing them. Hopefully our European and Japanes readers will provide some additional information here.

Swimwear

We note that swimwear before World War II was often made in kntted fabric, but was not very practical.

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Created: April 12, 2000
Last updated: January 5, 2004