During the industrial revolution, different types of complex knitting machines were invented for socks, underwear, just about everything. Then they came up with a home knitting machine, but I didn’t persist to get the hang of it. I prefer to knit by hand but need instructions or diagrams. Some people can just cast on some stitches and make about anything on the fly.
Because the real, underlying kick to knitting or sewing is that you get to stab things with sharp needles over and over and over! and no one gets hurt! Great stress reliever at the end of the day.