theres a young lubavitcher guy that sometimes davens in our shul (when he is visiting his parents) who wears a large black knitted kipa. [his father and brothers wear velvet.] its the only time i ever saw someone wear such a thing.
usually i will assume someone wearing a knitted kipa is mo. i dont see why between velvet or knitted one would be more apolitical or neutral than the other. id assume velvet is the default. were knitted even common 100 years ago?