At some point in every knitter’s life, someone will ask them why they knit. Sometimes it’s asked nicely, by someone who wants to know why this passion was sparked in you.
But sometimes it’s asked by people who wonder why you bother, why someone would spend so much time knitting something by hand that could easily be purchased a lot more cheaply at a store.
Of course, those sorts of people will never get it. They will never be convinced that the act of making something could be worthwhile, that a scarf or a sweater you make yourself is infinitely more valuable than the monetary difference between it and one bought in a store.
Katherine Martinko writes for TreeHugger about reasons she “bothers” to knit a scarf instead of buying one, and it’s a great lesson for all of us to remember why creating things by hand is important.
“The act of knitting is a strange combination of relaxation and activism, of protest and tradition,” she writes, noting that choosing to buy locally produced or handmade yarn and knitting it yourself supports other artisans and local industries as well as just being a lot of fun and feeling good.
Is this the way you feel, too? I’d love to know why you “bother” to knit.
I knit because it is a sort of meditation for me.
It calms me.
I like doing something while I am watching tv.
I crochet more than I knit at the moment, but I do both for the same reason as Maureen. It is a chance to meditate and to ‘zone out’ from a stressful or busy day.
I also crochet and knit because I like the satisfaction I get when I see a project I am working on finished and I can sit back and say “I made this” and know it will give pleasure to the recipient because they know I thought of them when I was making the item
Knitting is something I do while watching TV. It’s almost therapeutic. If I’m knitting for someone else, I feel like I’m pouring positive energy into the piece and that will be there for them later on.
Years ago, I picked up my knitting to keep my hands busy when I quit smoking. I’d learned to knit when I was around 8 years old, knit off and on for years, but this time I was in need of something to help me and now I knit while watching TV just as a form of relaxation. By the way, I quit smoking 14 years ago and never looked back! It was one of the easiest things I ever did, thanks to knitting.
I knit to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren. There was a time I was diagnosed with what could have been a fatal disease. So, I picked up acrylic yarn (I know wool is nicer by I am allergic) and made each of my children, who were in their teens and not particularly friendly towards me at the time, a blanket of soft mohair like yarn.
Now, that crisis has ended….successfully, and I still knit to make something that cannot be found anywhere else. Each item gives me a sense of connectedness to those I love and to those I give as a charity item. And I find I feel connected to the future as well as the present with my work.
In my book, Rx for Quilters: Stitcher Friendly Advice for Every Body, I show that repetitive tasks like knitting send a wave of relaxation through your whole body. Your heart rate drops. Your blood pressure drops. I love knitting. I am doing a “doctoral” version of the Harry Potter scarf, three stripes of gold at each end of a maroon scarf, echoing the three stripes on my doctoral gown….
I knit because I like to feel self sufficient. When I finish an item, it is such an accomplishment. I also try to learn new things to keep my brain functioning so I pick new skills to try. It is an hobby,too,but so much more!
Reasons why I knit: relaxation – anywhere and anytime I need it; gift giving – recipient can choose color, yarn type, size, etc as it is made especially for him/her; artistic expression – creating clothing and accessories for my style; uplifting – colorful yarns always help me feel better.
My Mum always knitted our cardigans and did it while Dad was driving on our trips and Mum taught me because I was getting bored with the trip and now I knit for charity and it’s a great feeling to send of booties or baby items for the Aborigine in the black, yellow and red or do squares to be made into blankets for the Homeless or those who loose everything in the Bushfires here in Australia.
Hats and Fingerless Gloves on circular needles don’t take long and you feel great to know that someone will have a warm head and hands during winter.
The only thing I’d love to do is teach the Grand Daughters to knit but at 5 and 6 they end up going silly but I’ll keep trying.
I’ve loved reading all the ‘reasons why you knit” and want very much to join your ranks! Could someone please recommend a site where I might easily learn to knit? I know that there are like a gazillion sites out there, but who would know better what to recommend than knitters … I love bulky, textured yarns, am interested in knitting caps, mittens, etc. (my service dog has promised to watch me intently as I learn to knit), and I’d like to knit for charity. Thank you for any and all resources and recommendations. KathyJo
First off, I’m enjoying your series. I knit because it connects me to the past, to traditions, to a slower world. I appreciate things that are handmade – not commercial – and fortunately my family does too.
I could probably come up with some deep reason for my 50 years of knitting. But in all honesty I knit because I love yarn and yarn loves me. The socks and scarves and sweaters and mittens are just a bonus.
I knit and crochet, because I’m too cheep to spend $20.00 on a sweater, when I can make a really great sweater that lasts and may cost more depending on the yarn.