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Why Do You Knit? Here Are a Few Great Reasons

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knitting reasonsAt 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.

Comments

  1. I knit because it is a sort of meditation for me.
    It calms me.
    I like doing something while I am watching tv.

  2. 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

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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….

  7. 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!

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

Have you read?

10 Knitted Christmas Bauble Patterns for a Tree Full of Handmade Charm

There’s always room for one more Christmas decoration, especially when it uses yarn you already own. That’s my reasoning, anyway. Those little leftover balls that aren’t quite enough for a hat suddenly look much more promising when you start thinking about knitted baubles.

I love the idea of adding a few handmade ornaments to the tree each year. They don’t all have to match, either. A traditional colourwork ball beside a slightly cheeky Christmas pudding feels far more interesting than a tree where everything arrived in the same box.

These knitted Christmas bauble patterns include flat-knit designs, festive characters and detailed colourwork ornaments. Most are free, with a paid collection included for anyone who wants plenty of designs to work through. Some suit newer knitters; others are small projects for practising skills you already know.

Christmas Baubles Knitted Flat

The free Christmas Baubles—Knit Flat pattern from Tat’sgrans Treasures is worth a look if knitting tiny rounds doesn’t appeal. It includes three sizes and charted words such as Peace, Hope, Love and Joy, worked using intarsia. The flat construction is approachable, although the lettering adds a challenge beyond basic stocking stitch. I’d choose this for meaningful gift ornaments, particularly when one of those words suits the person receiving it.

Christmas Pudding Bauble

The free Christmas Pudding Bauble by Amanda Berry has all the appeal of a festive pudding without anyone debating whether they actually like eating it. Knitted flat in DK yarn, it combines shaping, colourwork and seaming, with a little holly topper to finish. It’s best for confident beginners with some experience rather than someone learning their first knit stitch. At approximately 6 cm tall, it would make a lovely tree decoration or an extra treat tied onto a wrapped present.

Rudolf & Friends Character Baubles

The free Rudolf & Friends Ornaments by Claire Fairall bring a playful touch to a handmade Christmas tree. These character baubles are knitted flat, and the instructions include illustrations for assembly and embroidery. Hobbii lists the pattern as suitable for beginners, making it a useful option for knitters who would rather practise finishing details than stranded colourwork. The finished ornaments measure approximately 8 × 6 cm and would also look cheerful tucked into a handmade wreath.

Cute Christmas Baubles With Little Faces

The free Cute Christmas Baubles from Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Days turn small amounts of DK yarn into cheerful character decorations. Worked flat and seamed, they use simple shaping, stuffing and added facial details to create their personality. They suit knitters comfortable with knit, purl, increases and decreases who enjoy a little assembly afterwards. I rather like Marianna’s idea of using them on the Christmas dinner table before adding hanging loops for the tree.

Rudolph’s Nose Christmas Bauble

The free Rudolph’s Nose Bauble from DROPS Design is a useful choice when you want a traditional ball-shaped ornament. Designed in DROPS Flora, it uses knitting in the round with increases and decreases to create the shape. Choose this if you’re comfortable handling a small circumference and want a project focused on construction. I’d make a few in coordinating colours to bring a little consistency to an otherwise wonderfully mismatched handmade tree.

Merry Mints Bauble

The free Merry Mints Bauble from DROPS Design offers another festive option, this time designed in DROPS Cotton Merino. The instructions include working back-and-forth rows and shaping, so it’s worth considering if you prefer that approach to tiny rounds. Read through the construction before starting and pay attention to the instructions for working yarn overs to avoid unwanted holes. This would be a nice project for a knitter who enjoys seeing a shaped decoration emerge from a small piece of knitting.

Caorann Fair Isle Christmas Bauble

The free Caorann Christmas Bauble by Sarah Berry brings delicate Fair Isle detail to a small ornament. It uses fingering-weight yarn and 2.5 mm needles, with instructions sized for an approximately 60 mm bauble insert. Worked in the round, the design includes both written and charted directions for its repeated segments. I’d save this one for knitters with some colourwork experience who want to make a particularly special keepsake.

A Dated 2026 Christmas Bauble

The free 2026 Christmas Bauble by Smaatterier combines the year with two traditional Selbu rose motifs. It’s knitted in the round using stranded colourwork across the middle, with either fibre filling or a suitably sized plastic bauble inside. The charted design is listed as intermediate and finishes at approximately 6.5 cm tall. This is a lovely choice for marking a first Christmas in a new home, a family milestone or simply another year of making things by hand.

Colourful Christmas Balls From Two Strands

The free Christmas Balls by Mary Ann Stephens are full of colourwork detail, with optional touches such as duplicate stitch and nupps. The designer also discusses I-cord hanging loops, which give the ornaments a pleasingly substantial finish. These are better suited to knitters comfortable following charts and managing several colours than complete beginners. Follow the updated download directions in the post to find the patterns on the designer’s current website.

ARNE & CARLOS Christmas Ball Collection

The paid Twenty-four Christmas Balls 2024 collection by ARNE & CARLOS includes a basic ball pattern and 24 different motif charts. The ornaments are worked in the round using stranded colourwork, with a linked tutorial to help you follow the process. Although the designer lists the collection as beginner level, I’d be comfortable knitting in the round and making increases and decreases before starting. This is the pick for someone who wants a whole collection of coordinated ornaments rather than just one small project.

Choosing Yarn for Knitted Baubles

Small decorations are tempting stash projects, but check the yarn weight before diving into that leftover basket. A thicker yarn can make a much larger bauble, while changing the yarn in a fitted cover may stop it fitting the recommended insert.

For colourwork, choose shades with enough contrast for the motif to show. Two lovely colours can look surprisingly similar once they’re knitted together, especially on something this small.

Smooth yarn also makes it easier to see your stitches. Save the fluffy, sparkly and slightly mysterious leftovers for a pattern where you’re confident they’ll work.

Getting a Nicely Rounded Finish

If your pattern uses stuffing, add it gradually and spread it evenly. You’re aiming for a rounded ornament without stretching the stitches so far apart that the filling shows through. For designs worked over an insert, check the diameter and follow the instructions for when to put it inside.

Give the finishing a little time, too. A neat seam, securely woven ends and a tidy hanging loop help a small decoration feel properly finished.

I’d start with a pair for the tree and one to give away. Of course, once you’ve laid out all those yarn colours, “just three” may become a rather flexible arrangement.