I embarked on my knitting journey a few months before the pandemic hit. To be more precise, I began attempting to knit, and I was clumsy in every possible way. Honestly, I still am.
As the world shut down and uncertainty loomed, I found solace in knitting. I’d knit during Zoom chats with friends, while tuning into our Sunday church services online, and as I watched the increasingly grim news each night.
I couldn’t even tell you what I was making — was it a scarf or a shawl? — but that didn’t really matter. I wasn’t focused on the outcome or if there would even be one. It was the process of knitting that really counted.
Now, nearly a year into my knitting experience, let me be clear: I’m not skilled at it. In fact, I’m pretty bad. My knowledge is limited to the basic knit and purl stitches, and my ability to follow a pattern leaves much to be desired. This past summer, I attempted to knit a blanket, but it ended up looking more like a giant’s scarf due to its skewed dimensions.
But you know what? I don’t mind at all. In fact, I appreciate my lack of skill. My minimal expectations for the final product liberate me from the pressure of perfection. Embracing mediocrity allows me to knit purely for the joy of it, not the finished piece.
For someone who tends toward perfectionism, this is incredibly freeing.
In fact, my less-than-perfect knitting serves as a remedy to our results-driven, success-obsessed society. Whenever I mention my new hobby (and I use “new” loosely), I’m met with encouragement from fellow knitters. They share tips and urge me to “keep at it.” There’s never any judgment when I express my frustrations about learning to knit in the round or showcase my uneven scarf. Instead, there’s only positivity and support — including from myself.
Dr. Lucy Hayes, a parent and avid knitter, has noted the distinct differences between parenting and knitting. She writes in The New York Times, “When someone shares a photo of a finished project, it represents love, care, time, and effort — and you should either celebrate it or move on.” She further questions, “What benefit is there in pointing out that the colors clash or the fit isn’t quite right?”
She makes a fantastic point. Dr. Hayes suggests that those who frequently judge others should take up knitting. “I’d like to recommend that anyone who has commented negatively on other parents learn to knit. Winter is coming, and we all need scarves,” she writes.
I’ll admit that I didn’t grasp the allure of knitting until recently. I would see people knitting in church or during lectures and wonder how they could focus on two things at once. It wasn’t until I picked up the needles myself that I realized the rhythmic motion — one needle in front of the other, slip under, pull through — actually enhances focus. You become more present, less distracted, and you slow down.
“Knitting grounds me in the moment,” Dr. Hayes states. “As someone who has struggled with meditation, knitting calms my mind and brings me to the table, real or metaphorical. My hands move, I’m aware of their motions, and the yarn flows through my fingers, reminding me of the tension — both the technical and metaphorical types.”
A year after I first started knitting, initially as a way to limit my phone usage, I’m still only capable of a few basic stitches and can barely read a pattern. But that doesn’t bother me. Knitting is doing exactly what everyone said it would — it calms my mind, keeps me off my phone, and helps me stay present. So, if you’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed about the coming months, I highly recommend trying your hand at knitting a scarf.
Winter is approaching, and it promises to be a challenging one. Knitting could be just what you need.
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Summary:
The author shares their journey into knitting, which began just before the pandemic. Despite lacking skills and experiencing a few mishaps, they find joy in the act itself rather than the outcome. Knitting serves as a form of mindfulness, offering relaxation and presence in a chaotic world, and the author encourages others to try it during the upcoming winter months.
Keyphrase:
knitting for relaxation
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