One of my favourite past times is knitting. It’s something I learned at a young age and I still continuously take on small projects. I certainly cannot do anything too complex, but ultimately that doesn’t matter. Knitting is something I do for fun.
With COVID restriction rules stronger than ever, people are looking to pick up new hobbies and learn new skills. One of those may be knitting. Unfortunately, knitting can be daunting to pick up. It takes a while to complete a project and it requires a decent amount of coordination and time. Chances are your first project is going to look a little wonky and you may not even finish it.
As someone who’s knit a few things in their lifetime, I do have advice for picking up your needles and pushing through the hurdles that may prevent you from continuing to knit.
Learn a basic stitch first.
Don’t worry about learning every type of stitch. Perhaps at first stick with something like a knit or purl stitch. They’re the foundation for most projects and can be relatively easy to learn. By focusing on learning one stitch at a time, you can build muscle memory that will help you keep even tension between stitches.
Start small.
Choosing a small, quick-to-complete project will help you practice knitting while also keeping you from getting bored. My first successful project was a winter ear warmer, which was essentially a long, knit rectangle with the ends sewn together. It took me about an hour and I still wear it during the winter. By starting with something small, I was able to practice the one stitch I knew and master it, without spending hours trying to complete a singular project. The short time frame helped keep me focused and because my project was smaller, I could see the progress I was making relatively quickly. It didn’t feel like I was wasting hours knitting with no return, the way it would have if I’d started out with something a little larger, like a scarf.
Find a community.
When I was in eighth grade, we had a knitting club. This was around the time I was first learning. We’d get together once a week during lunch and knit while talking about whatever we could think of. If someone needed help or encouragement, there was someone else to give it. Now, when I’m working on a larger project, a scarf at the moment, I’ll get in a call with a friend and we’ll both do our own thing. If I ever need a distraction from the monotony, I can start a brief conversation before falling back into the repetition. Personally, this is my favourite way to knit. It creates a cozy atmosphere and allows you to hang out with friends without the pressure of doing something.
Overall, knitting is fairly accessible, it’s just a matter of finding ways to overcome the boredom and drain that comes with repetition.