They taught me to knit when I was a little kid, and although I was never very good at it, I found the process fascinating. Transforming a ball of yarn using a twin needle fascinated me. It also has an emotional dimension and I love the smell, texture and colors of the new yarn. Painfully slowly, with many stitches slipped and uneven tension, I slid through a scarf, tightly concentrating my tongue between my teeth.
I’ve never knitted in the intervening years. Knitting became less fashionable, along with sewing homemade dresses. The existing patterns were old-fashioned, so there was less motivation to improve my basic skills. In addition, attractive yarns became increasingly difficult to find as traditional retailers went bankrupt one by one.
Knitting and crochet have been reinvented in the last few years. There are many local shops in the UK with a fantastic range of new yarns and modern, unhurried designs. If you prefer to shop this way, of course the internet is also available and the number of instruction and pattern books on sale is truly breathtaking. The videos available online are invaluable in helping beginners overcome difficulties in interpreting written instructions.
If you haven’t knitted in years or have never learned to knit, I suggest you start. Start with something like a scarf, just like I did in the ‘old’ days. There are many threads designed specifically for making scarves from a single ball of yarn, creating elaborate frills using only the simplest stitch. Then you can move on to gloves, sweaters, cushion covers, and anything else you like.
Knitting is no longer just for women, and many men now knit regularly. Knitting is a lifetime hobby, as you can knit anywhere, anytime. For many older people, the dexterity required to handle wool and needles can help keep fingers flexible. It also provides a mental challenge as you have to decipher and master new techniques while improving your skills and confidence. The pleasure of making a pair of fingerless gloves or a pair of socks is disproportionate to the value of the actual garment. You can stick with these small pieces or move on to larger pieces like sweaters by making them for yourself and family or as gifts to friends.
My next challenges are mastering basic crochet and getting started with a big knitting project. Why don’t you find a pattern and try it yourself?
by Margaret Cranford
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