Like a lot of people, I picked up a few new hobbies over COVID. I already bake, write poetry, and make tie blankets. Knitting seemed like a logical progression of interests. I am outing myself as an old lady here—but hopefully for your benefit or at least entertainment. I place the blame completely on my roommate last fall, Jayden, for getting me hooked, but honestly, there was something almost magical about watching her churn out gifts for Christmas. After a gentle bit of prodding, Jayden sat down and guided me through some of the basics of casting on stitches, the difference between knit stitches and purls, and tried valiantly to teach me to not keep the tension of the yarn quite so tight. It was quite the cozy scene—two twenty-somethings knitting and watching Netflix like we were in our late sixties.
In all honesty though, I am so very grateful to Jayden. This past year has been hell. There is so much that is outside of our control, so much avoidable tragedy, so much anger. Clearly, while this year is admittedly better, things are still largely a mess. At college, there are so many unhealthy ways of dealing with stress, depression, and anxiety. I see my loved ones do it all the time, and I’ve done some less than ideal things to feel better too. Knitting is, happily, an excellent way to help cope. It has been found to help increase mindfulness and decrease stress in some folks, and it’s also relatively cheap, which is a great bonus. Coming back to my room after a rough day or a rough week or just a crappy night out, I can crash on the couch, turn on Criminal Minds and work out a great deal of frustration adding a few rows to my latest project.
Even just for regular acts of self-care, it is a great tool. I struggle with allowing myself to wind down, as I often feel like I am wasting time or being irresponsible if I sit down to watch a movie or listen to a podcast. Knitting gives me an “excuse” that allows me to do something productive while I am taking time for myself and helps relieve those negative feelings. I can watch my progress in real time and see the pattern begin to take shape. There is something deeply rewarding about making something by hand, something you did all by yourself. In addition to relatively cheap materials that are a quick Walmart trip away, there are loads of free patterns online for all different skill levels and tutorials on all sorts of fancy stitches. So, the next time you have a bit of free time, or want to try a new pastime, consider giving knitting a try. You might be surprised by how much you like it. I’m six inches into a new, rather bright, pink blanket started largely by accident, and I already adore this Pepto monstrosity.