Why I Knit

the never ending sock blanket

Why I knit defines who I am, I'm sure it defines you as well.  I have been a knitter for such a long time that I cannot remember a time when I wasn't knitting something.  I knit for many reasons and I thought I'd share them here with you.

I knit because it's fun

There is nothing in the world like finding a perfect wool and dreaming up what that skein can become.  Whenever I purchase wool the possibilities are endless and sometimes I knit the project that I imagined and sometimes I knit something else.  The unpredictability of future projects draws me in.  Stitch markers are another small decorative but functional item that thrills me to no end.  Decorating your knitting with meaningful, delightful markers....well it's like jewelry!

I knit because it's healthy for my well being 

I easily enter a meditative state of mind, soothed by the endless stitches in front of me.  Following an intricate pattern crowds out the niggling worries that bite at the edges of my mind.  I'm a reformed chronic worrier.  I strive for positive thinking and you know what?  It's a challenge to change doom and gloom thinking.  Knitting helps me to be positive. Knitting gives me an immediate focus so that I achieve my positive thinking goals.  Being present in my life becomes a snap when there is a project in my lap, in my hands and in my busy thinking brain.

Knitting is an artistic expression for me

I pick the yarn, the needles, the pattern.  I cast on and then the magic begins!  I tweak a pattern, maybe change the design a bit or a lot, I alter shaping or sometimes I frantically think up a solution for not enough yarn.  I've designed sweaters specifically to fit me and I'm proud of my skills.  Colors paired, textures created all at my fingertips letting me express myself.  If you look at my knitting you will not find many bobbles or seaming of edges.  You will see I prefer wool silk blends and hand dyed yarns.  You might notice that I love top down sweater construction too.

the baby blanket is nearly finished

I knit because it's a portable project

When I was first pregnant many years ago, I was stressed by sewing pins that could be lurking in my carpet that the crawling baby could discover when I was at the sewing machine.  Now you and I know I am too vigilant to ever let that happen, but the 'what if' thinking had me putting away my sewing supplies and pulling out some knitting.  Oh the portability.  One single bag, one project - two needles or one if your thinking circular needles are one.  I loved how quickly I could tuck away my project, grab a bag and go!  I could knit at doctor offices, waiting rooms, car rides, plane rides, sitting in the backyard in the sun, well nearly anywhere -  bliss! I could pick it up and put it down easily and the benefit of knitting is that you can see instantaneous progress.

not much progress on my shawl

I knit because of community
 
Through knitting and through Ravelry and the world wide web, I've met like-minded knitters.  People who value this past time as much as I do.  I am inspired by many of your knits that you post about.  I'll see a new 'have to have it' yarn.  I watch you dip your toes in spinning or dyeing wool for yourselves or if we are lucky for us knitters.  Friendships have been forged through knitting, in real life and here in our community.  I've witnessed compassion and kindness and throughout the days I see love.

Why do you knit?  I'd love to know!