Why do you knit?

#1

I haven’t posted in forever–haven’t had the time to pick up needles in a while–but it suddenly hit me this week why I HAD to start knitting again. My life is so cyclical–as a teacher before, now as a student and as a “stay-at-home mom” (why am I never at home if that’s my title???) and I feel like I never do anything that isn’t undone within some period of time (usually 24 hours). Everything keeps starting over. I just have to do it all over again. Imagine frogging the same project every night for the rest of your life, and there you have housework. Frog a very large project every semester, and you have student life. I just had to do something I could see with a beginning, middle, and end, so I picked up some needles and yarn.

What about you guys (or, more correctly, you people…forgive my midwesternisms)? I’d love to hear what makes everyone stitch. What got you started? What keeps you going? Looking forward to your responses,

Kirstin

#2

Why not!
Been knitting for about 8 years. So totally enjoyable and addictive!
I started on line getting tips from knitters and a lot of help from knitting books.
I don’t knit continentally, but I believe whatever floats our boats is fine.
I’ve been mostly knitting socks and crocheting beret style hats.
I did do a larger project a couple of years ago…a huge shawl from E. Zimmerman’s knitter’s almanac…love that little book!
The shawl took me a YEAR to finnish, so I went back to nice and speedy socks.
But I’m getting the jones to try something more elaborate, like a sleeveless pullover or this great knitted bra-top from the Urban Knitter Book.
Knitting books are great for getting ideas.
I’m also interested in broadening my color horizons by learning intarisia.
Some say you can’t do it in the round and some say you can…I will investigate!

:XX:

:roflhard:

#3

I want to learn intasia, too!!! i just got this book, :study: ‘great knitted gifts’ that is all intarsia…I figured I’d teach myself, thus far I’m self taught…so I’ll give it a go. u can go to crafterschoice.com & see the book…it’s got really cool projects in it…lots of color!
I began to knit strictly for therapeutic reasons (I am disabled and suffer from a pain disorder). My :inlove: sweet, darling husband came home with learn to knit kit :present: for me last june & i’ve been going ever since!! I also knit to meet wonderful people like :XX: :XY: ya’ll!! I’ve been here a very short time and have found an absolutely wonderful group of people :cheering: :cheering: :cheering: to u all!!
Have a knitty nite :zzz: and :waving:

#4

Caviar, I loved your reason for knitting. :cheering: It had never occurred to me before, but I think you have really hit on something there. Completion. I think that is why I am so obsessive about it too…I have to keep knitting until it is DONE. It is the tangible “doneness” that I’m proud of. Thanks for helping me see that.
:slight_smile: kimmie

#5

Well, clearly “completion” is not my reasoning for knitting, as I have completed so little. :frog: I felt driven to learn to knit, and feel driven to learn to do it better. I do enjoy the actual process of it, and when I’m not frogging, I find the process to be a pleasant getaway. :smiley:

#6

Ditto on the “doneness.” Grad student, mama. Yeah I never finish anything. That same spot on the carpet keeps reappearing, the dishes keep breeding overnight, i keep writing the same paper over and over. Mummy never gets to have any fun. And it’s not so much that knitting is fun (it is) but it’s that something I have control over, something that I have confidence and a community that supports me. WIth that confidence I would like to teach others to knit. Homeless youth, women in prison or recently released from prison. Ya know vulnerable populations. SO they can feel that same sense of having at least one thing intheir lives that they can feel confident about and have control over.

#7

Oh yeah I also knit becasue I’m addicted. :XX:

#8

I guess I started knitted by chance. Last October (I remember because it was my birthday) I was in A.C. Moore getting things for my wedding and wandered into the yarn section just for a feel. I was to busy planning the wedding to start knitting then. Although now I know it would have cut down on my stress. :smiley: So for Christmas my hubby got me a pair of size 10 needles and the softest yarn ever :heart: I’ve been going strong ever since. First with the help of my Gram and then from this site and the kind folks on it.

#9

Caviar, my daughter’s preschool teacher said almost the EXACT same thing to me last week! That in parenting and taking care of a house, nothing is ever done. It just keeps going, whatever you finish is undone in a matter of minutes or days. But when you knit, you can actually finish something! And that feels so stinkin’ good! :smiley:

I’m really task oriented – finishing things is so satisfying for me. But also, I learned to knit because I am a quitter, and I needed to work on that. I’m seeing a lot of myself in my daughter, and I wanted to set a good example for her, of trying something new, practicing it, and sticking with it even though it’s really frustrating sometimes. :frog:

And, also? Knitting is like crack. I can’t stop. :mrgreen:

#10

Sounds like yet ANOTHER T-Shirt…

Knitting is like crack…
except without the annoying smokers’ cough!

#11

I am glad to see that others think housework is a never ending story. I told my daughter. What is the point in making a bed that you are going to get back into in a few hours? (I do make it though) I totally agree about the control thing. With knitting I have something I can control and see actual results. Being a SAHM you don’t have very many jobs that you can say “there, that’s done forever”. With knitting I can do that. I usually have I large project and several small projects going so I get something done about once a week. I give the projects to our community center, so it is very satisfying to see the bag grow each week and think “well, I accomplished something this week.” Don’t get me wrong, I would never not want to be a SAHM, but sometimes it does get a little repititious (sp??)

#12

I knit because it clears my mind. I like to concentrate on the repetitive motion of it… I guess that would make it like meditation, without all the OHMs. :slight_smile:

Also, I needed a creative outlet outside of work-related stuff. I write all of our development & fundraising materials, which I LOVE to do, but its alot of pressure & deadlines & so on. I wanted a FUN new creative hobby!

#13

It’s so interesting to read all your posts on this subject. My sister is a SAHM and now that I’m knitting, she’d like to learn eventually too.

I’m not a mom, but I do stay-at-home right now. I had a back injury last fall which put me out of work for a little while. And then I quit smoking in January and knew I needed a hobby other than chatting. I didnt know jack about knitting but thought it sounded cool so I picked up a kit.

Knitting IS like meditation without the OHM’s KK, loL!! That’s one thing I really noticed the first few weeks I had stopped smoking. I could actually synch my breathing to the motion of the needles. SO very relaxing.

I’ve only finished a handful of things so far but I’m so glad I’m learning to knit. It is addicting!!!

#14

I’ve always been into needlework of all kinds (I find it to be very relaxing and fun), and I learned how to knit when I was a teenager. My most recent project was a counted cross stitch picture that took me about 5 years to finish. Then my DD decided she wanted to learn how to knit. Santa Claus got her a kit for Christmas, and while I was teaching her how to do it, I suddenly got the bug myself. I had to force myself to stay away from DD’s project, or I would have finished her scarf.

I’ve found that knitting is a nice change from cross-stitch and much easier on my eyes…which for some reason aren’t what they used to be :rollseyes:. It’s also nice to know that I can actually make some useful items instead of just pictures to hang up. Many family members will be getting socks this year for Christmas :smiley:

#15

I think I’m just weird. :smiley:

I work in a mostly male sales environment in Chicago. My mother-in-law has been a SAHM and part-time teacher off and on in the country so we didn’t have much in common. I saw how much she enjoyed her crafts so I thought we could bond over working on projects together. Knitting just seemed to fit because she could teach me the basics and I could use books for reference if I forgot anything. It’s been so nice talking about our projects and our long “To Do” lists.

Now I knit because it makes me feel feminine and I like creating stuff. How silly does that sound? It’s hard when you work in an office all day long and have nothing to show for it. I try to bring my knitting with me on the train for the commute and get my stuff done one project at a time.
What a wonderful feeling to make homemade gifts. I’ve been thinking about making a couple projects a year for people I don’t know (chemo caps, & warm stuff for the homeless I see every day) especially after reading about the prayer shawls.

#16

One sentence will answer that question: It keeps me sane! :thumbsup:

#17

I think knitting to bond with your mil was a great idea. It isn’t weird to want to do something to feel feminine after working with males all day. You have to do something to leach out all the testosterone your’e confronted with all day.

#18

I agree with the meditational part of knitting!
When I’m knitting I’m not thinking and I like that. Especially after studiying or reading boring uni-books.
Plus it keeps me from boredom and it’s side-effects, like eating too much, smoking too much etc.
Actually I’ve lost some weight since I started knitting :cheering:, but I also changed my eating habbits and started having much more stress(university)

And I find it much easier then sewing, my second big hobby. I started sewing more than a year ago, but had MANY failures :crying:
Atleast with knitting you can save the yarn and start again, but you can’t make a sewed too tight shirt wider!

#19

:roflhard: :rofling: :lol:

#20

Aw now come on don’t apologize for being womanly. be PROUD. Puff up yer chest and say I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR!!! :cheering: (either that or quit yer job and work at a place with more women :lol: )