Why I Love Knitting

Many of you have asked me to start a series on how to knit. I love the idea of creating a series about knitting. Before we get into the nitty, gritty I wanted to explain why I love knitting so much. Personally, I love to know why someone is passionate about a hobby for me to become interested in it. I wanted to give some background on why knitting has been so impactful on my life.

Knitting and crocheting have been a great therapeutic outlet for me over the last 6 years. We have never really had enough income to afford a counselor, even though I could probably use one with my anxiety and depression. I have learned to find creative outlets that help me calm down. I literally always having a project in my car, by my couch, or just around. It really helps. I learned to crochet by making the same scarf I would then rip out, and keep make again with the same ball of yarn. And my love for fiber crafts kept growing. 6 weeks after Josiah was born I picked up Stitch N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook by Debbie Stroller and a cheap pair of knitting needles. I knit when he slept. Knit, knit, knit. I was always knitting. I taught myself within 3 months how to knit a hat and scarf. Then I knit a pair of baby overalls. Then a blanket. *~Ignore my feet and laundry in the background of these following photos. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING~*

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The more I knit, the more I realized that I had this connection to something bigger than myself. I was in a very lonely season in my life. We lived in a little cabin on the middle of a camp site in the middle of nowhere. I stayed at home with our infant, and my husband was in class the majority of the day. I knit for people I loved, I was obsessively looking up patterns, and would use any extra $5 to buy some yarn.

Knitting has it's own community. Whether it's a stay at home mom looking for a creative outlet, or someone's grandmother who has been knitting since she can remember, or the guy on the metro knitting a scarf. It's always magical when you

meet someone that knits. I have built some many great relationships because of knitting. Heather Turpin (who is March's Maker) has definitely encouraged me to keep knitting, and always inspires me with her creations. Here we are wearing sweaters we both made! Both of us have used knitting and crocheting as a therapeutic outlet over the years (and especially since becoming mommas). Knitting helps you learn patience, pay attention to details, and gives you this insane sense of pride for having created something with your hands. It give you a sense of being part of a larger community. It helps you see the importance of tradition and why learning a craft or trade is so special. I cannot express my love for knitting quite accurately. It's just such an amazing craft. It is amazing to see a ball of yarn go from string to a hat. From a skein to a scarf. From scraps to a blanket. Recently, I have been trying to write my own patterns, experiment with colors and knit my own clothes. I highly suggest for anyone that can knit to learn to knit. Spend the $10 to get a cheap pair of needles and yarn, follow some online tutorials and see if you like it. The worst thing that happens is that you don't like it and you're out $10. The best thing to happen is that you have learned a trade, have a new hobby, are a part of a new community, and can start challenging yourself. This year is going to be a good one, I can just feel it. I am so excited to share with you the new line of sweaters that I would like to have out my November, and to start a "how to knit" series. Please subscribe to my newsletter for more information! I will be creating a completely free knitting series following this post. I hope it will give you the push you need to start knitting.