Why do I knit?

This morning, I read that knitting and sewing is becoming a "celebrity favourite". Apparently, it's become trendy. Madonna likes to knit and sew, as do various fashion models.

I'm not famous, but I do knit. As my closest friends will tell you, I carry my knitting wherever I go, and I make time to knit as much as possible. I regularly knit in public and as much as possible, on my own. I am a founding member of "Clickin' Sticks" a knitting group in Camberley. We meet every Wednesday in Starbucks in Camberley, from 7pm and until 8pm (or until they kick us out!!) I often give knitted gifts to my friends, I spend a considerable amount of time on Ravelry.com, which is basically Facebook for knitters!!! I share photos of my knitted projects and (believe it or not) I actually photograph the yarn that I buy, and post photos of that, too!!

I learnt to knit as a child. Although my Nanny Pocock (my Dad's mum) knitted a lot, it was actually my mum who taught me. I remember struggling with her grey, metal needles and acrylic yarn. Mum would cast on for me, and then I'd try to knit the rows. My stitches were so tight that they'd squeak, as I try to move them up and down the needles. I first thing I remember knitting was a red scarf for one of my toys. Occasionally, Mum would do the odd row for me. As I looked back at the scarf, it was obvious which rows were mine, and which were Mum's. My rows were too tight, or too loose. Stitches had been dropped, and then Mum had picked them up. I'd even added extra stitches, which Mum had then dropped on her rows. I made mistakes all over the place, and Mum's knitting not only was perfect, but she corrected my mistakes!!!

As a teenager, I knitted every now and then. The mums in our street, including mine, shared magazines. So, we would regularly get second-hand magazines posted through the door. Woman's Weekly was a favourite for me, as it often had knitting patterns. Around the time that Wallace and Gromit's first adventure was made, the magazine published a knitting pattern for Wallace. I knitted it up as quickly as I could. It was for this pattern, that I learnt to purl. Again, Mum taught me. After finishing Wallace, I ordered a pattern for Gromit, which I knitted as soon as it arrived. Wallace and Gromit were given to my little brother, and have now been passed on to my friend's little boy, who loves them.

Before uni, I knitted a bunny with a chunky jumper, which I gave to a friend's newborn baby. I sewed more than knitted a uni, making my own clothes, sometimes. My uni had a "Soft 3D" department, in which I tried to spend as much time as possible, feeling the fabric and learning how to sew and design, from the lady in charge. I loved it there. It was at that point that I began to wonder if I should have studied Textiles instead if Theatre.


I can't quite remember when I started knitting again, but in the last few years, knitting has become my therapy, my escape, my indulgence and my obsession. I knit all sorts of things - toys, blankets, scarves, hat, mittens, cardigans, pieces of art. I love yarn. It is so varied - different colours, textures, materials, shapes. I love knitting needles - especially ones made by Knitpro and Art Viva - they are so beautiful. I love knitters. We are fascinated with each other's work. We talk, we drink coffee, we snuggle down, we LOVE the Winter, we swap ideas and techniques, and we help each other. I love going to yarn shops. I feel the yarns, feel the needles, chat to other shoppers and I take my time.

Knitting brings colour to my life. It brings peace and relaxation. It brings satisfaction, as I create something and enjoy the reaction of its recipient. It comes with me, wherever I go. It introduces me to new friends. It keeps me warm. It takes me back to my roots, reminding me of my grandmothers and my mum.

Quite frankly, I couldn't care less if knitting is trendy or not. If famous people want to knit, well, good for them. But whatever happens to the status of knitting, I just love it. Every day, I pray that I will be able to continue knitting. I pray against RSI and Arthritis. I thank God that He has give me something wonderful to enjoy.

In my life, I often look back, as I did with my knitting as a child, and I see the "rows" where I've gone wrong, and then the places where God has picked up my dropped stitches, and loosened things when there's too much tension. God removes the useless, pointless things in my life (just like those extra stitches) and gets me back on track. He corrects my mistakes, just as my mum did. I love to read in Psalm 139, verse 13, that God "knitted me together in my mother's womb". It must have taken Him a long time...

...And, I'm pretty sure that He didn't drop any stitches.