Full disclosure, I just discovered the hashtag knittingismyyoga this week. But it’s so spot on!
My knitting history
My mom taught me the very basics of knitting when I was seven, maybe eight, years old. I used size US 7 straight needles and Red Heart Super Saver yarn in the colorway Ocean. I was taught how to do the long tail cast on, the knit stitch, and the purl stitch, and I took off with it. The very first finished piece I made was a small blanket for my stuffed animal Spring. It was almost entirely stockinette stitch except at the top where I did a reverse stockinette heart and a small band above it. I didn’t block it since I had no idea what that was so it still curls up on the edges but Spring is still a huge fan 😉
I put down knitting as a hobby for long intervals before I really came to love it. I think it started when a wonderful woman named Peggy taught me how to knit my first pair of basic socks on circular needles. The world of circular knitting opened up a huge door for me and I don’t believe I’ve ever used straight needles since then. She even taught me how to knit both socks on the same needle which was like magic to me at about 16 years old.
The world of knitting has only become more magical to me since then. The kitchener stitch might be one of the coolest things ever even if it’s time consuming to work. Fancy color work still baffles me and I’m afraid to try it to be totally honest. I just finished my very first self drafted cardigan which I’m so proud of even if the armholes are a little small. It was my second time doing raglan decreases. The customization allowed with knitting is so freeing.
I still take breaks from my needles in the summertime when it’s too warm to have sweaters resting on my lap all day, but I want to start experimenting with lighter fiber blends so that I can knit summer tops too. I’m thinking this springtime I will start trying out cotton yarn.
Why knitting is my yoga
I would love to be a person who does yoga every morning. That picture perfect scene of a big window filtering the morning sunlight into the room, the matt is a lovely peachy color, I wear a 3XL t-shirt because the fabric is ridiculously soft even though I’m swimming in it…Ahhhhh. I finish off the stretch with a smoothie that has 7 super foods and still tastes delicious.
Did you see it?
I did for like a second and then I remembered that I will never be that person. That’s okay though, because I knit!
Knitting gives me that calm and that stretch and that feel good sensation. I could be ripping out the last 20 rows of work which just took me an hour to do (which I’ve done) and still be calm. Sleeve Island doesn’t bother me! It takes just enough of my attention so that I’m not thinking about anything else that might be on my mind. It keeps my brain moving figuring out what comes next and how to get from this point to that point in the pattern seamlessly and do I need to switch needles sizes here and should I try this stitch in that section there? It’s like a puzzle or a game and the end result is something soft and warm that wraps me up in the perfect sized (or maybe oversized, who doesn’t love an oversized slouchy sweater?) hug.
I still have a big window I can sit under, the décor is still peachy, but I’ll be stretching out on the couch with my yarn instead of in downward dog position. Hot chocolate or tea in place of a super smoothie sounds pretty nice to me too 🙂
Why did you take up knitting instead of yoga?
