My grandma taught me to knit and purl when I was a girl, but the only time I ever used knitting was to show my older daughter the stitches when she was in college. I knew I needed knitting as a companion to my counted-thread stitching passion after my mom died 13 years ago. I missed her terribly. She had been the only person who understood me after the death of my younger daughter, and I felt alone. My sister gifted me a knitting class later that year, and a new passion was born. Thank goodness for comfort knitting.
Oh friend. My brother died when he was 19 and I was 23. I feel all that you shared so deeply and your quiet declaration about your younger daughter's death makes me think of the way my dad looks now. Deeply appreciating time, but also knowing that kind of deep grief that never really goes away, from him or me. Hugs, and thank you for trusting me with your story.
I have a vague memory of my next door neighbour trying to teach me to knit as a child and my fingers getting really tangled trying to hold the needles. I have very bendy/Eds fingers won’t hold things ‘properly’. When if found myself housebound with mobility issues I picked up crochet to keep myself sane and fell in love, as I learnt by myself I developed my own way of holding the hook/yarn and found I was actually pretty good. I avoided trying knitting for ages as I figured trying to get my hands to hold two needles would be a thousand times more complicated than one but mum started knitting again and I couldn’t resist giving it a go. I am still only on basic squares/swatches and crochet is still my go to craft but I found a way I could do it and am excited to play more as it is easier to get a closed, fabric that has a lot of drape with knit
I started knitting in my very early 30s. I’d just broken up with someone, and I found I suddenly had a lot more free time. Quite coincidentally, a yarn shop opened in a store front I passed by on the way home from the train each day. I had always loved sweaters and knitwear, and I looked in on all the lovely yarn in the lovely colors and thought, “Children knit. Surely I can figure it out, and think of all the money I’ll save!” I did figure it out, but I haven’t saved any money.
I had been needlepointing for about 17 years and loved it, but it didn't love my hands. I needed to find another way to to find my "Zen" place with fiber running through my fingers. One of my needlepointing friends re-taught me to knit. (I'd learned in college - many years before.) The rest is history. Knitting is gentle on my hands and the colors and wonderful yarns feed my soul!
When you are ready to have a subscription-based newsletter, I'll happily become a subscriber. I look forward to Sundays and reading what you have written. Thank you for sharing your story each week.
I get this. I have very hyper mobile hands and what mood they are in will generally dictate what project I am playing with. Find its best to have a few different projects on the go and switch if they are starting to play up (crochet, knit, needlework). I am naturally obsessive and would prefer to just do one until it’s finished but my hands and shoulders think different.
I started knitting when my daughter was a toddler. I had many hours alone, just the two of us, and I had no idea how to be a mother. My mother was hours away, and I had no close friends. I would sit outside while my daughter played, and I could knit and watch her. I made her sweaters-they were small and easy to finish. I didn’t know then how lonely I was and how knitting filled a space in me.
I learned to knit, around the same time that I learned to crochet, embroider, and sew.
Which was when I was 8ish.
(A very, very long time ago.)
Fast forward to late teen years and everything fell by the wayside, as dating/marriage/family happened.
Fast forward, again, to early "retirement", when I was 44, and a move from city life, to the back of beyond in the country. (Retirement, here, means "I up and quit my job of 25 years, left everything that I ever knew, and left to be happy. The end.)
The country, where I couldn't walk to where I wanted to go, there were no quick hops to the coffee shop/grocery store/to visit friends.
Needless to say, it became boring, really quickly.
I picked those needles, hooks, and yarn back up, and haven't looked back.
Yarny things have sustained me through a lot, in the past 19 years.
I live in the countryside as well and, whilst it is beautiful and I enjoy the quiet, I really miss being able to just step outside and walk to the shop/cafe/something interesting happening. I didn’t mind it so much when I could go for long walks/drive but with dodgy knees it had become impossible to get out of the house by myself. I would have gone completely crazy without yarny things to keep my hands and mind busy.
We are at an age (and by 'we' I mean me. I AM.), that we need to reconsider living where there are no near neighbors to notice if we have fallen, and cannot get up.
One does not contemplate these things when one is in one's 40s.
One DEFINITELY contemplates them, when one is in one's 60s.
I knit because knitting sustains me. it is an outlet, a refuge, a community. It's been 20ish years after wanting to learn for a while. Glad I stepped out. Especially during the times we are in now, it seems as necessary as breath.
Absolutely, I am not sure I have gone a day since I picked up my first crochet hook without some form of crafts and I really don’t like it if something threatens my crochet/craft time. I can’t imagine now how I survived without it for so long
I became a knitter again years back when my fingers itched to do something creative. Recently, I used it to calm myself during my husbands long battle with illness. Lately though it is hard to concentrate on anything as he died a few days ago. I love reading you newsletters, they provide a welcome distraction. I like that you are real and honest about your feelings.
I so sorry to hear about your husband’s death. My husband died last year in January so I have some idea of the emptiness and sorrow you are feeling. I pray that you can get through the hurdles of the next few months and will be able to see your way through to the person you will be going forward.
Oh, I am so sorry to hear that you too have suffered a loss. I know we all must, but it hurts nonetheless. I appreciate hearing from you. It helps to hear from someone who understands.
Saying goodbye feels impossible. It feels hollow to say this, but at least he is not suffering or frightened anymore. I am so glad that you met him, however briefly.
Your new business plan sounds really exciting - wishing you all the very best with it. As for my knitting story - like you I was a young mum struggling with PND. I had two boys born within 11 months of each other. The youngest one had a stint in NICU which really shook me up. I started knitting during nap times as it was something portable that I could quickly put away out of reach of sticky fingers 😂
My aunt taught me to knit when I was 7 or 8 years old. I learned later that my mom asked her to teach me because my mom knitted continental and I just couldn’t get the hang of it. My aunt knitted by throwing and she successfully taught me to knit. I still knit by throwing! I could never catch on to Continental.
I knitted in high school and college, then took a pause. I did counted cross stitch for a while, and made quilts for a while.
I’ve been knitting nonstop for the past 14 years. During the pandemic I mostly knit cotton dishcloths!
I showed my granddaughter how to knit when she was 3. She soon lost interest but a few weeks ago she asked me to help her knit a blanket for her stuffed turtle. She is now 6. I bought straight bamboo needles and a skein of yarn and she got started. When I left their house she said, “Bye Gramma, thank you for the yarn and needles.“
Knitting is my therapy. The yarn and the movements are so soothing.
I learned to knit when I was nine or ten, but didn't do much with it. As newlyweds, my husband and I house-sat for my mother's aunt. She had the most beautiful, Nordic Christmas stockings that she had knitter herself. I really wanted to learn to knit socks, but as we moved to different locations in the south for my husband's medical training it was hard to find yarn and instruction. When we moved to Utah I decided to go to a knitting shop and learn sock knitting. I wasn't able to attend their class, so the shop owner sold me yarn and a book. I flipped the book over, and there was a picture of the owner on the back cover. It was Nancy Bush. I have been a knitter for thirty years, and knitted a lot of socks, thanks to that positive experience with Nancy.
My grandma taught me to knit and purl when I was a girl, but the only time I ever used knitting was to show my older daughter the stitches when she was in college. I knew I needed knitting as a companion to my counted-thread stitching passion after my mom died 13 years ago. I missed her terribly. She had been the only person who understood me after the death of my younger daughter, and I felt alone. My sister gifted me a knitting class later that year, and a new passion was born. Thank goodness for comfort knitting.
Oh friend. My brother died when he was 19 and I was 23. I feel all that you shared so deeply and your quiet declaration about your younger daughter's death makes me think of the way my dad looks now. Deeply appreciating time, but also knowing that kind of deep grief that never really goes away, from him or me. Hugs, and thank you for trusting me with your story.
I have a vague memory of my next door neighbour trying to teach me to knit as a child and my fingers getting really tangled trying to hold the needles. I have very bendy/Eds fingers won’t hold things ‘properly’. When if found myself housebound with mobility issues I picked up crochet to keep myself sane and fell in love, as I learnt by myself I developed my own way of holding the hook/yarn and found I was actually pretty good. I avoided trying knitting for ages as I figured trying to get my hands to hold two needles would be a thousand times more complicated than one but mum started knitting again and I couldn’t resist giving it a go. I am still only on basic squares/swatches and crochet is still my go to craft but I found a way I could do it and am excited to play more as it is easier to get a closed, fabric that has a lot of drape with knit
✨🧶
I started knitting in my very early 30s. I’d just broken up with someone, and I found I suddenly had a lot more free time. Quite coincidentally, a yarn shop opened in a store front I passed by on the way home from the train each day. I had always loved sweaters and knitwear, and I looked in on all the lovely yarn in the lovely colors and thought, “Children knit. Surely I can figure it out, and think of all the money I’ll save!” I did figure it out, but I haven’t saved any money.
Yep. I was quickly disillusioned of any idea that hand making would be any cheaper 😂
I had been needlepointing for about 17 years and loved it, but it didn't love my hands. I needed to find another way to to find my "Zen" place with fiber running through my fingers. One of my needlepointing friends re-taught me to knit. (I'd learned in college - many years before.) The rest is history. Knitting is gentle on my hands and the colors and wonderful yarns feed my soul!
When you are ready to have a subscription-based newsletter, I'll happily become a subscriber. I look forward to Sundays and reading what you have written. Thank you for sharing your story each week.
~Nancy
I get this. I have very hyper mobile hands and what mood they are in will generally dictate what project I am playing with. Find its best to have a few different projects on the go and switch if they are starting to play up (crochet, knit, needlework). I am naturally obsessive and would prefer to just do one until it’s finished but my hands and shoulders think different.
It was precious indeed!
Rooting for you!
I started knitting when my daughter was a toddler. I had many hours alone, just the two of us, and I had no idea how to be a mother. My mother was hours away, and I had no close friends. I would sit outside while my daughter played, and I could knit and watch her. I made her sweaters-they were small and easy to finish. I didn’t know then how lonely I was and how knitting filled a space in me.
The days are long (and the years are short). I hear you on the loneliness of young motherhood, too. 💙
I learned to knit, around the same time that I learned to crochet, embroider, and sew.
Which was when I was 8ish.
(A very, very long time ago.)
Fast forward to late teen years and everything fell by the wayside, as dating/marriage/family happened.
Fast forward, again, to early "retirement", when I was 44, and a move from city life, to the back of beyond in the country. (Retirement, here, means "I up and quit my job of 25 years, left everything that I ever knew, and left to be happy. The end.)
The country, where I couldn't walk to where I wanted to go, there were no quick hops to the coffee shop/grocery store/to visit friends.
Needless to say, it became boring, really quickly.
I picked those needles, hooks, and yarn back up, and haven't looked back.
Yarny things have sustained me through a lot, in the past 19 years.
I live in the countryside as well and, whilst it is beautiful and I enjoy the quiet, I really miss being able to just step outside and walk to the shop/cafe/something interesting happening. I didn’t mind it so much when I could go for long walks/drive but with dodgy knees it had become impossible to get out of the house by myself. I would have gone completely crazy without yarny things to keep my hands and mind busy.
We are at an age (and by 'we' I mean me. I AM.), that we need to reconsider living where there are no near neighbors to notice if we have fallen, and cannot get up.
One does not contemplate these things when one is in one's 40s.
One DEFINITELY contemplates them, when one is in one's 60s.
(And, yeah, by 'one', I mean me.)
I love your origin story .... and especially your definition of retirement. “... I left to be happy. The end.” 💙
I, literally, found my life turned on its head in five minutes.
So, I gave notice, packed all my belongings, and moved in with My Beloved, all in the space of six days.
I highly recommend it.
I knit because knitting sustains me. it is an outlet, a refuge, a community. It's been 20ish years after wanting to learn for a while. Glad I stepped out. Especially during the times we are in now, it seems as necessary as breath.
thank you for sharing your story.
Absolutely, I am not sure I have gone a day since I picked up my first crochet hook without some form of crafts and I really don’t like it if something threatens my crochet/craft time. I can’t imagine now how I survived without it for so long
All this!!!!
I became a knitter again years back when my fingers itched to do something creative. Recently, I used it to calm myself during my husbands long battle with illness. Lately though it is hard to concentrate on anything as he died a few days ago. I love reading you newsletters, they provide a welcome distraction. I like that you are real and honest about your feelings.
I so sorry to hear about your husband’s death. My husband died last year in January so I have some idea of the emptiness and sorrow you are feeling. I pray that you can get through the hurdles of the next few months and will be able to see your way through to the person you will be going forward.
Friend, I am so sorry to hear of your husband's passing, too. Hugs.
Oh, I am so sorry to hear that you too have suffered a loss. I know we all must, but it hurts nonetheless. I appreciate hearing from you. It helps to hear from someone who understands.
Oh friend, I am so sorry for your loss. Saying goodbye is so so hard. 💙
Saying goodbye feels impossible. It feels hollow to say this, but at least he is not suffering or frightened anymore. I am so glad that you met him, however briefly.
Your new business plan sounds really exciting - wishing you all the very best with it. As for my knitting story - like you I was a young mum struggling with PND. I had two boys born within 11 months of each other. The youngest one had a stint in NICU which really shook me up. I started knitting during nap times as it was something portable that I could quickly put away out of reach of sticky fingers 😂
Hello you! So nice to see you here!
Thank you. I'm pretty new to Substack but I'm really enjoying the slower, slightly more relaxed pace here.
I’m rooting for you and your new business plan!
My knitting story:
My aunt taught me to knit when I was 7 or 8 years old. I learned later that my mom asked her to teach me because my mom knitted continental and I just couldn’t get the hang of it. My aunt knitted by throwing and she successfully taught me to knit. I still knit by throwing! I could never catch on to Continental.
I knitted in high school and college, then took a pause. I did counted cross stitch for a while, and made quilts for a while.
I’ve been knitting nonstop for the past 14 years. During the pandemic I mostly knit cotton dishcloths!
I showed my granddaughter how to knit when she was 3. She soon lost interest but a few weeks ago she asked me to help her knit a blanket for her stuffed turtle. She is now 6. I bought straight bamboo needles and a skein of yarn and she got started. When I left their house she said, “Bye Gramma, thank you for the yarn and needles.“
Knitting is my therapy. The yarn and the movements are so soothing.
LOVE! My heart would crumble at the “thank you for the yarn and needles!” Precious!
I learned to knit when I was nine or ten, but didn't do much with it. As newlyweds, my husband and I house-sat for my mother's aunt. She had the most beautiful, Nordic Christmas stockings that she had knitter herself. I really wanted to learn to knit socks, but as we moved to different locations in the south for my husband's medical training it was hard to find yarn and instruction. When we moved to Utah I decided to go to a knitting shop and learn sock knitting. I wasn't able to attend their class, so the shop owner sold me yarn and a book. I flipped the book over, and there was a picture of the owner on the back cover. It was Nancy Bush. I have been a knitter for thirty years, and knitted a lot of socks, thanks to that positive experience with Nancy.
Oh how neat is that?! I love your origin story!