Kay's Korner - A Knitters Notes

October 30, 2007

More and more often, we are hearing about how effective knitting is in relieving stress. The last statement I read quoted a university study saying that for stress relief, knitting is as effective as yoga . My personal experience has been that a day without knitting is like a day without sunshine. Two days without knitting and I am feeling pretty ency. Three days without knitting, well, that just doesn't happen.

There are several schools of thought in regard to what about knitting is so calming. Some claim that it is the silent chanting of stitch counting, while others feel it is the rhythmic clicking of the needles. Many say that the tactile pleasure of yarn in hand does it for them, but for me, it is the Zen like semi-trance of repetition, creating the same pattern over and over until it is second nature. Whatever your theory, the end result is the same. Knitting is therapeutic.

So, are you ready to give this stress relieving activity a go? I suggest that first you find a pattern with little or no shaping, depending on your skill level. Choose a pattern from a reliable source, as this is no time to have to deal with someone else's mistakes. A scarf, or my favorite, a throw, in an easy stitch pattern are perfect projects for this activity. There is nothing Zen about having to rip out rows and rows of a complex stitch pattern, so for this project remember the kiss principal, keep it simple. Next choose a yarn in a fiber you love, something that not only delights your eye, but also your hands. Every time I knit with alpaca, I get a little closer to heaven on earth. And finally, make sure you make your gauge swatch, for there is nothing more stressful than finishing or even half finishing a project, only to find the item unsatisfactory, even unusable, because of neglecting to swatch.

Many knitters add the guilty pleasure of TV to their repetitive knitting. Law and Order is a knitting favorite, though Oprah is another good choice. I see all of these podcasts popping up, but I must confess, I prefer my TIVO. For some, a favorite tune makes their needles sing, while others prefer golden silence. Whatever your choice of accompaniment, knitting is wonderful therapy, with the esteem building bonus of creating needle art.

Copyright 2007 Karen Mather