Today I was going to blog about something completely different. But just after getting my small people to sleep, I had a friend turn up on my doorstep who was desperate to learn how to knit. She is off on holiday tomorrow and wanted to take a project with her. She hasn't knitted in about seven years and wanted a refresher.
Like many people I have met (and taught) she had some deep seated ideas and fears about knitting. The main one being that "knitting is stressful". Very very interesting. Because for me knitting is almost like a form of meditation. Stitch by stitch you create something. It grounds me to wherever I am at the time and helps keep me present. Now I realise I may sound a bit like a crazy person (my apologies!!!) but it is true. There is a real joy to be found in the process of knitting!
I have (re) taught a lot of people to knit over the years and there seems to be some themes. The idea that it is knitting is "difficult" or "stressful", "all that counting", fear of doing something wrong, fear of dropping a stitch or getting a hole. And they also have ideas about why I can knit how I knit. That I must be "talented" or some such thing.
I realise this is turning into a little rant.....so I'll try to be quick.
I think they have it ALL wrong. Completely. I think that they just haven't been taught properly. Taught properly and you need never be afraid of dropping a stitch because you would understand the structure of your knitting and be able to easily pick it up. Taught properly and you should never ever have to count stitches as you should be able to read your knitting and see where you are up to. Taught properly and knitting should be all about joy. And not just the joy of a finished garment but the joy of the process! Yes - that's right I did really say it - the joy of the process!!!
So come on - tell me your knitting fears and let me talk you through them. I'd love to hear what they are.....
Felicia x
PS. We have a workshop that addresses just this issue called Beyond Beginners. If you have the fear, but think you would love to be a knitter this class is for you! We will be knitting the cowl in the picture or a slightly simpler version of it. And yes - you could really knit this. With the right teacher.
If you have moved beyond the beginner stage and are looking for something a little more adventurous then check out the classes by the talented Georgie Hallam such as Intro to Seamless or Fixing and Finishing.
We will be releasing this as a free pattern soon!
