Since the age of twelve, my standard "interesting fact" about myself for icebreaker activities has been one thing: I like to knit. This has (thankfully) gotten less odd reactions since leaving middle school, but often people wonder why a busy, occasionally impatient person like me chooses to spend my time this way. Well, the short reason is that I think knitting is awesome. The longer reasons? see below.
1. Knitting is easy. While (of course) it initially takes time to learn, once one has the motion down, the mind is free to wander. It's an almost meditative process as I loop the yarn over and over again. Other activities require a full commitment of the mind and the body at the time, while knitting is cooperative. I can knit while watching a television show, reading a book, or catching up with friends, so long as my hands are free. To knit isn't a commitment, and its friendliness is a nice respite from the demands of other responsibilities.
2. To continue on from point 1, knitting is simple. Every single knitted object, ever, is a product of only two stitches: knits and purls. It's kind of mind-blowing to realize that with the ability to produce those two stitches and adequate time, I can recreate the beautiful and intricate patterns seen in stores. There isn't fancy equipment or space required-- all you need are two needles and a ball of yarn, and time.
3. Knitting is satisfying. I pick out the softest, most brilliantly hued yarn I can find, and I can turn what's essentially a ball of string into something warm and lovely. As my needles clack their way through the piece, I can see tangible progress right before my eyes. That ability to actually measure what I've done feels validating, often unlike the stretches of days where my work doesn't seem to amount to anything.
3. Knitting connects me to memories. Just picking up the needles to do simple work calls up my initial lessons in knitting, taught to me by a very patient British grandmother who was just excited to have someone to listen to her. Putting on a handknit wool hat makes me remember the debate trip I knit it on, and the jokes of my friends as I knitted my way through long conversations on the car rides. And looking back on the wavering tensions of a scarf, I can recall the various dramas going on as I worked on it, my anger having gone into the tightness of the stitches until gradually, quietly, the yarn and stitches brought me back to calm.
4. Knitting gives me patience. It's a common misconception that you have to be patient to knit-- in fact, the quick ability to pull out a project makes me look forward to the awkward waiting times between appointments and classes. Rather than looking anxiously at the clock and fidgeting through the long seconds, I can work on something productive and be ready to go when the time comes. Somehow, that ability has translated into my being more forgiving and patient in other aspects of my life.
5. Knitting is social. Not only does it always give me a topic of conversation in those icebreaker games, but through knitting I've actually met a lot of interesting people. My ability to knit while engaging in conversation may originally give me odd looks, but it actually makes me a better listener because I am keeping my hands busy. In the same way that I can think my way through a problem as I knit a scarf, I can truly listen to what people are saying around me, and come up with better solutions to their problems. No longer am I antsy while watching movies, but I am relaxed and happy to see the story unfold as I make progress on my latest project.
Basically? Learning to knit has made my life better. That's it.
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