Hobby Hole: Knitting

My knitting journey first took off about two years ago when I started my very first project of a scarf, and it was quite a learning curve at first. Yet, once I had the techniques down and no longer needed to rewatch tutorials every time, I was addicted. Every spare moment in my day was spent knitting. I just couldn’t put it down — especially when the excitement to finally wear my creation continued to build each day. After completing the scarf I jumped right into the world of knit sweaters where I have pretty much stayed ever since.

Although completing any project is extremely rewarding, the ability to curl up in a warm hand-knit sweater is one of the most gratifying experiences to come out of a hobby. And if you’re a lover of gift-giving, you’ll enjoy seeing your loved one’s face when they receive a handmade item that you worked so hard on. 

Getting started

While knitting may be more technically challenging than crochet, it’s rewarding to finally complete your project and admire your handiwork. A great beginner project to start off with is knitting your very own scarf. Once you have the basics down, it’s fairly easy to move on to more challenging projects. As long as you’re willing to learn as you go  — which is the approach I took — it’s easy. Just remember that when you first start you will most likely make mistakes. But with the cold winter months fast approaching us, there is no better time to begin than now. 

If this hasn’t tempted you to pick up a pair of knitting needles yet, then perhaps the ability to easily access various free online tutorials can. There are thousands of beginner friendly videos all at the touch of your finger tips. It’s as easy as a quick Google search.

Although it’s not the cheapest hobby out there in terms of cost of supplies, it is definitely not the most expensive. The biggest expense is the yarn, but there are many affordable options available. Don’t feel like you have to splurge to get something nice. Knitting needles can also add up in cost the more you start experimenting with different sizes. Nevertheless, you only need one pair to get started so don’t worry too much.

While the cost and the dedication may seem daunting, the reward that comes with learning to knit is completely worth it. So grab a warm drink, sit down with your project, and start knitting.