On Thursdays We Knit

Every other Thursday, I carve out time to go to a knitting night at my LYS, Heavenly Stitches. I love going there, but I'm the youngest one there most nights. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as I don't mind spending time with the older ladies because most of them like to chat and to gossip, which I can appreciate. But it would be nice to see younger people there every once in awhile, especially since knitting is enjoying a sort of rebirth. This is something that should be encouraged so we don't lose the invaluable handicraft information that's been passed through the generations. Perhaps I'm preaching to the choir about this particular topic, but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't use my voice to try and encourage other people to start knitting. It's an awesome hobby, full of stress relieving, busy hand goodness; and you get to squish lovely yarn, so what's not to love?

I've had people ask me why I am knitting whatever item when I could buy it at the store for much cheaper and less work. Usually after this statement they ask for me to make them a copy of whatever item I'm making at the time. My answer to this is almost always no. Ditch on my knitting skills, and you will get nothing. While I do love when I actually finish a project, that's not what knitting is all about for me. It's about the process, and watching something grow that you've put effort and love into. It's about gaining the knowledge to understand this pattern or that chart that a designer put a lot of effort into making. And the yarn. I love me some squishy, buttery soft yarn.

My skill (or your skill, dear reader) is something to be immensely proud of, no matter if you're a thirty plus year veteran or just learned to knit two weeks ago. When I first started knitting I wish someone would have told me to not be afraid to whip out my knitting anywhere and everywhere and to invite the questions of nearby persons, even if they aren't the nicest. People should know how awesome this hobby is, and hopefully it will pique their interest enough that they go out and buy some of their very own gawky straight needles and some acrylic yarn and try it out themselves. I didn't mean for this to become a mini rant about how more people should knit, but it happened. For what it's worth, I actually meant to tell you all about my knitting nights on every other Thursday, and that last night I overcame second sock syndrome, and finally started on sock number two (the only advice I have for this is strike while the iron's hot)! Hopefully it was at least entertaining, and maybe it's inspired you to be loud and proud of your knitting!