Why do knitters knit?

In the past few months the press have picked up on the fact that knitting is growing in popularity and it’s always good to see a journalist writing about joys and benefits of being a knitter and that knitting isn’t just for grannies.

Many of the articles imply that knitting your own garments are a way to save money, particularly in this difficult economic climate.  However if you are already a knitter, you’ll know that this isn’t exactly true.  Not if you want to knit something in yarn other than 100% acrylic!  With mass manufacture in Asia, shops like Primark and inexpensive clothes from the supermarkets, it’s certainly not cheaper to make your own clothes these days.  And the author of this knitting article in the Daily Mail, admits this:

“It’s far cheaper to hand over your credit card for a ready-to-wear sweater, than to buy good wool and invest hundreds of hours in making one. But this is all part of the pleasure. Knitting something slowly and with care for someone else or yourself is a real labour of love.”

With that, she’s hit upon why so many people are knitting now and certainly why I knit.  The world moves at such a rapid pace. Technology which is meant to make our lives easier and more enjoyable, is constantly changing and we have to run to keep up with it.  We want things now, we are more impatient; it impacts on the way we work and play.

So to be able to sit down with a pair of knitting needles and some yarn and quietly create is the perfect antidote.  It’s relaxing. It’s satisfying.  You can just switch off from the world.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1216557/Cast-comfort-Why-fans-knitting.html