The thing about a hard time is that you have something hard to manage.
When you have hard times, spite can feel nice, momentarily, but it doesnโt do much. So, instead, I pull out my knitting needles to leave behind the stress before I have to return to it tomorrow.
It all began when I had the news about my Hodgkins lymphoma, while I was planning my wedding and my final exam in architecture. Indeed it was a busy month.
My neighbor, Patricia, was in our kitchen, chatter with my mom, and was knitting on what looked like a sweater for her niece. I approached her, wading into her manufactured idyll to puncture it with my curiosity. I barraged her with questions: What are you making? How long did this take? Could I learn? Was it easy?
She answered so patiently that I was instantly convinced knitting had to be some mood stabilizer.
The day after, I had borrowed two knitting needles and my mom’s old balls of yarn. It was winter in Rome, and my future husband was scarfless, so I figured that type of built-in goal would be useful to get and keep me going.
I studied and made chemotherapy on the days and knitted on the nights. The weekends are for sleeping and planning my wedding.
Like any good millennial, I learned on YouTube. Sometimes my neighbor helped me, and I learn the cast on from my grandma. I had to restart a lot of times, but I was continually getting better.
By my third chemo, my stitches came more natural, and my hands moved with ease around each other. I didnโt have to hyperfocus on my fingers, whispering โtwist, through, over, pullโ narrating each action.
Knitting became a crafty respite, a safe dissociation. I found comfort and solace in knitting.
Then Iโve gone through phases of knitting loads or not at all many times. When I was pregnant with my first daughter, Iโve got back into comfort and solace in knitting in a big way, and I thought today Iโd tell you about three things I love about knitting.
First of all, I like the products of knitting. Every item is unique, and exactly as you want it. Plus, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you made it yourself.
Secondly, I enjoy the creative process, from when choosing the patterns and yarn, to knitting itself. Itโs relaxing, kind of like meditation.
My third reason is that knitting is a passive sociable activity. There are millions of craft blogs where you can get inspired, and thereโs Ravelry, an active social network. If you prefer to see people, knitting and craft groups are meeting in pubs and cafes in most places.