All through my 20’s, I searched for a hobby that fit me. I’m not super creative or artsy or terribly good with my hands, so many hobbies were out of reach to me. For others, there was too much “gear” needed. I don’t have a sewing room, or a scrapbooking corner. And I didn’t want to hassle with all the stuff.
Then, all of a sudden, knitting became all the rage and I decided to take a Learn to Knit class at my local yarn store. That was that. I was hooked.
I’ve been knitting now for 5 years now and I’ve become more and more convinced that it’s the perfect hobby for the Penelope Personality.
Here are several reasons why I think so:
- It teaches you to be OK with really sucking at something when you’re first learning. And that’s a lesson I’ll bet you can use.
- It’s easy to stop and start. You don’t need to get out a million things to work on it and then put them all away again.
- It’s totally portable. No more wasting time doing nothing while you wait for your doctor’s appointment.
- Knitting doesn’t take much physical space. It’s easy to “contain”.
- I’ve met more Penelopes in the knitter community than in any other sub-group of society.
- It means you can constantly multi-task. Feel lazy watching TV? How ’bout knitting a scarf for your best friend while you watch Law & Order? Now you’re not lazy, you’re a caring, productive friend.
- You can be as creative, or not, as you want. You can follow a pattern exactly and choose the exact same yarn the designer did or you can make the project your own. Love that sweater, but hate the stripes? No problem. You can knit it in a gorgeous, champagne-colored yarn. Or vice versa. It’s a great way to be creative when you’re not naturally artsy.
- There are so many beautiful, non-Granny things you can knit. Seriously. Here are just a few:
Cabled Scarf called "Dryad" from Brooklyn Tweed
The Austin Hoodie, knit by SixOneSeven
The Summer Icicle Tank by Monday Morning Knits
Heck, it even looks great while it’s in process:
Knitting in progress by SixOneSeven
If you think you can’t knit, you’re wrong. It’s that simple. I’m SO not crafty and yet I can knit and purl with the best of them.
Have I interested you? I hope so.
If you want to learn to knit, the very easiest way is to register for a class at your local yarn store. Just google “yarn store + your city (or metro area)” and you’ll find one.
The second best way to knit (and one that so many people have used) is to learn to knit virtually. From the comfort of your own computer screen. A great place to start is Monday Morning Knits. Knitting Guru and designer Melissa Monday has gifted us with the attached Learn to Knit PDF and you can visit her site for some great video tutorials that walk you through each step. Having trouble? Email her. Melissa is passionate about helping new Penelopes become knitters.
Click here to download the Learn to Knit PDF.
Ok. Off the soap box. Whew!
Now, tell me, what’s your hobby of choice?
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You should check out the Yarn Harlot blog to see the ultimate Penelope-knitter. I haven’t a scooby how to make a link so just google it if you want to see it – her obsession with stitch-counts, the way she sets targets etc – it makes great reading and she knits some beautiful things for inspiration.
I agree that knitting is an ideal hobby for a Penelope – it’s the only way I can bring myself to “waste” time watching TV/DVDs.
Karen
Yes, Karen, I love love love the Yarn Harlot. She’s at http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/
This post is so true. I am a Penelope, I suppose. I do other hobbies but I always have a knitting project somewhere. It helps calm me down and it is cheap.
Yes! Knitting = LOVE for me! I started just after my 30th birthday (my first needles were a gift from my hubby) and I really don’t know how I spent all those decades before NOT knowing how to knit – talk about missing out!
I’m passing this along to all my knitting wanna be friends!
Though I’m pretty sure I’m a Penelope, knitting and me just didn’t go together. I can knit and purl, but that’s about it. Once I started in on things like ssk and following more complex patterns, it just didn’t seem to click with me. It took awhile to accept defeat, but I was okay with it. Then I started designing jewelry again, and I was much happier. For some reason, it was easier to accept failures in jewelry making as opposed to knitting. But it is creative and relaxing.
I love knitted things. There is such a comfort and warmth about them. And what creative pieces are found at Monday Morning Knits! Alas, I’m not a knitter. I don’t find up-close work relaxing. To me, it’s the equivalent of data entry. However, give this girl the means for a scrapbook page, digital or otherwise, and I can barely stop myself. Perhaps, there is a little part of me that really wants my kids to know they had a childhood, and a pretty good one at that. I would LOVE some ideas for how to scrapbook on the fly in an organized way as space is at a minimum around here.
I LOVE knitting. My granma would teach (and re-teach) me every summer when I would go up to visit her as a kid and after she passed away in 2004 I just felt this primal desire to finally figure it out and remember for good. I’ve really only made very simple projects and I totally get frustrated when I screw up (hello, penelope-ness) but there is something really relaxing about it. Do you read Lolly Knits http://www.lollygirl.com ? Her knitting (and photograpy, and cooking, and well everything haha) always inpsires me.
ha, i am an uberpenelope! but have no — NO — desire whatsoever to knit. i would probably just stress myself out at the imperfection of my beginner attempts! instead, i am drawn to hobbies where i don’t have to meet up to any certain standard – reading, finding new music, running, and of course blogging
oh, and salivating over delicious stationery products and organizing systems. [yeah, i know!]
What a timely post. I haven’t knitted since I was a kid (when scarves and potholders were my creations of choice!) but I’ve been thinking of taking it up. Having just moved to Portland, OR, I see that the library offers free classes. Knit one, purl two, here I come! Your piece has inspired me.
I loved this post! I began knitting in my 20’s and although I still consider myself a beginner, I have made a handful of items that I am really proud of. I also put a lot of thought into making gifts for all my mommy-to-be friends. It is so relaxing and still allows me to hang out and watch TV with the hubby. Thanks for speaking to my own inner Penelope!
I may need to try this again – the last time I tried to learn I was all Stabby McStabberson to my fingers. Maybe this time there will be success.
Right now my hobby of choice is still taking pictures, and it probably will remain that for a long time!
Ok, I have thought of knitting and the idea just stresses me out. Not crafty at all. Curious now… though totally convinced I will turn out some rought looking 3-armed Where’s Waldo looking freak sweater!
I too love knitting just working off the scraf stage to do some hats! You are so right it feels like you are not wasting time if you have your knitting with you!
I totally agree- knitting lets me sit down, yet still be moving, and making something useful too. Before I started knitting, I could barely sit down. I was always up doing something. It taught me patience, how to breathe through a mistake, and there will ALWAYS be something new for me to learn in the knitting universe. It’s simple, yet infinite. I always have one challenging project going, and one that I can do anywhere, while talking or out at appointments or kids lessons. Right now I’m finishing my Tea Leaves Cardigan, and I can’t wait to wear it! I recommend Ravelry, for knitting awesomeness and organization.
Oh, yes, Ravelry may be the single best website invention EVER! https://www.ravelry.com
It’s Knitting Organization Heaven and yet another reason to knit!
Just discovered your site after seeing a mention in BH&G. When this was the first post I read, I knew I’d found kindred spirits. I’ve been knitting since I was 9 or 10 but just last night I joined my first knitting circle. We were talking about a lot of the same things you mention in your posts.
Looking forward to reading more of your posts. Hooray for the joy of lists!
Aw, thanks for the shout out, but I have to give credit where credit is due–I didn’t knit that Austin hoodie sample, I only modeled it. The sweater was knit by the talented designer, Connie Chang Chinchio.
I just found your website a few days ago and am enjoying it. When I read this post about knitting, I had to share my daughter’s website. She quit her job as a high school teacher this year because her little yarn-dyeing home business took off, and now she’s dyeing yarn full time. She has some beautiful colorways, even if her mama does say so. If you have time, you can see her work at http://www.threeirishgirls.com. Her blog is funny too.
Thanks for your site – I will come back again – I’m always looking for ways to organize more efficiently.
nice great blog yea nice job our website will soon be adding reviews on blogs and add them to our websites as the top best 10 blogs to visit we also do reviews on Product Reviews all types of reviews thanks
Just read the comment about ravelry…wow! What an awesome site!
You should participate in a contest for probably the greatest blogs on the web. I’ll suggest this website!