My story about knitting

I started knitting at about age 10 after becoming mesmerised watching my mother and hearing the click of her metal needles. The click-click sound is very hypnotic, almost like breathing in and out. Knitting has a rhythm and life of its own. I have always been creative with my hands. I think it's in my DNA, passed down from Grandparents who used to work in cotton mills. I started knitting baby clothes as they were small, so projects didn’t take long to complete and used less yarn so it fitted my pocket money budget.

Life did become rather busy as a young adult with work and going out with friends, so the needles were put away until the time my son was born. At age three I became aware that something was amiss with Ethan. His speech was very delayed, along with his gross motor skills. He had a constant need for routine coupled with high anxiety if his needs were not met. Toys were lined up in rows, bedtime routines had to be kept the same or there would be a “meltdown”. I classically remember singing the Christmas carol “Happiest Christmas tree” for 12 months as part of a bedtime routine. Needless to say, that song is no longer in my Christmas repertoire. After nearly two years of assessment, we finally had a diagnosis that Ethan was Autistic. I had no experience of Autism (only my memory of Dustin Hoffman in Rainman counting matches).  

I didn’t really face the situation very well in those early months. I became stressed and felt I had no control of the situation. I felt guilty that it was my fault - that I had done something wrong when I was pregnant. Depression set in and I started smoking in a way to cope. Not a very healthy outlet I admit, but when your partner smokes it's just so easy to pick them up and start. 

This was where my knitting began in earnest. Knitting gave me a creative and relaxing outlet that helped to calm me down. When you're stressed and you start knitting, the first couple of rows are always a little bit tight, then you relax and get in tune with the rhythm.  

Reading knitting patterns and learning new techniques kept my hands busy and my brain occupied so it also helped me to stop smoking. I never realised it would be so hard to quit, cold turkey. But I did it. I made sure that I gave myself rewards along the way to keep me motivated. The best thing was that now I wasn’t throwing my money away on cigarettes, I could afford to buy some of the most breathtaking yarn. 

I really have my son to thank for rediscovering knitting. Thank you Ethan for helping me discover a passion and creativity that I didn’t know I had.

Let me tell you, there is nothing like knitting on a fabulous pair of needles. It makes the stitches seem like butter and the needles just glide through your fingers. My choice is wooden or bamboo needles.  They provide just the slightest amount of grip to stop those lace stitches from falling off the end.   I have also discovered they tend to help make my tension really even. I managed to save up a few years ago and splurged on some Knitters Pride interchangeable needles. Little did I know that this would revolutionise my knitting.  

You can knit on an airplane!

Much to my delight, I found out from my airline that they do allow knitting needles on board.  The interchangeable needles are short and you can happily knit away without stabbing the person next to you. I really hate flying (full-blown panic attack sets in). I take my knitting everywhere, to the beach, on trains, planes, and most probably in my car when it can drive itself. You can also put your knitting on hold and use the needles on another project. If your anything like me then knitting one project at a time is never enough. I have one that is simple and one that is more adventurous so I don’t get bored. The best advice I can offer is to save up for a set. You won‘t regret it.