How Knitting Has Changed My Life

Let’s Knit Together wouldn’t be the community it is today without all of you who share a passion for knitting. Whatever life throws your way, you can always count on having your hobbies to keep you busy and feeling upbeat. We caught up with a few Let’s Knit Together members to find out how knitting has touched their lives and kept them going through hard times. 

“Let’s Knit Together is like a big knit and natter group where you can meet new friends, swap ideas, and help others.”

Diane lives in Rochdale, Lancashire, with her husband Andrew. Diane has five children, two step-children and seven grandchildren and loves all types of knitting, and she uses her passion for the craft to help her focus through dark times.

“I’ve been knitting since I was a teenager, having been taught by my grandmother. My mum and aunt were knitters too, though they had knitting machines – and I just could not get the hang of that. My first project was a sleeveless jumper that I made for my boyfriend at the age of 14, who 26 years later became my husband – and no, he doesn’t have the jumper anymore! As the years went by I made sweaters for my children, but as they grew, I lost all interest in knitting, so I put my needles and yarn away for many years.

“It wasn’t until I was going through a stressful time and had started to suffer from depression that I took it up again. Someone nearby was offering a bag of wool and books for sale and I thought I’d give it a go, so I bought the stash and began to knit once more. It really did save me. Now, whenever I feel like I’m in a difficult place, I will go to my craft room – which my husband says is more like a yarn shop these days – get my knitting out, pop the radio on, and I immediately know that I’m in a safe haven. I can relax, knit, and just become stress-free. Knitting is my best friend, and it keeps me from falling apart.

“I love making anything, and often have two or three projects on the needles at the same time. I particularly like working on challenging projects, like patterned jumpers, cables, and toys. I like to help others, so I will sometimes raffle off my bigger projects to charities at the coffee and cake mornings I host. 

“Knitting is a hobby that I can take everywhere I go. It accompanies me on holiday, even on planes or in the car, when my husband is driving. I really value my Let’s Knit Together membership, it’s like a big knit and natter group where you can meet new friends, swap ideas, and help others. If you’re not sure how to do something then there’s always someone on the Facebook group who can answer your questions. I’ve been a member now for over a year, and I never get fed up with what Let’s Knit Together offers me.

“Right now I’m taking part in a free online sock workshop that the club is hosting. Though I knit, I’ve never had the courage to work with circular needles (I’m one of those knitters who puts their needles under their arms), so being a part of the group is helping me learn new talents. For anyone out there who is thinking about joining, all I can say is that if you don’t, you’re missing out on a really great bunch of people who have got a lot to give, all for less than the price of a cup of coffee.”

“Joining Let’s Knit Together is the greatest thing I’ve done for my knitting, and my confidence is going up week by week.”

Dorothy lives in County Down, Northern Ireland with her husband and three dogs. Dorothy has two daughters and one granddaughter, and enjoys making gifts for other people. She uses her love of knitting to help her through periods of bad health.

“I’ve been knitting since I was about five years old, when my mother taught me. I have two sisters but neither of them could ever pick it up, so instead, me and my mum would sit and craft together. To this day, we are still both the knitters in the family!

“I love all types of knitting, but I particularly enjoy making toys. As a hobby, I enjoy how accessible it is – I can sit and watch TV and still knit away to my heart’s content, I just find it so relaxing. I also love to see the look on people’s faces when they receive a piece I’ve made for them. I’m still in awe that such wonderful things can be made from one little ball of stringy stuff.

“I used to be a very outgoing person when I was younger, and knitting had been put on the back burner for other activities. However, I was born with a bone disease and I knew that one day I would likely end up in a wheelchair. Around fifteen years ago I had to have emergency surgery, and ended up being given a colostomy bag. I completely lost all confidence in myself and shut myself away. 

“In an effort to cheer me up and give me something to focus on, my husband bought me a knitting magazine. I immediately remembered how much joy the craft had previously brought me. Soon enough, I was knitting away and I felt like myself again.

“Let’s Knit Together has opened up my world. From my little corner, I can interact with other knitters who are as passionate as I am, and if I have any questions or problems there’s always someone to ask. Everyone is so friendly and never judgmental. Joining Let’s Knit Together is the greatest thing I’ve done for my knitting, and my confidence is going up week by week. I’m even involved in a live sock workshop right now and joining in with the chat, which I never would have had the confidence to do in the past. Let’s Knit Together is just the greatest group of people, and I love making new friends.”

“Knitting is my release, and working with yarn and a set of needles keeps me sane”

Kathryn lives in the Wirral, North West England, with her husband. She has three children and five grandchildren, and uses her hobby to help her through times of high anxiety.

“I first learned to knit at the age of four, when my grandmother taught me – and I’ve not stopped since! I’m a Registered Nurse and I’m currently working in a nursing home, where I have been for most of my career.

“Throughout my life, I have experienced periods of depression and anxiety, which can make me feel horribly inadequate and useless at times. However, when I complete a knitting project that I’ve been working on, it makes me feel worthwhile. Knitting is my release, and working with yarn and a set of needles keeps me sane. I love trying out all sorts of knitting, from small simple makes right through to more advanced projects – I recently finished the Green Goddess shawl from a past issue of Let’s Knit, which was really fun to complete.

“I can be hard on myself – sometimes, the advanced patterns I try might take me a while to complete, and I will often unpick and start again because it has to be perfect. But once I’m finished, I am filled with confidence.

“Joining Let’s Knit Together and being a part of the group has also helped my anxiety a lot, as being around such friendly, like-minded people makes me feel much more confident. We are a mixed bunch, skills-wise, and we all share our experience with each other to lift one another up. I get so much support from the group. 

“I took part in the Let’s Knit Together Birthday Party this year and I actually won a prize – I received a special first birthday Let’s Knit Together mug and a tote bag. I got a real personal boost from that. I especially love the bag, because it’s so useful for keeping my current projects in!”

If you aren’t a member already of Let’s Knit Together, sign up today and just like Kathryn, Dorothy and Diane, you too can take part in our online get-togethers with exclusive designer chats, giveaways, discounts and more.