…I smiled when I saw Carole’s prompt for today. It’s a topic I remember thinking about last summer, after reading this delightful article by Ruth Marcus, which she wrote in response to the hullaballoo around Ravelry’s version of the Olympic Games. I re-read it this morning and can I just say – wow, time flies. Last July seems like eons and eons ago, doesn’t it?!

And apparently, all I did was think about it. I can find no record in my July 2012 journal of any list. Bummer. Because given how much I feel like my knitting itself has changed since then, I wonder if the reasons why I knit are still the same? That’s one of my favorite things about these kinds of Ten on Tuesday topics; like a little time capsule just waiting to be opened by a future me.

So here goes – here are the top ten reasons I knit. today.

self portrait, knitting My Perfect Sweater | May 2, 2013

1. It keeps my hands, and sometimes my brain occupied. Which allows me to do all sorts of things I otherwise would not have the patience for. Like waiting, watching golf tournaments and baseball games (ok, pretty much any sports), riding in the car, you get the idea. Even better, if I choose a project that keeps less of my brain occupied, I can still talk or watch TV or listen to a book, and then it’s like I’m doing two things at once, and that makes me very happy.

2. I have something to show for my time.

3. …that’s useful and fits (and hopefully flatters and is in a color/pattern that enhances my wardrobe).

4. Handknits are one-of-a kind special pieces and they make wonderful gifts. Something, I think, about the bit of me that goes into the piece. And for sure, no matter what it is (socks, cowl, sweater, hat, mitts), it’s simply going to be more personal than its store-bought counterpart.

5. I love being part of the knitting community, both in person at my LYS and virtually, through blogs, Ravelry, Twitter and Instagram.

6. It’s portable. There are certainly other crafts that satisfy those first five reasons, but I might not be able to do them anywhere.

7. It’s relatively cheap in terms of pennies per hour of enjoyment. $100 worth of yarn can keep me busy for 100 hours. That works out to a dollar an hour. How many other pastimes are so affordable? (certainly not golf; we don’t even have that conversation in my house anymore!)

8. It can be relaxing, exciting, surprising or frustrating…all depending on the project. I like to have a relaxing project and an exciting/surprising project going at the same time (and of course I try to avoid the frustrating ones).

9. The craft is evolving. New techniques, new fibers, new tools…it’s not the same today as it was even last month or last year (and it’s certainly not the same as when I started) and that presents learning and growth opportunities that motivate me to keep learning and growing.

10. It’s multi-generational. As I’ve gotten “more experienced with life”, I’ve come to appreciate more the different perspectives that age, seasons of life and interests offer. I know knitters in their 20’s, 30’s…on up to 80’s. They are single, married, mothers, empty nesters, grandmothers, working, retired, students, gardeners, quilters, cooks, readers, runners, whatever. It all makes for richer experiences. And it definitely makes the conversation much more interesting.

And there you have it. Are your reasons the same? or different? I can’t wait to see!

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