My mom taught me to knit when I was around nine. What I vividly remember is sitting for hours and watching her knit a little cardigan or sweater, until they were ready to be worn. I also remember my own unfinished projects, such as starting on a lot of scarves and mittens but never completing them. Anyhow, from then onwards, knitting and handwork in general became part of my life.

I remember sewing and knitting wardrobes for my numerous dolls and other assorted fluffy toys. I finished my first sweater in high school and was always on the look out for new designs, colors, and so on.

Even today, as a mother of grown kids, knitting is my favorite pastime. What’s so fascinating about it is the mental satisfaction and joy I derive from not only the finished item, but from the process of knitting itself.

I find knitting not only a creative endeavor, but also a great stress reliever. For instance, the deep concentration needed to follow a particular pattern, such as accurately counting the knit-rows and pearl-rows; when to knit two-together or slip a stitch – all these keep my mind and hands busy and helps me stay in focus for a long period. During such times, my mind has no space for any unwholesome thoughts; I stop worrying, I am relaxed and, believe it or not, feel contented.

Knitting also provides me a kind of calming quality and a sense of safety during periods of hardship. I would most definitely recommend knitting to anyone, not only as an enjoyable hobby, but as a means of resting your mind and rejuvenating it to calmly face the challenges of day-to-day life.