5 Benefits of Knitting with Others
While many knitters enjoy the solitude of knitting on your own, an international online survey found that knitting in a group had a significant impact on perceived happiness.
If you have taken any of my online or in-person classes, you’ve probably experienced some benefits from knitting with others. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why.
Here are 5 reasons why it can be beneficial to knit with friends or a group:
01 Social Connection
Being a part of a community is powerful. Not only can you meet up with other knitters and see what they’re doing, but the support you get from fellow knitters could also take you further in your craft. You may even form some meaningful friendships.
People who knit with a group may experience more happiness than solo knitters because of the constant sharing of knitting experience and general conversations. Want to meet more knitters near you? A local public library is a good source to check knitting/crochet/craft clubs in the neighborhood. Or look for a local group on a social networking site like Meetup.
If you live in Brooklyn like me, you can even click here to find a list of knitting clubs and events from the Brooklyn Public Library.
02 Technical Support
Being in an environment where you can learn from one another may help you expand your skillset—that’s another benefit of knitting with others! Whether you’re figuring out a knitting detail or feeling the excitement of finishing a project, having someone by your side to share this experience with can be more encouraging. If you are at the same level, you can share your skills and exchange ideas that can be helpful for each other. If you are more experienced than your peers, teaching them may even help you understand the concept better!
03 Motivating One Another
It’s always great to gain motivation from your fellow knitters. Maybe you’re stuck with a project because of your busy schedule or you need more encouragement finishing that second sock, seeing others finish their projects may inspire you to keep pushing through. Your knitter friends can help you turn that long-standing WIP into a FO!
It’s not just an in-person phenomenon though: in my knit-along classes, students are always encouraging each other on Ravelry and social media as they work through a pattern. Check out my KAL online sweater classes, so you can see tons of great works from other knitters who worked together on one of my patterns!
04 Inspiring Ideas
I’m often surprised and delighted by how knitters take patterns and make them their own! Whether it’s a student, someone knitting one of my designs, or another designer’s work, I love seeing how knitters personalize their projects.. Even though we might use the same pattern, you can see how someone adds their own unique flavor to it.
Furthermore, others in your group may help you select the right yarn for an upcoming project. Or maybe you’re inspired to try an indie hand-dyed yarn because you saw how stunning your friend’s finished project turned out. Get inspired by others and don’t be afraid to try new things!
05 Sharing Resources
If you have knitting friends, you can trade books, patterns, borrow needles of different sizes, or have someone to turn to when you forgot your scissors. Or perhaps it’s because of your friend that now you use a yarn bowl or blocking boards. Knitting is even more fun when you see all of the awesome fiber products and accessories you can have!
These are just a few of the great things I’ve personally experienced while knitting with friends. I’ve even learned new things while teaching. I’m super thankful for the way social media allows us to interact with each other without even having to leave the house!
If you haven’t joined our Ravelry group, I highly suggest that you do! It’s a great community where we share our work and help each other out. I would love to knit with you in my online and in-person classes!
Lastly, I know you might have more benefits to share about knitting with friends! So don’t hesitate to let us know. Leave your suggestions in the comments!
Through taking classes together and attending biweekly social knitting sessions at our LYS, I’ve developed many new friendships. A core of five of us even do girl’s weekends to attend knitting/fiber events. My life is greatly enriched due to my knitting friends.
Thanks Patty. I knit with a group each week at 7pm. I get up before 5am, so there are times it is difficult to muster the energy to go, but I am always the better for going.