Facts and Froth with Jill Lowe
Stick to your Knitting
Photo : Shutterstock License
In uncertain times especially, such as we saw during the pandemic, it seems wise to stick to one’s knitting - to do what one knows. Knitting : that process of using two or more needles to loop yarn into a series of interconnected loops in order to produce a garment seems to have dated from Egypt in 11c., although it may have earlier origins. The popularity of knitting, by counting the some 9 million members of Ravelry - that inclusive, friendly, informative website made up of yarn lovers from all over the world, is increasing. Widely regarded as the “facebook of knitting” it maintains a data base of patterns, yarns and personal projects. Over the years, there has been an ebb and flow in its interest : some slump with new manmade yarns and now a resurgence with a revival of vintage patterns as well as the trend to move back to natural yarns.The focus especially now is to stress hand-made rather than home-made items. The pandemic has seen a resurgence of knitters who can explore new stitches, yarns, skills, projects. Gender, age, celebrity continue to have no bounds, in the interest in knitting.