Two years ago, on a long flight, I pulled a large ball of yarn and some needles from my bag. I was working on a hat to give my dad for his birthday. For the rest of the flight, I couldn’t help but notice that my knitting had turned me into a bit of a spectacle for the people around me.
Some shot me curious looks, stealing glances as they watched my progress. Others, mostly people older than me, leaned in to conspiratorially mention they knitted, too. Throughout the flight, people didn’t stop asking what I was making and when I'd be done. What struck me most, though, was how surprised people were to see a young person choosing to knit.
I get it. For most people, knitting still seems like a “grandma hobby.” But as someone who started knitting as a young teen, I can confidently say it’s one of the best hobbies for young people. In our age of social media and constant scrolling, when instant gratification is so easy to come by, I believe knitting can lead teens to resilience.
Unlike crochet, which has recently become very trendy, knitting isn’t at all complicated. It’s easy to learn but still forces you to slow down, focus and work through mistakes head-on. Plus, knitting gives you a cute (and free!) scarf, hat, headband, coaster, etc., while exercising your patience through a fun activity.
I know long hours of crafting aren’t everyone’s idea of fun. I also came to knitting very dubiously at first.
In my freshman year of high school, I was randomly placed in a weeklong knitting workshop. I was dreading it. As I saw it at that time, I was hopeless when it came to tactile crafts. I lacked the patience for all the tedious details and meticulous counting. And I just wasn’t very good at them. Whenever I tried to learn crochet, finger-knitting or braiding, my project just turned out to be a giant mess.
However, when I showed up at the workshop, I was surprised to find that knitting wasn’t actually that difficult. Against all odds, within an hour of my first class, I had figured out the basic stitches: knit and purl (if you’re a knitter, you know this is the bare minimum, but at the time, I felt like I had just managed to read an ancient text). Not only was I not failing at knitting, but I also found it to be a lot of fun.
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By the end of the week, I had a very lopsided American Girl doll-sized scarf. I could have set my needles down forever and walked away with the satisfaction of knowing I had, somewhat, learned something new. But somehow, I couldn’t stop. Once I realized I had the power to turn a ball of yarn into something physical and even wearable, I was hooked.
I knitted hats, scarves and, eventually, a tank top. As my skills grew, I moved on to more intricate projects, like cables and colorwork, and started my first sweater.
For me, knitting has become a way of giving back. Whether I’m crafting for family, friends or teachers, knitting allows me to strengthen connections through hours of focused, thoughtful work. Every scarf I make, every hat I knit, carries a piece of my energy, patience and attention. And now I have a go-to gift whenever a birthday, holiday or special occasion comes up. It's a built-in way to show I care about someone.
Knitting has also shaped my sense of patience and perseverance. The process of knitting is repetitive, but it’s also meditative. Each time you drop a stitch, you can unravel it and try again. Each mistake is an opportunity to be better on the next project. And there’s genuinely no greater satisfaction than finally finishing a project after hours of work. Knitting teaches you that slow, steady progress is beautiful.
So, next time you’re on a flight or sitting around watching TV or scrolling on Instagram, maybe consider picking up a ball of yarn and a pair of needles. You might surprise yourself. Grandmas are really on to something!
Josie Belfer is a senior at Nueva School in San Mateo. Student News appears in the weekend edition. You can email Student News at news@smdailyjournal.com.
Perhaps, Ms. Belfer, others will pick up knitting after reading your column. My first thought was, “Knitting needles are allowed in the cabin?” But then I recall seeing a number of folks knitting and some finishing their projects during the flight. It’s great to hear about the enjoyment that knitting has brought to you. Maybe I’ll give it a try one of these days. I could use more patience and perseverance, and meditation. As it is now, my meditation involves staring at the back of my eyelids.
Wow… great column, Josie. Picking up a ball of yarn and knitting needles is a solid suggestion not just for your Gen Z colleagues but everyone. You have outlined the personal benefits of taking up knitting most convincingly. Now, for anyone following your advice, I would encourage them to turn off their cell phone while knitting. If they embrace knitting and start to realize the meditative effects, they will very likely realize there is more free time in their daily schedules than they ever imagined.
All-Pro NFLer, Rosey Grier, popularized needlepoint many decades ago. Old school Niner fans will remember Rosey chasing John Brodie around the LA Coliseum in the mid1960s. He published “Rosey Grier’s Needlepoint for Men” in 1972. Maybe Greg Wilson can find a copy at a local bookstore.
Thanks for an informative and entertaining column.
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Perhaps, Ms. Belfer, others will pick up knitting after reading your column. My first thought was, “Knitting needles are allowed in the cabin?” But then I recall seeing a number of folks knitting and some finishing their projects during the flight. It’s great to hear about the enjoyment that knitting has brought to you. Maybe I’ll give it a try one of these days. I could use more patience and perseverance, and meditation. As it is now, my meditation involves staring at the back of my eyelids.
Wow… great column, Josie. Picking up a ball of yarn and knitting needles is a solid suggestion not just for your Gen Z colleagues but everyone. You have outlined the personal benefits of taking up knitting most convincingly. Now, for anyone following your advice, I would encourage them to turn off their cell phone while knitting. If they embrace knitting and start to realize the meditative effects, they will very likely realize there is more free time in their daily schedules than they ever imagined.
All-Pro NFLer, Rosey Grier, popularized needlepoint many decades ago. Old school Niner fans will remember Rosey chasing John Brodie around the LA Coliseum in the mid1960s. He published “Rosey Grier’s Needlepoint for Men” in 1972. Maybe Greg Wilson can find a copy at a local bookstore.
Thanks for an informative and entertaining column.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.