Why aren't you knitting?

Here's Madame DeFarge and her friends knitting while watching 

the beheadings during the French Revolution. I just knit while 

watchingTV.

Awhile back, I posted 10 tips for dealing with fatigue by MPN expert Ruben Mesa. Along with the tips that Dr. Mesa mentioned, add knitting. And yes, men, this means you, too.

Why knitting? Earlier this year, New York Times writer Jane Brody outlined the many physical and mental benefits for knitters. It does everything from lower blood pressure, to reducing cravings of smoking and eating disorders, to keeping arthritic fingers nimble.

I can testify, as someone who's been knitting for more than 50 years, that it reduces stress and helps you maintain a positive attitude. Brody points out that it's hard to get too downhearted when you see a mitten or a sock or hat or scarf emerging before your eyes. And there's always some new knitting skill you can master to impress yourself with.

And let's blow those stereotypes away. Knitting (and crocheting), contrary to the stereotype, has never been a harmless sport for the sedentary. Think of Ingrid Bergman's sinister mother-in-law in "Notorious" knitting socks while plotting Ingrid's demise by slow poison. Think of the blood thirsty Madam deFarge in "A Tale of Two Cities" clicking away while the heads rolled from the guillotine. Think of Bette Davis crocheting the fine lace veil that hides her black heart in "The Letter." (If you have not seen these movies, why not?)

More men are taking up knitting; after all, it was a male-controlled guild skill hundreds of years before the knitting maching was invented. Unknown to me for several decades was the fact that my father had been taught to knit by some nuns when he was a boy laid up for weeks after dicey orthopedic surgery in the 1930s.

A cousin's father took up knitting as therapy after he had a debilitating heart attack. He knitted incredibly intricate blankets as each of his grandchildren was born. Sadly, he was ashamed to be seen knitting and he claimed that his wife had made the blankets. After he died, it was revealed that he had been the creator.

Two knitters in Maryland started a popular knitting program in a men's prison.

And lookit this guy knitting on Jimmy Kimmel!

YouTube is probably about the best knitting teacher out there. And the lessons are all free.

Be well! And share your knitting pictures here!

Home