The power of knitting
Yarn from Scratch Supply Co. in Lebanon, New Hampshire. (Photo Provided)
Love, peace, relaxation, a vacation for the mind — these have been in much demand over the past year. And so has knitting, a treasured craft which offers those qualities in abundance. Making some hand-knitted mittens, a sweater, or a colorful hat can open creative thought channels while providing peace of mind.
Local knitting groups like the NWPL Knitters in Woodstock, Vermont, have found this benefit of knitting to be very important over the past year.
"Everyone says it's absolutely essential," said Rachel Kahn, who co-founded the group with Kathy Fiske about five years ago.
In "normal" times, the group meets at the Norman Williams Public Library (NWPL) once a week, but, since March, it has enjoyed an hour-long gathering on Zoom on Thursdays at 2 p.m. The group hasn't seen any beginners over those months, but some people who are new to the group, but have re-discovered their love of knitting, have joined.
It's also an activity you can take anywhere, and it has a sense of purpose to it, as Fiske noted.
"It's something you can do that makes you feel somewhat productive, at a time when there's not a lot you can really do," she said.
The trend of people coming back into knitting after a long hiatus is a trend during the pandemic. Stephanie Jones, who works at Green Mountain Yarn & Fiber in Rutland, Vermont, said some customers learned when they were children, and are now knitting or crocheting again.
"They're picking needles or hooks up just because they're home a lot more," Jones said.
Also driving that is the meditative quality of knitting, with its repetitive rhythm. Some projects are simpler, and others involve more math and take longer.
"It has that whole spectrum: simple and thoughtless, or really engaging your brain," Jones said.
The online business has been helpful for a number of stores, during this time with less foot traffic or, in some areas, lockdowns. The Rutland shop is open for in-person shopping, in accordance with state-required capacity limits and regulations. Online classes are also offered. The store had launched its website just before the pandemic hit Vermont, and Jones said they've seen a lot more online orders from other places in the U.S. during the pandemic. A number of those customers have returned to knitting but live in towns where there isn't a local yarn shop, she added.
Beyond the Green Mountains, the wider New England region has seen more yarn sales, though it's not the same at every shop, according to Andra Asars, a sales representative for several yarn companies in all six new England states.
"Yarn sales are up, and we're running into supply issues, just like in any industry," Asars said. "We're doing the best we can, with what we have."
Some shops are getting into online sales for the first time during the pandemic, which is a big help, but also a challenge.
"They're learning that it's a whole other level of business. ... Everybody is developing their toolbox and their own skills," Asars said.
For many, it has compelled them to add features to their website, including the ability to request contact-free pick-up. That's the case for Scratch Supply Co., based in Lebanon, New Hampshire, which also offers live chat and a Virtual Knitting Help option. Their Thursday-night Craft Night continues on Zoom.
Jessica Giordani, co-owner of Scratch, said incorporating new ideas has been important during the pandemic.
"It's forced us to think (even more) creatively, and reach out to knitters far beyond our own local community," Giordani said. "We've connected with knitters all over the world in the last year, and their support has helped us get through an incredibly challenging period. Knitters do a tremendous job of supporting their community."
Their Make Good podcast, launched last fall, keeps finding enthusiastic knitters online.
"We wanted to create an audio experience for knitters where we could talk about things relevant to our craft, host guests we think people will be interested in hearing from, and offer our perspective as local yarn shop owners," Giordani said.
The online shopping experience has been evolving, as well. Giordani noted this can be challenging since knitting is a very tactile craft.
"We're constantly working to make the experience you have on our website feels like being in the shop," she said.
So often in recent months, the experiences we've enjoyed in life have gone online, with the hope of bringing some engagement and happiness. Though that effort poses challenges, it's also provided a platform to connect socially with other knitters, learn about projects being worked on, and assist each other if some issue occurs. Let's not forget just having fun.
Giving place to joy, love and happiness is something we always need, and knitting does all three. A fun activity that dissolves stress and brings a sense of accomplishment? Now, that's a positive influence for any season.
— Gareth Henderson
