Why You Are Absolutely Participating in a Knit Night in 2018

Resolutions, schmesolutions. Am-I-right? We’re not even two weeks into 2018, and that’s all anyone can talk about. Sheesh. Get this – I’m about to lay some information on you that will really irritate you. I’m about to encourage you to join a knit night in 2018 as one of your resolutions. No. Really.

I know, I know. We’ve been through this before. First you were told why you should do it. Then you were told how you should do it. Then you were given some examples of people who do it. You may have guessed by now that we here at Interweave simply have a lot to say about the rewarding nature of a knit night.

Need a little info to get you started, and a little motivation to lock down your 2018 knit night resolution?

Let’s get into it.

Love Your Local Yarn Shop

Many yarn shops host knit nights, and are the perfect place to start if you are lucky enough to have one (or more) in your community. And I have to say, the pure joy of surrounding oneself with wondrous colors and soft textures is almost rewarding enough. But it’s the diving in that matters. You are going to cast on with some fine folks. I promise.

We love a local yarn shop (LYS) ’round these parts and have written a lot about the entrepreneurs behind the skeins. Yes, they want to sell you yarn (and a whole lot of other cool stuff), but they are often your best resource for a knit night. Reach out. They’re waiting.

Love Your LYS: Fancy Tiger Crafts

Love Your LYS: Churchmouse Yarns & Teas

Beginner Inspiration for Your Knit Night

We are all beginners at one time or another. It’s okay. I know what it’s like to be afraid to look vulnerable and ask questions about stuff that is foreign to you. But your fear will be alleviated when you seek and find the right person or group of people that want to help you learn. Yes, that is what I said. They will want to help.

Even if you are not a beginner knitter, the idea of sitting down with a group of strangers while you knit a project on which you would like zero input may seem daunting. But I have confidence in you. You can knit among unknown knitters. And, you already have one thing in common with all of them.

Knit 101: The Adult Beginner

Staff Stories: Learning to Knit with Friends

Knitting for a Cause

Knitters have been known to participate in knit-alongs or charity knitting drives that address very specific missions. These can vary greatly, so there is a chance that you will find a cause or yarn-centric effort that appeals to you. An excellent example is 2017’s Women’s March, where pink yarn took center stage in the largest protest in United States history.

Choose the project that you hope will make a change and recruit other knitters. Once your effort is over, you’re going to keep meeting and knitting together, right? Sorry to break the news to you, but you’ve got yourself a knit night.

Can a Teal Cowl Heal Hatred in America?

Yarn for the Giving: Cookies & Camaraderie

Just What You Need: A Road Trip Knit Night

Say you’re not sure about the long-term. You just want to dabble. Go on a knitting trip or retreat. It might turn out to be the longest knit night of your life, but you will be in a new place, seeing new things. Drinking new wine. I mean, knitting.

Below, you’ll read about the unforgettable technique that Kerry Bogert learned while attending an Interweave Escapes event in Woodstock, Vermont. The immersive nature of this experience provided her with a takeaway that both changed and improved her knitting. Our first in a series of Interweave Escapes for 2018 will be in beautiful Camden, Maine. Will we see you there?

Giving Birth to a Stitch: Arne & Carlos Make 1

Stay Accountable to Your Knitting, and to Your Stash

You’ve said it before and you’re going to say it again: “This year I am busting that yarn stash.” Ahem. Sure you are.

Listen, you’ve been sitting on that lovely special yarn for six years. Attending a knit night will garner ideas. Take a project like a scarf that is easy to work and do some asking and listening. Flip through some knitting magazines. Before you know it, you will have found the perfect alpaca blend + cardigan pattern match made in knitting heaven.

Once you have finally decided to take action, the knit night will help to keep you accountable. Those other knitters are going to want to know how you are doing on your alpacardigan. You can ask them the same question about their Angelina Pullover. Back and forth, you build each other up. And sometimes, help to collectively absorb the rage that comes with frogging.

Look at it this way – are you more likely to keep going to that gym you just joined if you are flying solo? Maybe. Will you do better if you make plans with a friend and stick to those plans? Yes.

It’s okay with me if you don’t make a knit night resolution. Knit alone all you like. But coming together with others that have similar interests is a life-enriching experience. Not only that, the act of knitting itself serves to improve your mental health.

Knitting more often, with others that share your passion, can only be a good thing.

Cheers and happy knitting in the new year,
Jenn

Get Ready for Your Knit Night