We thought we were lost.
We’d been driving for two hours already, and the maps app told me to turn down a dirt road that looked like a private drive. The pin marking our destination lay somewhere down the dirt road, hidden in the trees.
I took the turn, and my car kicked up dust as it shuffled down the unpaved path toward our Airbnb getaway. Sure enough, after about a mile, we spotted a mailbox with the street number we were looking for. I turned off the path into the front yard of an impressive craftsman-style home. The log cabin we’d rented, quaint and well kept, was tucked in the sideyard.
We rented the place to celebrate our second wedding anniversary and spend a few days away from urban life. The cabin was perfect — secluded, quiet, and comfortable. Upon entering, we were welcomed with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace framed by a pair of puffy plaid couches. A full-size kitchen and dining room led out to a sitting porch, and a comfortable bedroom decorated with antiques and primitives sat just to the right of the entryway. We unpacked and settled in for the weekend.
Despite being away from my usual stressors for three days, I still felt anxiety creeping in — a sense of unease. We spent an entire day on the couch reading. Another day, we went to town and enjoyed coffee from our favorite coffee roaster. Yet my loyal enemy, worry, took a seat in the back of my mind, overshadowing all of my thoughts.
It didn’t help that the bed was deceptively hard. It had a fluffy white duvet and some comfortable pillows, but the mattress felt like a concrete slab. My husband joked that he’d be more comfortable sleeping on the living room hearth.
One of the nights, as I tossed and turned, I had a vivid dream. I was working with a delightfully soft yarn, knitting it into a long cloth — maybe a scarf or a blanket. I’d never knitted before, so I don’t know how my hands knew what to do in the dream. I could feel everything — the lamblike yarn sliding through my fingers, the smooth wooden needles, and the weight of the project growing in my lap. But the strongest feeling, the one that made me wake up and make a list of all the materials I’d need to get started, was the peace that came with rhythmically slipping stitches from one needle to the other.
When we left the next day, I told my husband we needed to stop by Hobby Lobby on our way home. He obliged, and I picked up a pair of stubby wooden needles and a ball of chunky acrylic yarn — the tools a YouTube video recommended for beginners. I spent the rest of the afternoon practicing casting on and knitting stitches.
Over the next couple of days, I learned about the two main stitches — knits and pearls — and some basic stitch patterns like garter, stockinette, and moss stitch. After a few weeks, I finished my first project — an infinity scarf made from purple wool-blend yarn. I gave it to my sister-in-law.
Then, I knitted ear warmers for my friend and her newborn daughter. Then a scarf for myself. After a few projects on straight needles, I wanted to try knitting in the round. So I made myself a beanie using circular and double-pointed needles. From there, I decided I wanted to try something that used shaping techniques, so I made a bandana cowl that required knitting back and forth in the middle of a project.
This year, I knitted my first sweater — an extra chunky pullover knit in three tubes: one for the body and one for each sleeve. This project combined all the skills I’d learned up to that point and resulted in a wearable piece that I gifted to my mom. Now, I’m working on my second sweater and am dabbling with cable knitting.
Knitting has been an escape and a point of pride for me. In my dream, I experienced peace from the craft, and I’ve found this to be true in real life as well. Focusing on the rhythm of my stitches, following a pattern, and ensuring I don’t make mistakes keeps my mind occupied. I can’t think about the things that worry me if I’m focused on my project. Working with my hands burns up a lot of nervous energy that would be spent picking at my cuticles or face. It has really helped lower my anxiety level.
But what I didn’t expect is gaining a sense of accomplishment. There is nothing better than finding a pattern for a beautiful piece online and then knitting it into existence. I can take threads and turn them into a hat or a scarf or a sweater. It’s very satisfying to see a skein of yarn turn into something functional and beautiful.
I’ve also enjoyed gifting knits to friends. Usually, I make things specifically for people, so I think about them while I’m knitting their gifts. This gives me time to reflect on the happy memories we have together and maybe even say a little prayer for them. Plus, there’s nothing like seeing someone’s face light up when they open a handmade gift.
Knitting has also boosted my confidence because the process of learning and succeeding at the craft reminded me that I can do hard things if I put my mind to them. For years, I’ve seen hand-knit pieces on display in the craft store or on Pinterest and thought, “I’ll never be able to make something beautiful like that.” Well, I can. And I have! I can do hard things if I put my mind to it. I am capable.
So if you’re dreaming about trying something new (literally or figuratively), I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and do it. The internet has so many resources to help you get started. I learned everything I know about knitting from YouTube, so I recommend starting there whether you want to learn to knit or write or woodturn.
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