An aside about my knitting journey

I absolutely love to knit, and I have known how to knit for a very long time. I first learned to knit when my brother joined an afterschool knitting club in 5th grade. He taught me how to knit as well, and though I didn’t finish any projects at the time, I was really interested in it. Later, after teaching myself to crochet, I had to re-learn how to knit. Now, I think I actually prefer knitting to crochet sometimes. One of my absolute favorite things to knit are socks—they’re cozy, practical, and so satisfying to make by hand!

Socks are incredibly satisfying to knit up! There's something special about watching a simple ball of yarn transform into a cozy, wearable little masterpiece. Plus, they’re the perfect project—small enough to finish somewhat quickly, but detailed enough to keep things interesting. The combination of comfort, creativity, and the joy of gifting (or keeping!) handmade socks makes every stitch feel rewarding. Whether I’m using soft wool for warmth or fun colorful yarns for a pop of personality, knitting socks is gratifying. They are sometimes very fast working and other times, it seems like it takes forever to make a pair of socks, but each stitch is worth the time and effort to see the final product.

My personal favorite way to make socks is with the toe-up and two at a time methods. I know if I work them this way, I can make them match pretty closely, and I don’t have to worry about running out of yarn before I finish the foot of the sock. Two at a time also allows me to make sure that they are the same size and I will finish them at the same time (rather than losing one that I finished while I get distracted with other projects and forget to make the second one.)

There’s something truly magical about knitting that goes beyond just creating warm scarves or cozy hats or adorable socks. It’s a passion that connects creativity with mindfulness, turning simple yarn into beautiful, handmade treasures. Each stitch holds a rhythm that soothes stress and eases tension. Crocheting and knitting truly are delightful oxymorons! While your hands are busy stretching and pulling the yarn—adding tension as you create—your mind unwinds, letting go of stress and finding a sort of calm. It’s a perfect blend of focus and relaxing repetition, making it one of my go-To’s for quiet moments with a TV show, movie, soothing music, or the gentle sounds and relaxing scenes of the outdoors.