‘Cast on’, ‘Fasten off’, ‘Garter and Stocking’. This is a language that meant nothing to me until a few weekends ago, when I went on a knitting course. Apparently knitting is the “new yoga.” Knitting clubs, knitting cafes and knitting-obsessed celebrities are becoming more commonplace. So, off I went to ‘Little Red Hen’ in Shaftesbury to follow in the steps of knitting-crazed celebs, Julia Roberts, Madonna and Cameron Diaz.
I have to be honest, I felt a little nervous about the course. Some people in life are naturally creative and artistic but I am certainly not. My limited experience of sewing ended in the school classroom when I was thrown out of lessons for consistently snapping needles and breaking bobbins in the sewing machine. In our house, if buttons fall off they find themselves at the back of a drawer, holey socks go in the bin and name tapes sit in a great heap at my mother’s house at the start of each term.
The course took place in a little room above the shop, which inspires you the minute you walk in. Pretty buntings hang across the old beams, small gingham ducks decorate a tree in the corner, beautiful children’s cardigans and jumpers hang on painted hangers and lavender-filled cushions are scattered around, creating the perfect artistic setting. At first, it felt a bit like an AA meeting as the five of us sat around introducing ourselves and saying what we wanted to get out of the ‘knitting experience’. I wanted to find a hobby that was relaxing and enabled me to totally switch off from my frenetic lifestyle. I had read that knitting was good for you – research shows it slows the pulse rate and lowers your blood pressure.
We ‘Cast on’ over cappacinos, ‘stocking stitched’ over Turnbulls’ sandwiches and nattered over our knitted squares. Our teacher, Alison, patiently unpicked and praised us with words of encouragement. Once we had ‘Cast off,’ I left proudly holding my small square, having officially joined the knitting revolution. I made some good knitting pals and have since been full of inspiration. I am two triangles down on my ‘bunting’ which I am making for the baby’s room although, admittedly, it has taken me three days. I would encourage any of you who want to relax, be creative, or just follow the celebrity trend, to grab your needles and ‘Cast on’ with us.
