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Knitting
Listen to this Commentary!
Molly Fair
Knitting has long been viewed as an activity for the elderly, grannies in rockers knitting afghans that stretch into eternity, their gnarled fingers guiding the movement of the needles. If this is the image that pops into your head, I don't blame you.
I've received too many sweaters and hats from my Grammy to dispute the obvious. But what I can tell you is that knitting is by no means an old person's sport. I'm an 18 year old high school student and I love to knit.
In my opinion everyone should take a clue from grandma and pick up some needles and yarn. I recently underwent the hectic and trying process of applying to college. Knitting was the one thing that kept me sane while I was in limbo waiting for an acceptance letter to arrive in the mail.
Unlike most activities that relieve stress like nail biting and consuming junk foods, knitting actually produces something useful. Once I begin to knit, the needles create a rhythm, gaining momentum with every stitch. The pattern of knit, purl, knit, purl has a constant calming effect as my body adopts the movement as its pulse. The click-clacking sound the needles make as they collide become my mantra as I become focused on my task.
When I am finished, I discover that I have created something beautiful out of a raw jumble of yarn. And that makes me feel powerful, giving me something I can control, while I wonder about my uncertain future.
And next fall when I begin college I will have my raspberry colored scarf wrapped around my neck, comforting me and providing me with some much needed security. So I will go so far as to say that knitting has saved me, and I will do my best to spread the revolution throughout the dorms with my rallying cry, "Take a clue from grandma people, because from what I can tell she hasn't dropped a stitch yet!"
I'm Molly Fair.
Host Back Announce: Molly Fair comes to us from Youth Radio New Jersey, a collaboration between Columbia High School, WBGO FM, and Youth Radio in Berkeley, California.
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