Beginner Knitter Pep-Talk - Mindset

The least-kept secret of knitting. 

Here at The Goat, we’ve taught countless people how to knit. I always begin by asking folks what inspired them to learn. Maybe you have fond memories of a family member knitting, or you’ve watched a friend pull out their knitting projects anywhere and everywhere, and seen them don their newest creation with pride. Maybe you thought something like, “I could never do that.” 

I’m going to tell you the least-kept, completely-not-secret secret of knitting. You totally can.

Adopt a beginner's mindset.

 “You do not have to be good.” - Mary Oliver, Wild Geese

As with any new skill, learning to knit takes patience and practice. It can be frustrating, especially for us grown-ups, when we don’t immediately understand how something works, and alarming when our hands don’t behave. This is when having a beginner’s mindset is important. 

Instead of deciding we can’t do it and giving up, the beginner's mindset asks us to allow ourselves to be bad at something, sometimes really bad, and to stay curious about it.

Think back to when you were learning to write. The pencil felt uncomfortable and unwieldy in your hand, your letters were all over the page and very messy. A lot of mistakes were made. That’s because you were learning! You were a beginner.

We are human! We are born beginners. We’re not born knowing how to write, draw, or tie our shoes. There isn’t one person among us born knowing how to knit (though I do wonder about Rachel). We all have had to learn. 

Knit Happens.

Knitting is not magic, though it sometimes seems that way. It’s a folk craft, a craft of the people. You don’t need an advanced degree, or any degree, to learn how to knit. All you need are needles, yarn, and some curiosity. 

Whether you’re just starting out or have been knitting for 30 years, you’re going to make mistakes. Like in life, we’re always inventing new and ingenious ways to make a mess of things. 

Inevitably, you’ll spot a mistake in your knitting someday and wonder, “What on earth happened here? How did I do that?” Those are great questions! What did happen there? How did you do it? Making mistakes and figuring out the what and how of them will help you grow your skill as a knitter.

Remember that a mistake in knitting is not an emergency, and if you ever feel out of your depth, here is the second least-kept secret of knitting: knitters love helping! Phone a friend or stop by your local yarn shop. The Goat staff is always glad to see you and happy to help when we can.

The benefits of knitting.

Now that you know that you can learn, let’s talk about the benefits of actually doing it!

Loads of studies have shown that knitting and other craft hobbies can reduce pain, stress, and blood pressure, while increasing dexterity, focus, mental agility, and problem-solving skills.

While knitting can be challenging at times, it also rewards you. Not just with beautiful knitwear (huge perk!) but with a sense of accomplishment, resilience, and community. 

If we’ve piqued your interest, come see us at The Cashmere Goat! We offer private and semi-private beginner lessons, books that cover all the basics (and beyond!), and our new Learn to Knit Kits!

You can find all of our favorite supplies, books and tools for beginners in our Beginner Knitter Collection.

Hope we see you soon!