Let go of your old ideas about knitting being exclusively a grandmother's sport and embrace the fact that all the cool kids are doing it.
If you don't believe us, do a quick Pinterest search and you'll quickly see we're on to something. The benefits are endless and you're not only going to get your creative juices flowing, you'll impress your friends and family with your skills.
Born out of necessity, knitting is thought to have once been solely an occupation held by men in the Middle Ages and before. As times changed and modern inventions, like the knitting machine, changed production techniques, knitting became less a necessity and more of a hobby. In the 1930s, the depression led to women trying to make money from knitting, but it's remained mostly a hobby since then.
Although knitting was once thought to be a skill that was solely passed down from generation to generation, (which is still arguably the sweetest way to learn,) it is possible to embrace the Internet's power and teach yourself.
You could find yourself making...
A footstool pouf (or two!)
Photo: Pickles
A cable knit lampshade...
Photo: Craftsy
Or holiday decoration coasters.
A cover for your throw pillow...
Photo: Craftsy
or maybe even the coffee cup cozy you never knew you needed.
The skill level and degrees of difficulty vary on the patterns and projects featured in the Pinterest board below, but we're in it for the long haul. If something seems a little too challenging right now, save it some place special (ahem, a Pinterest board of your own) and come back to it later when you're a total pro.