18 Powerful Life Lessons Learned Through Knitting: Healing, Growth and Creativity

Discover 18 powerful life lessons learned through knitting, from mindfulness and creativity to healing and growth. A heartfelt journey for knitters and creators alike.

What life lessons have you learned through knitting? To say that I’ve learned a lot through knitting is an understatement. I’ve grown so much from knitting, it’s become part of who I am. I don’t know who I’d be or where I’d be without knitting. The funny thing is, is that I didn’t learn how to knit from my ancestors, although I feel connected to them through knitting, maybe it’s just through creativity in general because we each had different passions and talents.

“Knitting is creative, challenging, frustrating and rewarding… all at once.”

I find that reflecting on my experiences and writing out my thoughts and feelings help me process my emotions. My hope is that something in my journey resonates with you, so that you don’t feel alone on your journey. I know that I’ve healed so much through other people’s stories and I want to be able to do the same for others. I hope that by sharing my lessons with you it helps you on your journey. You are not alone.

Before we go any further I’d like to extend a trigger warning. I don’t share any explicit details, but my story might invoke emotions or memories. I just want you to know, so you can be in the right headspace & heart-space before continuing.

So, here goes…

I grew up in a chaotic environment and my childhood left me with a lot to learn on my own. As an adult, I had overwhelming feelings of fear, insecurity, anxiety, panic, sadness, anger among many other feelings. For too many years I told myself “I’m not going to let my childhood effect me.” Which was me just avoiding dealing with my feelings and unresolved childhood issues. Low and behold, if you’re ahead of me on this journey you know how this is gonna end… I eventually “crashed.”

For me, it was my lowest point. In 2019 I was diagnosed with panic disorder and agoraphobia. I was in a constant state of fear. Fear of my own shadow… breath… heartbeat… I felt like my world was crushing me and I was terrified of everything. I felt so broken, so far from the strong woman I was just 10 years earlier. And that’s when I started focusing on my healing journey.

Now, let’s go back to 2011, when I started knitting. I went shopping, online, for some cute socks and instead I found a bunch of knitting patterns to make cute socks. I was riveted! So, I decided to try to learn how to knit.

It was relatively inexpensive to get started. I found the cheapest yarn and the cheapest needles and searched for hours for a free & easy hat pattern that I liked. I ended up finding a scarf pattern, but I had to learn how to cast-on before I could learn how to knit. *seriously* It was confusing and frustrating. But for some reason I was determined to learn. I thought “It can’t be that complicated” which led me to “I can’t be that uncoordinated.”

It didn’t take me long to figure it out. I watched a few videos on different styles and techniques and found my own style that felt good to me. And when I say “not long” it took a week or two for me to wrap my head around it all, now that I think about it, that’s a long time. Hopefully, you pick it up quicker than I did. :) If not, then you’re in good company! 

However, for some reason, knitting felt like coming home. Like I was meant to knit. Maybe I was a knitter in a past life? If you, or I, believe in that sort of thing. Through therapy I’ve learned that repetition binds anxiety, which may explain why I feel so calm when knitting. Just to be clear, knitting did not make my fears or anxieties go away.

These things have helped in my healing process:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Tapping (EFT)
• Meditation (breathing)
• Knitting
• Yoga
• Qi-gong
• Reading books
• Journaling
• Listening to therapists on YouTube
• Lots of patience & loving myself

The healing process is a lifelong journey. 

Alrighty, now that you know more about me, let’s dive into how knitting changed my life…

Here are 18 Life Lessons that Knitting has Taught Me

Lesson 1 : Open-Mindedness

There are countless ways to hold your yarn & needles, yet we all get the same results… I’m absolutely amazed & in awe of our different knitting styles and techniques. I love it! I just want to say “Thank you!” for inspiring me with your “youness.”

“There’s no wrong way to create something you love.”

Lesson 2 : A Growth Mindset

First of all, let’s define a growth mindset. “A growth mindset, as conceived by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck and colleagues, is the belief that a person’s capacities and talents can be improved over time.” – Psychology Today

I have started stepping outside my comfort zone, facing my fears & insecurities to learn new things.

“New techniques are doors to endless possibilities.”

Learning how to knit cables was definitely outside my comfort zone!

I’ve heard that failure leads to success. It’s okay to fail, it’s a necessary part of the learning & growing process and it’s the most common way to get my “perfect” project.

Lesson 3 : Awareness

Attention to detail in the stitches, tension and gauge. Giving my full attention to the tension in each stitch is required to create a consistent fabric… which always has imperfections due to my human touch. That makes each creation mine and perfectly imperfect!

“A little focus now saves a lot of frogging later.”

Lesson 4 : Knitting and Mindfulness

Mindfulness knitting is being present in the moment and giving my work my full attention. Getting cozy on the couch, free from distractions. Just me & my knitting sitting in peace listening to the clinks of my needles. A form of knitting meditation, if you will, that induces a peaceful state of mind and a sense of calmness within myself.

Relax with my Knitting Meditation Video Series!

“Breathe, knit, and let your worries unravel.”

Lesson 5 : Discipline

To take time to knit everyday. Well, I don’t knit everyday, but I sure do want to and I’m definitely thinking about it. I might miss a day or two, but I always pick it back up.

The key to finishing a project is one stitch at a time. When I’m working on a large project I find it overwhelming to think about how much longer I have to knit before I’m finished. Sometimes I’ll put on a movie to give me something else to focus on and ease the passing of time.

Do you remember those signs “I’d rather be fishing?” Well, I’d rather be knitting.

“Patience and discipline turn yarn into treasures.” 

Lesson 6 : Peace

Knitting is a form of meditation. Find comfort in the repetition of each stitch, inhale and exhale slowly, allowing the stillness to wash over you. Find peace & calm with each stitch. Like I mentioned earlier, “repetition binds anxiety.” In a way, knitting is its own form of therapy.

Check out these peaceful mediation knitting patterns: Blanket, Shrug, Cowl & Scarf.

“Knitting is the quiet that soothes the soul.”

Lesson 7 : Consistency

By doing a little every day it’ll eventually get finished. One day I’ll get to feel proud of my accomplishment. Keep the end result in mind! The feeling of wearing it or someone telling me that they love their new thing, feels great. And if I’m being completely honest, just feeling good that I accomplished my goal, so I can check that box is enough for me.

“A row a day keeps the unfinished projects away.”

Lesson 8 : Grit

Doing the work, even when I don’t “feel” like it. This is one lesson that I learned from my Grandpa, he said “It’s gotta get done and somebody’s gotta do it.” I’m pretty sure he followed that up with “and I don’t see anyone else around here doing it.” I can usually motivate myself to knit if there’s a movie or podcast I want to listen to, then I can feel productive while I’m listening. It’s a win-win.

“Knitting requires courage to fix, frog, and forge ahead.”

This is one of my favorite pieces that I’ve knitted to date. It’s so soft and cozy and I feel so good in it. I’m proud of it!

Lesson 9 : Pride

It’s okay to feel proud of your work. For so many years, I had in my head that feelings of pride were a bad thing. Well, they can be if there’s too much of it, but that goes for most things in life. Everything in moderation, right?

This one I’m still working on. I keep reminding myself that it’s okay to feel proud of my accomplishments. I put in the time, I put in the effort, I made this and I am proud of it!

“With every row, I knit pride and joy.”

Lesson 10 : Creativity

I don’t consider myself to be a “creative” person. I don’t know how to draw. I think of creative people as artists, like Michelangelo, Da’Vinci, Monet, etc. I draw stick figures and not very well.

However, once I learned how to knit and that I could create my own patterns, it opened up a whole world within me that I didn’t know existed or could exist. And I learned that I love math. Shhh… don’t tell anyone.

Now, I understand creativity to mean “to create” no matter the medium… yarn, pencils, cloth, flowers, furniture, music, wood, concrete, etc. We are all creative.

“Your knitting is as limitless as your imagination.”

Lesson 11 : Appreciation

I appreciate all the people that come together in this fiber arts industry that create all the different yarns and colors and patterns. Our love of the land and animals and each other is beautiful. We make the world a better place, one fiber at a time.

Thank you to all of you who love this art wholeheartedly. It unites us.

“Every project holds a story worth cherishing.” 

Lesson 12 : Purpose

I don’t see knitting as “just a job.” I have this deep desire to keep my hands busy. I feel productive while I’m watching TV or listening to a podcast. It also helps me to not eat so much while I’m watching & listening too, lol. So, technically, I could add “consumption control” to this list too. ;)

Whether I’m knitting something to donate, to gift, to wear or to create for you, knitting gives me purpose.

“Purpose is found in the love woven into every stitch.”

Lesson 13 : Focus

In this fast paced world with so many distractions at our fingertips at all times, it’s really easy to get lost down the rabbit hole. Hello Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, I see you.

Knitting strengthens the “focus” muscle. 

“Knitting anchors your attention, one stitch at a time.”

Lesson 14 : Completion

I’ve learned how to finish a project. Can we take a moment to recognize that that’s an accomplishment all on its own!

When I was growing up there I noticed that people would start lots of projects, but never finish them, so I decided that when I grew up I wanted to be the kind of person that finishes a project that they start. I want to be the kind of person that’s slow to start a new project, so I don’t have too many going at once and that I’ll have the endurance to follow through.

“One stitch at a time, progress is made.” 

…the above are my highlight reels. I don’t feel all the good feelings all the time. Sometimes there’s a dark side. Here are some other things that knitting has taught me…

Lesson 15 : Patience

I see a lot of “simple” and “easy” knitting patterns advertised (even my own patterns) and I forget that sometimes knitting can be frustrating, especially when you’re just starting out or learning a new technique.

I would get “irritated” when I can’t get something right and I have to redo it 3 times, or more, so I’ve been practicing being patient with myself.

“Knitting reminds us to trust the process, one stitch at a time.”

Lesson 16 : Courage

It’s “scary” when you’re learning something new. Hello, cable stitches, I see you. I have succumbed to avoiding or procrastinating certain techniques or projects. Sometimes unfinished projects are left on my needles for far too long before I get the courage to finish the project or concede defeat.

“Courage grows with each pattern you dare to try.”

Lesson 17 : Quitting

I quit smoking in 2012. Knitting gave my hands and mind something to focus on was exactly what I needed. Knitting helped me face my fears, it helped me bind my anxiety and it helped me find peace in the chaos.

“Knitting transforms cravings into creativity.” 

Lesson 18 : Love

Last, but certainly not least, maybe even the most important lessons I’ve learned…

To love myself. (I am loveable.)

It’s okay to take time for me. (I am loved.)

It’s okay to do something that I love. (I am worthy.)

It’s okay to sit still with myself and listen to my thoughts. (I am okay!)

Allowing myself to love knitting has allowed me to give myself permission to love myself. In other words… I love knitting, so allowing myself to knit is allowing me to love myself.

“With every stitch, you weave love, peace & joy into your project.”

***

I’m so grateful for knitting and all the powerful lessons I’ve learned from knitting, but most of all I’m still learning to love and accept myself, whole-heartedly and completely.

I’m perfectly imperfect, just like my projects. All of my life experiences are knitted together to create the fabric of my knitted life.

Even though my childhood was chaotic and unpredictable, I’ve learned to accept that it is what it is and I can’t change it, but I can grow from it and I do grow from it. It has shaped who I am despite how much I fought it. It’s part of me and I’m grateful for it. I wouldn’t be who I am today without all those experiences and I love who I am today.

I hope that by hearing my story it has helped you heal a part of your story. You are not alone and you are worthy of love & belonging.

Thank you for connecting with me through this beautiful art we call knitting.

Cheers to knitting your best life,
Jennifer

“Everybody wants to be seen, and they want to be heard, and they want to know that their story matters.” ~Oprah

PS. I see you, I hear you, your story matters.

Knitting has taught me so much about life, healing, and creativity. I’d love to hear your thoughts—what life lessons has knitting taught you? Let’s keep this thread going in the comments below!