With summer now long gone, the winter months are rapidly approaching. Although I am partial to a chai latte and a walk through The Meadows when the leaves have turned orange, there are definitely some downsides to the colder seasons. The days get shorter, the weather gets harsher, and many of us lose our general sense of hope and optimism. It’s therefore important to actively try to maintain your energy levels and whimsy as much as possible. A great way to do this is to start a new hobby: one which is easy and accessible, can help foster a sense of community, and won’t (always) make you want to rip your hair out. Say goodbye to your wintertime woes and say hello to fun and creativity; why not try knitting or crocheting?
Though many people find this quite daunting and intimidating, as someone who has been fairly average at knitting and crocheting for years now, I can tell you it’s a lot less scary than it seems. Once you have learned the first few basic stitches, the rest is very easy to pick up. A great way to get started can just be through a YouTube tutorial; I recommend either Aver Paula or Bella Coco, both of whom offer easy, step-by-step tutorials on projects for all levels.
Once you feel comfortable doing these basics (how to cast on/off and knit stitch for knitting, or slipknots and single stitches for crochet), I would highly recommend going to Knit and Crochet Society. They have sessions every Tuesday 7-9 pm at the Chaplaincy in Bristo Square, with hot drinks and sweet treats on offer, committee members who are always willing to give a helping hand, as well as a scrap yarn box with spare knitting needles and crochet hooks for those not yet wanting to commit to buying supplies.
That being said, there are many affordable places to buy supplies from. Both Edinburgh Bargain Store and Edinburgh Fabrics on St. Patrick’s Square near Main Campus offer a wide range of yarn and equipment at extremely affordable prices. If you’re anything like me and love a good charity shop, Birthlink Thrift Shop on Bruntsfield Place and St Columba’s charity shops both on Leith Walk and in Stockbridge have great haberdashery sections. Some honourable mentions include the Hobbycraft in Ford Kinnard, Kathy’s Knits on Broughton Street and Be Inspired Fibres on Marchmont Road.
Your first project does not need to be complicated: why not try making a coaster, scarf or some good old granny squares, the latter of which can be used to make bags, jumpers and blankets. I would also recommend starting off with just practicing the same stitch over and over to get the hang of the hand movements. You could even crochet or knit a rectangle and make it into a mug cozy or a bookmark.
With these kinds of creative hobbies, there is no instant gratification, which is perhaps why people may feel intimidated, but in my opinion, this makes the end result so much more satisfying. To have put effort and time into something that you will end up actually using is a truly unique feeling. And while you may want to give up and pick up your phone instead of starting your next row, I urge you to persevere. Before long, you will be gifting people handmade gloves and saying to yourself “I could make that” instead of buying yet another overpriced jumper.