Knitting and college students are words that usually don’t
come hand in hand ““ that is, until recently. And whether
it’s to fill free time, to add a personal touch to
one’s outfit, or for philanthropic reasons, the fact remains
that students are getting out the yarn and needles and creating a
knitting craze.
Urban Outfitters recognized the potential for the knitting
market and began selling knitting kits in their stores last
October. And between the holiday season and the interest of young
adults in the craft, the kits became one of the store’s most
popular items, selling out repeatedly. Third-year history student
Hilary Lucas was one of the people who went into Urban Outfitters
last winter and stumbled across the knitting kits.
“I was looking for something to occupy my time and I saw
the kits there ““ and since scarves were becoming more
popular, I thought it would be cool to knit,” Lucas said.
After Lucas took the kit home, it wasn’t long before
knitting became a trend among her friends.
“My roommate Anna saw that I was frustrated (with learning
to knit from the kit) and went home and learned how to knit over
Christmas break,” Lucas said. “Then, once I learned,
Anna and I would knit together and other friends would see us and
wanted to learn.”
Kathy Silverton, president and founder of Stitches From the
Heart, a charity organization that donates hand knit items to needy
babies, has noticed the current popularity of knitting among people
of all ages. She noted that an average of two to three people a day
come into the Stitches From the Heart yarn shop in Santa Monica
with the desire to learn how to knit. The store is run by
volunteers who are eager to help anyone who walks in, as well as
teach free group lessons on everything from basic knitting to
poncho making to crocheting.
“Knitting’s so hot right now,” Silverton said.
“The field has blown up to mega-proportions ““
it’s wonderful. It has the connotation of being for grannies
and old ladies, but it’s not like that anymore.”
And with beanies having a permanent place in college
students’ closets, as well as the recent popularity of
scarves and ponchos, people can make items they will actually
use.
“When I think of grandma’s knitting, I think of
blankets and sweaters ““ but scarves and beanies are already
things people our age wear,” Lucas said. “The colors
and patterns make things young.”
The cozy little Stitches From the Heart store is stocked with
novelty and wool yarns in a range of colors and textures, proof
that yarn companies recognize they have a younger, more creative
crowd to cater to with their products. Many people enjoy being able
to create the clothes and accessories that they buy in stores, and
making clothing items is a way to add individuality to
anyone’s wardrobe, as well as save money while living on a
student budget.
“We see people who like to produce their own clothes as a
trend,” said Jim Goldsworthy, store manager of the Westwood
Urban Outfitters. “We now even sell clothes where people can
create the holes. People like to create their own fashion and
knitting is a way to do that.”
Currently, Urban Outfitters is selling crochet kits (which is
similar to knitting but uses only one needle) where one of the
patterns is for a bikini ““ something the average grandmother
isn’t making.
Fourth-year world arts and cultures student Maya Zellman learned
to knit in her high school Spanish class. After mastering the
craft, Zellman quickly realized that it was a way for her to
relieve stress.
“I like the fact that it’s repetitive and very
therapeutic ““ you end up with something at the end of all
those repetitive motions,” Zellman said.
In addition to calming one’s mind, knitting also has an
effect on one’s physical body.
“The thing about knitting is that when you get into the
rhythm, it relaxes you and lowers your blood pressure,”
Silverton said.
However, it takes time and practice for knitting to become a
routine motion and for one to develop a unique style.
“My friend was teaching me how to knit and it was really
frustrating at first, because the first things you make always end
up messed up ““ they have holes or they’re tacky. But, I
was determined on making the perfect scarf,” Zellman
said.
In addition to the Urban Outfitters kit she bought, Lucas had to
visit online knitting sites for extra help.
“I just sat in front of the computer with my yarn,”
Lucas said. “At first it’s not relaxing because you
have to focus a lot.”
But after getting the hang of it, knitting becomes something
that doesn’t require too much focus, enabling people to
perform the motions while their minds are engage in something
else.
“I knit when I’m bored,” second-year
biochemistry student Rachel Brewer said. “It’s
something I can do while talking or watching TV.”
While knitting is something that many students do when
they’re alone, many people see it as a reason to get together
with other people.
“A lot of camaraderie has resulted from knitting
groups,” Silverton said. “Women need to have that (kind
of social activity). We have knitting coffees (parties) all the
time and there are young women in a group called “˜Stitch and
Bitch.'”
Urban Outfitters also sells a book titled “Stitch ‘n
Bitch” that has patterns and gives tips on starting a
knitting group. The edgy title of the book is a sign that
contemporary knitters are giving the traditionally domestic
activity a modern spin.
And although knitting is a field dominated by women, men were
the original knitters. Knitting began in the Far East as a
variation of the fishing nets that Japanese fishermen made. The
earliest pieces resembling knitting in Japan date back about 2,000
years. In medieval times knitting began to extend its reach all the
way west to England, where the first knitting machine was invented
in 1589. Even though today it’s women who tend to be the
knitters, there are men interested in the craft.
“There wasn’t a soul in my Spanish class that
didn’t know how to knit ““ even the guys,” Zellman
said.
Silverton’s theory on the revival of the craft of knitting
suggests that terrorism attacks brought people back to the home in
an attempt to find something that was safe and comfortable to
do.
“After 9/11 people wanted to be more homey, and knitting
is a touchy-feely activity,” Silverton said.
But Lucas says her interest in knitting veers more towards the
practical, rather than domestic side of the craft.
“Usually we’re so anti-domestic,” Lucas said.
“My mom sews and quilts, but knitting is something different
from that because my mom didn’t do it and I can make things I
enjoy.”
Interestingly, sewing in general hasn’t taken off. Urban
Outfitters also offers cross-stitch kits, but they haven’t
sold very well, showing that students don’t just want to
craft, but want to also be able to use the things that they make.
Lucas and Zellman usually use their skills and creativity to make
scarves for their friends. And, even though it is summer, Lucas has
already begun planning out the scarves that she intends to make for
friends as Christmas gifts.
“I get more out of giving away the things I make than from
keeping them,” Lucas said.
Lucas isn’t alone in her philanthropic attitude ““
Stitches From the Heart has donated over 161,000 hand-knit items to
needy babies in over 411 hospitals and community centers across the
nation. They also use the money that they earn from the yarns they
sell to cover the cost of shipping the baby items.
“A little baby hat is a good learning tool,”
Silverton said. “It takes two hours to make one, you learn
all the stitches, and it doesn’t have to be
perfect.”
But while Silverton may encourage young people to start their
knitting careers off with the traditional baby items, she is
delighted to see where their creativity and energy will take the
field.
“The new knitters are young people who are now just
getting their feet wet by making scarves,” Silverton said.
“While using beige is about as bold as I get, it’s
wonderful to that young people are not afraid to use bold colors
and do new things.”