Consider Knitting

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Learning Curve, Flow, and Frustration

  • Several commenters tried crochet/knitting during or after Covid and found the early phase mentally demanding rather than relaxing.
  • Crochet is described as fast to “get going” but slow to become smooth and automatic, which feels mechanically repetitive compared to learning a language or instrument.
  • Mixed views on difficulty: one pithy summary offered is “crochet is harder 0→1, knitting is harder 1→10”; others insist both are initially quite hard.
  • Left-handed learners report extra friction because most material assumes right-handed technique.

Relaxation, Meaning, and Guilt About “Productivity”

  • Some struggle with feeling that slow handwork is a “waste of time” compared to more visibly impactful or prestigious pursuits.
  • Others push back that “meaningful” is subjective; simply making something physical or enjoyable is meaningful enough.
  • One person consciously uses knitting as “exposure therapy” to unlearn the idea that all time must produce external value.

Attention, Multitasking, and Mental Health

  • People differ sharply on whether they can knit/crochet while watching TV or listening to audiobooks.
  • One commenter suspects a link to anxiety/depression; others argue it’s just individual wiring or task interference (e.g., language-heavy tasks can’t be combined).
  • There’s debate over whether good multitaskers are actually doing more, or just rapid context-switching and tolerating quality loss.

Fiber Arts as Tactile, Reversible, and Deep

  • Knitting/crochet are praised as screen-free, tactile counterpoints to knowledge work. Undoing mistakes is easy compared to sewing or woodworking.
  • Some emphasize the very high skill ceiling (e.g., intricate shawls) and compare design/execution to painting or furniture-making, questioning the art vs. “women’s craft” divide.
  • Historical links to Jacquard looms and the analogy of a pattern as a tiny programming language resonate with programmers.

Comparisons to Other Hobbies

  • Many suggest or practice alternatives with similar benefits: music (especially guitar and percussion), woodworking, whittling, weaving, cross-stitch, woodcut, pop-up cards, plushies, cosplay, Lego, mini painting, climbing, cooking, gardening, cycling, and bike wheelbuilding.
  • Woodworking is lauded for usefulness and satisfaction but noted as noisier, costlier, less portable, and harder to undo mistakes than knitting.

Practical Tips and Caveats

  • Suggested beginner projects: dishcloths, hats, socks; note that cotton yarn is less forgiving for novices.
  • Knitting is likened to an “OG fidget toy” for some, especially neurodiverse people.
  • One warning: poor knitting technique can cause long-lasting RSI, particularly for heavy computer users.