Teen Knitting: How the Internet Has Made Grandma’s Hobby Hip
Teen knitting is catching on right now in part due to the internet. Knitting books and magazines have traditionally catered to an older crowd, and most of the published designs for sweaters, hats, and scarves have been in very conservative styles. The words “hip” and “knitwear” haven’t usually been paired together, but today trendy knitting patterns are available at the touch of a button, or the click of a mouse. One reason for the recent teen knitting explosion is that web-savvy teenagers all over the world are swapping fun and trendy patterns over the internet. As more and more teenagers get into knitting, they find oodles of inspiring pictures and patterns of what other teen crafters are making. Teen knitting has meant a sudden infusion of cool young pattern designers who are getting worldwide attention as young as the ages of fifteen and sixteen just by posting their latest ideas and projects on blogs and message boards.
Teen knitting clubs are a logical offshoot of this new trend. Although knitting is in some ways a solitary activity, being part of a community of knitters is a great way to learn new techniques and get inspiration for new projects. By swapping ideas and knowledge in a teen knitting club, young people who knit are helping each other to make cool and creative new things. Being in a teen knitting club gives a young knitter the chance to learn from people who have more experience, and it eventually offers the satisfaction that comes from teaching somebody else what you know. Being in a teen knitting club that meets once a week so that members can compare projects and exchange suggestions and tips is a lot of fun, and the social aspect of teen knitting is a big reason why it is so popular.
Although there are very few teenage guys who would join a sewing circle or show up at a quilting bee, teen knitting is catching on among boys as well as girls. A lot of smart young guys have figured out that teen knitting clubs are a great place to meet girls, and more than one high school romance has started over a couple of balls of yarn. Teenaged boys who knit are finding each other on the internet, and guys who knit are often surprised to discover that a lot of their peers are knitting and purling all over the world. A lot of teen knitting is done by boys who want to make unique laptop covers, clothes that are the height of cool, or special gifts that any relative or girlfriend are sure to appreciate. The fact that teen knitting isn’t just a trend among girls really says something about how much gender roles have changed since grandma started making mittens.
For decades, a lot of young people have considered knitting to be uncool or retro. However, the recent surge of teen knitting shows that knitting is now very trendy, and that wearing handknit items is hip among young people. Knitting is an easy skill to learn, and even a beginner can easily make something unique that shows off their personal style and creativity. This almost-instant gratification is a big part of why teen knitting has taken off, but of course it is not the only reason. Given the fast learning curve, the cross-gender appeal, the social aspect of knitting clubs and the impact of the internet on the availability of trendy patterns, it is little wonder that teen knitting is such a popular trend!
