Capital “K” Knitters

Knit. It’s a verb - the act of knitting. It’s a noun - something that has been knit. But can it also be a proper noun?

Well, heck yeah.

In fact, I work with Knitters almost everyday. I consider myself one. Uppercase and all.

Knitters are a niche, and notorious for holding a stereotype that our modern times are trying to both embrace and eliminate simultaneously. You know the picture - that granny with white hair sitting in an armchair under a knit blanket with a shawl draped over her shoulders sipping a cup of tea while also elbows deep into knitting another blanket - it’s iconic. The changing of that image isn't really an elimination however, it’s actually more of an embraced interpretation. The picture comes with a wider audience of younger crafters, maybe wearing yoga clothes but still showcasing a shawl (maybe less lace, maybe more color), blankets are still there (made chunky with size US 15 needles), beverages range from tea to stronger things, and emphasis on the craft is around the symbiotic relationship between solitude and community. Alas, anyway you picture “knitters,” there is a very personal and intimate element to it, each image adorned with an air of importance.

Too analytical?

Well, let’s think of some things in life that are emphasized just by making it a proper noun:
Earth vs earth
mother vs Mom
Home vs house
wine vs WINE

With the exception of Wine (or maybe not), the point is the minute a word is knighted with that uppercase letter, it becomes personal. It becomes special. It becomes unique.

That's what knitting is, that’s what Knitters are: personal, special, unique.

Therefore, I embrace the fact that I am an uppercase, capital “K” Knitter. Knitters will stay awake way longer than they should to work one more row which inevitably turns into 42 more. Knitters will find joy in knitting alone or with others. Knitters will gladly use 4-letter words that are not “knit.” Knitters will spend their last cent on yarn (I admittedly have come dangerously close to doing this). Knitters will travel around the country dressed in their handknit pieces “hopping” and “crawling” from yarn festival to local yarn store, documenting the whole experience on social media akin to a fiber-filled ComicCon.

And it’s fabulous.

So to all the capital “K” Knitters out there, keep at it. Be you. Love your craft. Above all, Happy Knitting.