My name is Rachel and I've decided to create a business around something that I love - knitting.  I want to create a sustainable and exclusive company that provides one of a kind hand knit items.  The money raised here will go towards marketing products, wool stock, money to participate in craft fairs etc.  My long term vision is to create a knitting cafe - this is something that is popular in Japan for people to connect.  I also plan to run groups online and in person for workshops and community groups where people can connect and just have a chat and knit.  This will help to build a generational gap between young and old and is a way in which the value of knitting can be passed on.

You might ask yourself why knitting is special or why the tradition of this craft should be passed across generations.  The answer is knitting is more than just a craft – it’s a deeply meaningful, creative, and therapeutic practice that has already stood the test of time.  Below are some reasons why I believe it deserves to be carried forward by the younger generations of today:

1.    Tradition Meets Innovation: Knitting links generations.  Grandparents pass down skills, patterns and stories that hold sentimental value.  Yet, it also allows for constant innovation in style, materials, and technique – making it endlessly adaptable and modern.

2.    Slow, Intentional Creation: In a fast-paced, digital world, knitting offers a rare opportunity to slow down.  Each stitch is a small act of care and patience, and every item becomes a one-of-a-kind expression of love and intention.

3.    Personal and Emotional Connection: Handmade items often carry deep emotional meaning.  Whether it’s a baby blanket, a winter scarf, or a seasonal decoration, hand knit goods are infused with the time and thought of their maker – something mass produced items can’t replicate. 

4.    Cultural Preservation: Knitting is rooted in cultural heritage of communities worldwide – from Nordic patterns to Andean techniques.  Teaching younger generations ensures this rich global history remains alive and appreciated.   

With this in mind there are a number of additional reasons why knitting should stay with younger generations:

•    Creative Empowerment: Knitting offers an accessible way for young people to express themselves through colour, pattern, and design. 

•    Sustainability: As fast fashion becomes increasingly problematic, knitting encourages mindful, ethical consumption and DIY fashion. 

•    Digital Balance: It provides a tactile, screen free hobby that offers mental relief in an age of constant digital stimulation.  

•    Community Building: Whether online or in person, knitting creates bonds – through clubs, stitch alongs, or shared projects.

Benefits of Knitting

Mental Health 

•    Reduces stress and anxiety, 

•    Promotes mindfulness and a meditative state,

•    Helps combat depression and improve mood.

Cognitive Health 

•    Improves concentration and problem solving, 

•    Enhances fine motor skills, 

•    May delay cognitive decline in older adults.

Sense of Accomplishment

•    Finishing a project boosts self-esteem, 

•    Allows for setting and achieving creative goals.

Social Connection

•    Encourages community through knit groups and online forums, 

•    Bridges generational gaps through shared learning.

Sustainability and Ethics

•    Promotes handmade, slow fashion, 

•    Reduces reliance on factory-made, disposable goods. 

In short, knitting is a life-enriching practice – creative, calming and connective,  By keeping it alive in younger generations, preserve a valuable skill, promote wellbeing, and foster a sense of community and creativity that’s more needed now than ever.