I’m a firm believer that everyone needs a hobby… or, even better, many hobbies.  Depending on what you like to do, your hobby can help keep you (or get you) physically fit or it can sharpen your brain.  One thing that all hobbies have in common is that they keep you from being bored.

One of my hobbies that I find myself doing a lot more of this time of year than any other is knitting.

I’m not nearly as proficient a knitter as my mother, who can knit (or sew, for that matter) anything she can find a pattern for, but I’m a pro at scarves and have made more than a couple of pretty nice afghans, too.  And I love scarves.  I have them in all different colors, weights, textures, and sizes.  As someone who is cold if it’s under 80° F, scarves come in very handy.

This time of year, being able to whip up a couple of scarves or an afghan comes in pretty handy.  I’ve given many a friend a awesome scarf as a gift (sometimes I liked them so much, it was painful to give them away) as well as afghans.  And I still don’t have an afghan of my own.  What’s up with that?

This year, I found a new knitting project that I’m working on for holiday gifts.  Unfortunately, since my friends read this blog, I can’t tell you what it is.  But there are ideas all over the place… on the internet and in real life.  You only need Google the words “knitting patterns” to find an endless supply of websites that provide patterns – completely free of charge!  Whether you’re a seasoned knitter or a fledgling beginner, you can find a free pattern that will match your skill level.

While I’m all over the free patterns, I don’t purchase much yarn on-line.  Colors are not always accurately depicted on a monitor and there’s no way to feel the texture of the fiber.

As with a lot of the other purchases I make, I try to buy my yarn and other knitting supplies at smaller, locally owned shops, as opposed to the bigger chain stores.  The locally owned shops tend to have more interesting yarns than the chains and the proprietors and staff of the locally owned yarneries are also much more knowledgeable about knitting than the average chain employee.  If you’re having a problem with a project, you can take it to someone at the smaller places and ask for help.  I’ve never been disappointed when I’ve done this.

The three shops I’ve frequented and can highly recommend are Rustic & Refined (alas, no website, but the phone number is 838-1710 and I recommend calling for the hours before you venture out) in the Colony Plaza, Cultured Purl on West 26th Street (they have a blog, too), and Butler’s Country Knit Shop in Waterford.

For anyone who loves colors and textures, walking into one of these shops is a little slice of heaven.  There are walls and shelves and stacks and displays of yarn everywhere.  Want a unique scarf to go with that new coat you got for Christmas?  Or maybe you’d like to make someone a funky pair of socks for Hanukkah?  Or perhaps you’d like a really unique  sweater to go with those new jeans you got for Festivus?  Have no fear.  Just toddle on into one of these specialty yarn shops and you’re sure to find something that will trip your trigger.

If you don’t know how to knit and don’t think you could learn by reading instructions (free on the internet), check out the shops I’ve listed above for their class offerings.  And if you already know how to knit but would like to learn something a little more advanced, I’m sure the staff at these shops would be happy to help you find a more challenging class.

Oh, and if you’re not interested in knitting, knitting can still be your friend around this time of year.  Perhaps there is someone on your holiday gift-giving list who likes to knit?  Head on over to one of the stores I listed and get a gift certificate or perhaps some little stocking-stuffers.  I’m sure the staff at these stores can point you in the direction of some knitting do-dads that every yarn addict needs and/or wants, many of which are very low-cost.

And now, my needles and yarn beckon me….