Knitting Up a Storm: How This Dying Art Completes My Life

Hand-knitting is a complete activity — it is craft, creativity, productivity and meditation all rolled into one.

In the winter of 1971, when the Indian army was going to war, the cantonments were full of women knitting woollens for the soldiers. As the daughter of an army officer, it was natural for me to pick up the needles and contribute. The fact that I was only 11 and did not know how to knit seemed immaterial. Thus began a love affair with knitting that has stayed with me to this day. My wool and needles have been my joy and strength through teenage, college, working life, marriage and children.