Free Things I Learned From Knitting by Stephanie Pearl–McPhee Page A

was a time I hadn’t known, and I had skipped telling her something because it seemed like almost insulting information. In my zeal to share my knitting joy, I had just handed her this yarn, and when I did? I had neglected to tell this innocent, fledgling knitter that you have to wind a skein into a ball before you knit it.

the 31 st thing

He who laughs last laughs longest.
    KNITTERS ARE QUITE USED TO the gentle ribbing (pun intended) that we sometimes take from ordinary people. We smile and endure the persistent belief that we’re engaged in some silly little pastime that is no equal to the non-knitter’s clever and majestic hobbies such as fishing, bird watching, or collecting comic books. We knit while non-knitters chastise us for engaging in a grandmotherly or feminine activity. We knit while they point out that our hobby is largely unproductive (unlike collecting comic books) because they think anyone can buy the stuff we’re making at any of a thousand stores. We knit with our mouths shut while they say they “wish they had that sort of free time,” and we (mostly) say nothing while watching non-knitters settle into an evening of idle TV-watching. Knitters are, by and large, peaceful creatures, we simply knit and letothers hold their opinions. We’ve given up on correcting them. (In my experience, most knitters have figured out that at least when it comes to knitting, revolt is at best time-consuming and useless, and at worst can tangle your yarn.)
    There is a lot to be said for knowing in your heart that people are wrong. When it comes to being teased for knitting, it turns out that we shall likely have our revenge. Several studies in the last few years have indicated that there are certain things you can do for yourself to help prevent or at least stave off Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as you age. Researchers point to activities that require sorting out clues or codes, use both hands, require some degree of memory work, involve hand-eye coordination, and generally demand mental energy. These kinds of activities will either keep the connections in the brain bright and active or help in the formation of extra connections so that if you do suffer from a neurodegenerative disease as you age, you might have some brain to spare.
    Knitting is a perfect example of this kind of activity. It definitely requires both hands,it absolutely requires hand-eye coordination, it even uses both hemispheres of the brain at once. As you knit there is obviously an element of memorization as you work through stitch patterns. I can tell you that a knitting chart is definitely a code you have to decipher in order to achieve any degree of success. In fact, knitting is one of thirteen activities that a study in the journal
Neurology
suggests reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. French researchers have found that knitting, gardening, working crossword puzzles, and traveling all help to reduce the incidence of dementia and keep your mental acuity as sharp as your needles.
    What all of this means is that though knitting is certainly no magic bullet for wellness in the aging brain and there’s no substitute for exercise and an all-around healthy lifestyle, it’s definitely beneficial and can increase your odds of keeping the brain healthy — and that means that though non-knitters may laugh at us for our silly hobby, we may very well be laughing last … and longest.
    5 ways
TO GAIN HEALTH BENEFITS
FROM KNITTING

    1 Knitting has been shown to help form new pathways and connections in the brain and it may help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia as you age.
    2 Assuming you’ve rather got the hang of it, knitting can lower blood pressure and promote relaxation. (Every knitter knows that obviously, not all projects go down that way.)
    3 Knitting results in tangible progress. All those who do it see the immediate effect of their actions and can experience measurable success, some degree of