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If you think knitting is the preserve of dear old Granny think again.....it's much more than just a lumpy Christmas sweater, it really can be a power for good (and occasionally bad) and here's why.

Image and text by Joanne Watson, producer of .

1. Stitch and Bitch or Knit and Natter – At a social gathering what better way to have a good chat, wind down after a busy day and be productive at the same time? It started with more sinister motives, if you were an American fighting the British in the War of Independence it was a way to spread plans for insurrection whilst appearing to be engaged in an innocent pastime. No wonder knitting patterns were banned from being sent abroad during WW2 in case they were coded messages. And come to think of it what about the devious ‘tricotuse,’ Madame Defarge at the Guillotine and Miss Marple and her people watching? There's even a modern detective writer who bases her stories around knitting subjects.
2. As a calming influence - Olympic Gold medallist Lizzie Yarnold relied on her knitting whilst waiting in the village to compete in the 2014 Olympics in the Skeleton Bob. She could concentrate on the stitches and take her mind off the dangers of hurtling herself down an 80 mph run head first on a tea tray. She wasn’t alone in loving knitting, the Finns were caught on camera knitting at the top of the ski slope!
3. Maths - Basic knitting involves counting, including multiplication, division and subtraction. Learning how to measure, and work out designs and patterns adds to children’s skill level. It improves their motor coordination, dexterity and reading and brings tangible rewards. It's also been discovered to improve behaviour and social interaction, and of course it's a clever way of disguising the subject for those less inclined to pay attention through traditional teaching methods.
4. Rehabilitation - One unusual development saw Brazilian prisoners able to earn remission on their sentence by knitting for a fashion designer who couldn’t find enough workers by normal means. More surprisingly it was the men, some imprisoned for violent crimes, who took up the challenge. For every three days they knitted, they got a day off their sentence and some even took up the craft on their release as a legitimate way to earn a living.
5. Philanthropy - Run out of family and friends to knit for? Some items are much in demand in hospitals: tiny clothes for premature babies, artificial breasts to help mothers learn how to breast feed and Chemo caps for those suffering hair loss through treatment. Alternatively you can raise money by events such as sponsored knits, much more relaxing than those fun runs. But hold on a minute, why not combine the two? One male athlete holds the record for knitting a 12ft scarf whilst running a marathon! How does he carry all those balls of wool whilst running 26 miles and not get tripped up by his creation?
6. Welfare - Clothes of all sorts are much in demand during war and conflict. In WW2 one American slogan was “Pearl harbour, Purl Harder.” Such slogans were designed to provide clothing for troops, a tradition that is still ongoing worldwide.
7. Creative - What better way to express yourself? Knitting is now fashionable, but if you're not the next Stella McCartney or Vivienne Westwood why not try more familiar items such as a jar of Marmite or your favourite footballer? One enterprising knitter created her own Olympic Games to celebrate London 2012 and a WI group managed an entire village which was sent to an African orphanage. If that's not your passion you could always follow in the footsteps of a Finnish musician who composed an orchestral piece based on a knitting pattern.
8. Protest - Have you got the hump about something? How about a spot of “Guerilla Knitting” or “Yarn bombing?” From the slightly peeved who have chosen to decorate a lamp-post or statue, to those with a fierce political point of view who express their point of view by covering a tank or knitting protest slogans into their jumpers.
9. Health and Therapy - A rhythmic knitter resembles a metronome, the constant beat is said to regulate the heartbeat to beneficial effect and as you keep those needles ticking over you allow the joints and fingers to stay supple. And of course the more complex the pattern the more the little grey cells are kept on functioning at full power. In the 19th century it was even prescribed a cure for hysteria!
10. And finally...as a love token! - Valentine's Day is approaching and you still have time to get going on a present for your loved one, be it human or even canine. It is the ultimate personal gift! So find those the needles, buy some wool, and off you go. If you've forgotten or never knew how, then the internet is full of video tutorials and social media groups to inspire and teach.