I started working on a number of knitting projects in the last few weeks and realized that, while I tend to knit for fun, it’s also a worthwhile prepping skill. I originally tried knitting in high school, but never quite got the hang of it. Periodically I would try again, but it wasn’t until a few years after college that I really got it, to the point where I could follow a pattern without someone nearby to assist. I’m pretty sure my first (and second and third) project was a scarf. Not a bad item in a disaster, it’s amazing what a difference keeping your neck warm can make!

My knitting tends to go in phases as I usually knit during my commute and it just isn’t comfortable to have a knitting project on my lap in the warmth of the summer. So, around October I start to think about knitting again. I find my unfinished projects, sitting since spring, look through my bag of yarn and get started again. This leads to many more unfinished or abandoned projects than completed items. For example, my most recently completed project is a baby blanket. The child the blanket was originally intended for is now three years old; I will need to find it a new home. Over the years I have attempted many projects and managed to complete a number of them. Some of my successful items include: hats, Christmas stockings, drawstring bags, more scarves, stuffed hippos (possibly my favorite project as I created the pattern myself) and fingerless gloves.

In some ways knitting is a great prepper skill and in others it’s probably not as useful. I would still be dependent on yarn as we don’t currently, nor are likely to, have a natural supply via an alpaca or sheep (not to mention the sheering, carding and spinning involved). I could, with a supply of yarn, probably create a blanket, at least one sock (since I’ve done Christmas stockings just never two matching socks), and I likely could manage a sweater. It is also requires no electricity, keeps fingers and mind occupied, which is useful when the power is out. As a (wife of a) prepper I should work on more useful projects, but at this point it is just nice to know that while most of my knitting is for fun/gifts these days, if necessary I could provide warmth and comfort for family and friends, even if they didn’t fit quite right.