Is knitting while walking all that it’s hyped up to be? Spoiler alert…the answer is yes!
After seeing quite a few knitters on Instagram talk about knitting walks, I was intrigued, so I decided to give it a try. What better way to get some movement in while still being able to knit?!
We all know that walking is good for both your body and mind, so imagine how great it would be to add knitting to your walk. The wonderful thing is that it can be done both outside or inside on a treadmill or walking pad.
I started out walking around my home while knitting, just to get a feel for what it was like before going out into the wild. I had a simple shawl already on my needles, so I knitted on that while walking around. I was surprised at how easy it was, even though the weight of the growing shawl was tugging at my needles, making it a little finicky. But I was hooked and ready to take it outside.
So I went to Ravelry, chose a smaller project, and casted on in preparation for my first knitting walk outside…
For my first outside walk, I chose a flat paved path near my home. It was easier than I thought it would be. Of course, I wasn’t walking or knitting quickly, but I was able to walk at a steady slow pace, and my knitting went smoothly. After getting more accustomed to walking and knitting I decided to take my walks to the forest, my happy place.
Being on a dirt trail was a little different because the ground wasn’t as even as the paved paths had been, but it was still doable. I did have to focus a little more on the ground, which honestly wasn’t a big deal. Now, most of my walks happen in the forest and on dirt paths.
If you’d like to give knitting walks a try, here are a few tips:
Start out on a flat and even surface.
Bring along small and light projects, like hats, cowls, or socks.
Use a project bag that has a long strap that you can wear crossbody; that way, it won’t slide off your shoulder.
Practice makes perfect. It might feel awkward at first, but the more you knit and walk, the more natural it will feel.
I’m officially obsessed with knitting walks! Getting to spend time out in nature has always been something I’ve enjoyed, and now bringing my knitting along makes it even better. I’ve already finished several projects and love that I have an excuse to cast on all the hat projects I’ve been wanting to knit but never got around to.
Will you be giving knitting walks a try too?
