“Knitting, he thought, was a comfort to the soul. It was regular. It was repetitious. And, in the end, it amounted to something.” – Jan Karon, ‘At Home In Mitford’.
Knitting or crocheting may now be considered as one of the rare hobbies for the winter wear market is now majorly dominated by machine/factory made woolen garments. Yet there are still a considerable amount of population that is still seeking the handmade knitwear for it has a whole different charm, comfort, and durability to it.
By and large, the act of knitting is associated with women and especially grandmothers for it is a time consuming and patient process done at ease. Still those who underestimate it to be easy, should once try it and only then they will realize the amount of attention it requires.
Breaking all such notions around the humble yet beautiful process, a man from Karnataka picked up knitting as a hobby. What started as a way to overcome anxiety and depression has now become his side business.
Named Sohail Nargund, the man from Hubli, Karnataka is an engineer by profession. The 28-year-old took up knitting last year to ease his mental health issues.
“I started knitting in April 2021 to heal my anxiety, and I had read somewhere that knitting helps you reduce anxiety. I engage in this hobby every day for at least three hours as it really helps me to stay calm. I knit in my free time, and work as a full-time engineer in Bangalore,” said Sohail to LBN.
Sohail had no real teacher. He learnt it all from YouTube tutorials and started enjoying the whole process. To his surprise, he actually found solace in needles and yarns.
“I wanted to learn a skill that will help me in my late 60s. I ordered a yarn and needles and had no idea how to do what to do. I started searching for YouTube videos and then started learning it from there,” the boy who knits shared.
Knitting as side hustle
He began by making sweater for his sister and the word spread among his friends as he posted them on social media. It is they who pushed him to sell what he knits.
“I started my insta page in September 2021 just to showcase what I loved to do. Then my friends started buying what I made though they were not knitted to perfection. They insisted me to sell them and this is how it started as a small business,” the engineer-turned-knitter told.
Through his Instagram handle which goes by the name ‘The Boy who knits with love’ or @the_rough_hand_knitter soon Sohail started taking more orders with his family helping him prepare ‘customized orders’ which grew in no time. Sohail’s father and sister help him in managing and delivering orders and the entire family supports him.
He only has one regret, that he didn’t learn knitting from his mother as he lost her some years back.
“I want to show that no hobby is gender-biased. People are. Knitting is not for only women. Men can take it up too. Good Things happen, and we have to continue what we are doing. I can conclude by saying, “the flower does not wait for the bees, the flower blooms, and the bees come,” Sohail concluded.
Also read: With Love From Granny: Starting Up At 75, This Duo Is Winning Hearts With Hand-Knitted Goods