The Wanaka-based owner of knitting and yarn store The Woven has been on a mission to encourage knitting during the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions period. 

Michelle Stewart has made patterns and resources from her online store free, hoping people with time to spare at the moment would give knitting a go - and it has been a runaway success. 

“I've wanted to be available for help, and I've been on a mission to get the patterns, video tutorials and knit kits online,” Michelle said. “Helping people stay home, stay creatively active and find some calm was my main focus.”

Starting with a simple knitting project is the perfect way to begin or return to the craft, Michelle said.

“I believe that knitting is a wonderful thing to help people on so many levels, but to connect with a new generation needs the right spark of inspiration and it needs accessibility.”

On top of parenting and running a household, there have been some workdays as long as 12 or 14 hours during lockdown, Michelle said, but it has all been worth it. The uptake during alert level four was “rather overwhelming,” she said.

“I've loved being able to focus on the core values of my business and really reconnect with my purpose.”

Whose open for Takeaway/Delivery? See the list.

Knitting has been a lifelong love for Michelle, who learnt from her Nana when she was about eight years old. 

“Knitting for me has always been many things. It is soothing, it is creative, it is tactile, it is productive, relaxing, a way to express love... but given one word to describe it, I would say it gives me calm.”

Keen to give knitting a go? 

“My number one tip is to embrace the beauty of handmade; let go of perfection - it's not going to be perfect but it is going to have character. All those mistakes and wobbles, they are your personal flair.”

Learn more at The Woven, here.

PHOTO: Supplied