Play It Again

It's time to get down to the knitty-gritty: Thanks to a whole new generation of enthusiasts, knitting is back with a vengeance. Whether they're busily crafting sweaters, scarves or Afghans, young working professionals seem to be--pun phobics, beware--positively in stitches.

"Knitting is an absolutely sensational thing to do," raves Carol Wigginton, founder of the 10,000-member-strong Knitting Guild of America. "It's a big-time stress reliever."

And stress relief, undoubtedly, is the hook for many young knitters. "It's extremely relaxing," echoes Mary Colucci of the Craft Yarn Council of America, pointing out that knitting is one hobby that's easily done virtually anywhere and in whatever time increments you choose. Reportedly, even young celebrities the likes of Julia Roberts wind down from work with a spool of yarn in hand.

Knot--er, not--that stress reduction is knitting's only appeal, of course. Knitting circles and even knitting Web sites are turning the popular art form into a popular social activity as well. And, needless to say, hand-knitted items make for prized gifts.

"At first, I thought I was just imagining [the increase in interest], but now it's become much more apparent," says Wigginton. "We're just seeing the tip of the iceberg."

This article was originally published in the February 1997 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Play It Again.