The Secret to Knitting with More Joy (No Rules Required)

Have you ever felt frustrated because you couldn’t knit exactly the way a pattern or tutorial told you to? Maybe you’ve had to hold your yarn differently, adjust your tension, or swap out tools. If so, you’re not alone.

Society often tells us that adaptation is a sign of struggle. But at Adaptive Knitter, I challenge that narrative. Modifications aren’t burdens - they’re solutions. They make our craft work for us, not against us.

Many knitters experience internalized ableism when they feel ashamed for knitting differently - whether due to arthritis, neurodivergence, chronic pain, limb differences, or any other thing that makes them feel “other”. But knitting should be a joy, not a test of conformity. That’s the power of adaptation.

Practicing the Portuguese Purl stitch.

One moment that solidified this for me was when I met a woman at a knitting event who hadn’t picked up her needles in over 10 years after experiencing a stroke. She loved yarn but believed she would never knit again because her hands didn’t work the same way as they once had.  But with a few small modifications, like switching to a different needle style and adjusting her grip, she was able to knit comfortably again. Seeing the excitement in her eyes reminded me why I do this work - because everyone deserves to experience the magic of making.

If you've ever doubted yourself or felt like you had to “keep up” with traditional techniques, I invite you to rethink what knitting means to you. Your way is the right way.

Need help making knitting work for you? Let’s chat! Book a one-on-one session today.