I started learning to knit last fall and I have been really enjoying it.
If you're a software engineer, I think it scratches a lot of itches:
1. Knitting patterns are sort of like a tiny little programming language, with loops (as in iteration, not as in, uh, loops of yarn) and choice.
2. Knitting charts are a lot like pixel art.
3. There is a very fine-grained skill progression where you can ease your way in by starting with simple patterns that only use a few techniques. But there is always a next level of skill and challenge. The lore is incredibly deep and there is a ton to learn. You'll never run out of ways to improve your expertise. At the same time, even as a beginner, you can make objects that are useful and beautiful.
4. If you're tired of staring at a screen and crave something tactile, it is an excellent counter-point. It's extremely tactile, hands-on, and texture-oriented. It just feels good to knit or play with yarn and textiles. There are so many rich colors and color combinations at a level of vibrance that a screen never attains.
5. If you're mentally tired at the end of the day but still want to feel like you're making progress on something meaningful instead of just scrolling on your phone, you can always pick up a project and knit a few more rows without needing a lot of brainpower. At the same time, you can also choose projects with enough complexity that it doesn't feel totally mindless like a coloring book or something.
6. Unlike software where much of our output is intangible and meaningless to the world, everyone can see and appreciate knitted objects. The things you make are instantly beloved and appreciated.
7. If you are introverted and prone to anxiety, knitting is a very nice therepeutic escape.
Point 4 is what resonates with me, and first got me into knitting. So much of what I do is in front of a screen, and creating a real, physical object and having something to occupy my hands lets me step away from the computer and work relatively mindlessly.
If you're a software engineer, I think it scratches a lot of itches:
1. Knitting patterns are sort of like a tiny little programming language, with loops (as in iteration, not as in, uh, loops of yarn) and choice.
2. Knitting charts are a lot like pixel art.
3. There is a very fine-grained skill progression where you can ease your way in by starting with simple patterns that only use a few techniques. But there is always a next level of skill and challenge. The lore is incredibly deep and there is a ton to learn. You'll never run out of ways to improve your expertise. At the same time, even as a beginner, you can make objects that are useful and beautiful.
4. If you're tired of staring at a screen and crave something tactile, it is an excellent counter-point. It's extremely tactile, hands-on, and texture-oriented. It just feels good to knit or play with yarn and textiles. There are so many rich colors and color combinations at a level of vibrance that a screen never attains.
5. If you're mentally tired at the end of the day but still want to feel like you're making progress on something meaningful instead of just scrolling on your phone, you can always pick up a project and knit a few more rows without needing a lot of brainpower. At the same time, you can also choose projects with enough complexity that it doesn't feel totally mindless like a coloring book or something.
6. Unlike software where much of our output is intangible and meaningless to the world, everyone can see and appreciate knitted objects. The things you make are instantly beloved and appreciated.
7. If you are introverted and prone to anxiety, knitting is a very nice therepeutic escape.
I highly recommend it.