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A hip new pastime for this fast-paced world.
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NIMBLE FINGERS, NIMBLE MINDS
Knitting - the new yoga
Enthusiasts aged four to 92 gather to unwind the yarn at this fun and friendly Bangkok store
Published on March 13, 2008
There's a fairly new shop called Big Knit that's grabbed Granny's knitting needles away from her and is putting them in the deft hands of younger people - including guys. In the morning it's full of elderly women and Japanese housewives furiously purling away, but by the afternoon, students have crowded in and commandeered the yarn to make cute dolls. Then in the evening, it's the young professionals who get creative. "I think knitting's enjoying a comeback - it's a hip hobby," says shop owner Nice Tansrisakul, 24. "Just before Valentine's Day we had several men learning to make dolls for their loved ones. It's very special creating something with your own hands. Our oldest customer is 92 - but our youngest is four!" Big Knit is a friendly and homey place, with room for about 100 knitters to perch inside and out. The yarn imported from Europe is amazing for its different textures and shades. Many a Spanish ewe would be impressed to see where its wool has ended up. Three instructors show beginners how to whip up a pom-pom and a scarf in just a few minutes, and the shop has hundreds of craft books in English, Japanese and Thai. There's also a small cafe with homemade ice cream, baked goods and other snacks, and soon to open: a spa! Knitting is also enjoying a revival in Europe, where it's been touted as "the new yoga". Buzzed out in the digital age? Slow down with some old-fashioned analogue meditation. "I'm sort of hyperactive, and knitting gives me balance," says customer Karansri Pramoj Na Ayudhya, who's studying textile design. "Things you make yourself are always completely unique - you won't find anything else like them in the stores."
By Khetsirin Pholdhampalit Daily Xpress
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