Finding joy in knitting: One stitch at a time

An inspiring story of Savita Khanna (Khyaal Community Member)

“My name is Savita Khanna, and I am 91 years old. I was born in Multan, which was part of Balochistan, and at the age of 12, I migrated with my family to India in 1946. My father worked in the food industry, and my mother was a teacher. After settling in India, I completed my intermediate education and pursued a course in Montessori training. This led me to a teaching position at a school in Delhi, where I worked for 38 years and retired in 1992.

In Balochistan, the climate was cold so my mother was always knitting sweaters and warm clothes for the family. I learned knitting from her at a young age. From mastering single and double stitches to creating intricate patterns, my hobby gradually blossomed into a lifelong passion. Even though I was busy managing family responsibilities and my teaching career, I always found some time for knitting during the day. I knitted in my spare time, but sometimes I got so engrossed in it that I would forget to cook dinner! This did cause some inconvenience to the family. After retiring, I could fully immerse myself in it, and knitting became an integral part of my daily routine.

Knitting became my world. I could even miss attending a wedding if it meant I could stay home and knit. Over the years, I have created a variety of items, including scarves with pockets, caps designed with space for a ponytail, blouses, and unique scarves. My speciality, though, has always been knitting sweaters and boots for newborn children. I especially enjoy adding animal designs to these pieces like the colorful kitten I once knitted on my daughter’s sweater. Crochet toys are another love of mine. I have made airplanes, dolls, cars, balls, and animals that my children adored.
I always enjoyed experimenting with new designs from books and often created exact replicas just by looking at a picture. Occasionally, I come up with my own unique patterns. I have a particular fondness for pastel shades and warm colours of wool. I recall a heartwarming incident when I visited my son in Abu Dhabi. I befriended a waiter who had not seen his son in years. After he pointed out a child playing nearby, I knitted a sweater and booties based on his description. When the waiter took them home, they fit perfectly!

Knitting has always been my way of sharing love. Whenever I hear that someone in my circle is expecting a child, I immediately start knitting something special for the baby. The thought of a newborn wearing something I created fills my heart with joy. It feels like gifting a piece of myself, something to be cherished. Over the years, the children of all the staff members, from teachers to peons at the school where I worked, have worn sweaters I knitted. I made at least 50 to 60 pieces every winter for around 72 years now. Knitting has become an inseparable part of who I am, you will never find me idle, I am always creating something.

My brothers, who settled abroad, often sent me yarn and books on knitting, and I would purchase different kinds of wool whenever I travelled. To this day, I still use all those books. Over time, my knitting speed has increased significantly. I can now knit a full-length scarf in just one day. One of my fondest memories is when my sister was in labor, and while I was waiting in the hospital, I knitted a sweater and booties for the newborn in just three hours! Those were the very first clothes the baby wore, and my sister still treasures them.

I remember a time when my granddaughter was in a Zara store wearing a scarf I had knitted, a special one with pockets. The store offered to buy the scarf for Rs.5000 and even wanted to place an order for 10 more. My granddaughter politely declined because she knew I never knit for profit. I was offered bulk orders many times, but I always refused. I knit purely for the joy of it, not for business. I don't have many hobbies, but I enjoy playing Tambola on Khyaal. It is a great platform for connecting with other seniors, and I love interacting with their community team. I also took part in the Khyaal Talent Showcase, where I got to show my knitting skills.

The only time I ever stopped knitting was when my husband fell seriously ill in the last three years of his life. He asked me to set aside my knitting and spend all my time with him, which I did. After his passing, knitting became my solace, helping me bear the weight of my grief. It is more than just a hobby for me. It is an expression of my emotions. I knit when I am happy, I knit when I am sad or angry, it is my refuge, my source of comfort in life. I learned patience and perseverance through knitting
With age, I have been facing certain health issues but that does not come in between my passion for knitting. Although I am unable to sit for long hours at a stretch, I do it as much as possible. I continue to knit daily, one stitch at a time.

One advice I would like to give my fellow seniors is that you don’t need grand things in life to be happy. Joy can be found in the simplest of activities, and sometimes, that is enough to bring true contentment.” - Savita Khanna (Khyaal Community Member)