Being a dedicated knitter in times of health and illness: An autoethnographic study

Background This article is based on the personal story of a dedicated knitter and the role knitting played in her experience of illness and convalescence.Purpose To explore the meaning of knitting as an everyday leisure occupation, including in times of crisis.Methodology Drawing on the first author’s autoethnographic narratives, two additional researchers collaborated with her in developing a phenomenologically oriented analysis involving the application of Husserl’s notion of the lifeworld and Svenaeus’ ‘homelike’ and ‘unhomelike’ ways of being in the world.Results Three core themes emerged: Knitting as a way of being in the world; Knitting as a mediating and coping occupation during illness; and Knitting as a resource during convalescence.Conclusion This paper sheds light on the complex ways in which an everyday occupation can inform everyday life and contribute to overcoming a major health crisis. In the case of dedicated knitters, knitting can constitute a key part of their identity and social world. The multiple meanings associated with this craft can also act as a source of strength and resilience in times of crisis.