I’m not the only knitter who wants to spread the joys of knitting to, well, everyone. I think almost everybody should knit, or know somebody who knits.

I also think it’s a shame that any knitter, anywhere, is afraid to tackle the kind of projects they dream of, simply because they think it’s too hard. They might dream of a fair isle sweater or a lace shawl for a wedding. Maybe it’s a cuddly blanket or a layette for a new baby. A cabled Aran sweater. Or something as simple as a hat to keep their kids warm in the snow.

There are plenty of sources out there for technique videos and how-to books.

But what these timid knitters really need is encouragement.

Which is why this is about Knitters Helping Knitters.

Every knitter has some experience to share. Even at the start, one knitter might lean over to show progress and give advice. And the experience only grows from there.

All knitters have some advice they can give, some tips they can share.

Encouragement.

In my years as a knitter, it’s never failed to impress me--how much knitters want to help each other. And if they’re further on the road to knitting expertise? All the better. Most knitters want to help, and the more they know, the more they want to share.

I firmly believe that almost every knitter can make just about anything they want.

With very few exceptions, I don’t think anything is ultimately too hard for just about anyone. There might be physical disabilities like poor eyesight or arthritis slowing things down. There could be fiber sensitivities preventing some from the wool sweater they long to make.

But, mostly? I think the only thing truly holding any of us back is lack of confidence.

I won’t discount serious time constraints, of course. And some people are better at learning new techniques, some are braver (if not reckless). Some people are born to be knitting whiz kids while others feel like they’re trudging through sludge ... but if they’re determined enough, they’ll get there in the end.

A little help never hurts, though.

Everybody can use a little encouragement from time to time. A friend to lend support, to give tips to help you on your way. Stories of mistakes they’ve made that worked out okay. How scared they were before they tried some complicated technique, before they realized it was actually easy--it only looked hard.

To start with, this is the number one thing you can do to help.

Tell me a story

Nothing is going to help an insecure knitter more than knowing that she is not alone. Other knitters have been in her shoes and pushed through it. That technique that looks challenging right now? It’s not that hard. We’ve all learned how to do ribbing, or to shape an armhole. Using more than one color. Twisting a cable. Sculpting a lace pattern. Sewing a zipper. Cutting a steek.

All of these things become easy once you’ve done them the first time.

But that first time? Well, some of them can seem a little intimidating (or, in the case of a steek, a lot intimidating).

This is why the very first thing I want to do here at It’s Only Yarn is help convince knitters--all of us--that there’s nothing they can’t do.

To do that, what I want are stories. Anecdotes I can collect into a book that will give help and support when the knitting doubts blow. Stories about how intimidating things seemed before trying them. Stories about failures that turned out to be great learning experience. Reasons why challenging yourself in your knitting is worthwhile.

Reasons that knitting is fun ... and that limiting yourself because you’re afraid to reach up to the next level is only hurting you.

There’s a reason the slogan for this site is “Don’t Be Afraid. It’s Only Yarn.”

We’re not talking brain surgery and rocket science, here. Just yarn. Soft, fuzzy, entirely non-frightening YARN.

The trick is to convince everyone else of that.