My needles flash. The repetitive crisp click of metal on metal. I’m amazed at how fast I’m moving, but then my fingers stumble and I hitch my breath as a stitch teeters on the edge of being lost. I set my knitting down to check for damage, stretching my cramping hands.
I have always loved knitting. Watching something come together stitch by stitch. Traveling is always a good excuse to start a project, so I visited my local yarn store to gather inspiration. When I told the staff I was studying abroad in Edinburgh, needles went flying and the whole store chorused, “Just wait till you see their yarn!” At this, my “yarn-ticipation” became unbearable. I couldn’t wait to engage with the local, sustainable, and fashionable practices of Scottish clothing production, so I began exploring Scotland’s knitting traditions from the delicate technique of Shetland lace to the hypnotic geometry of Fair Isle motifs.
It would be memorable to return from my year abroad with handmade creations, but I want to apply that same principle of immersion over consumption to my broader time in the UK. I am committing myself to mending or making my own clothing where I can, as well as buying secondhand or from local artisans rather than participating in fast fashion. I am also going to explore places like Edinburgh Farmer’s Market at Castle Terrace in order to source food from local markets and producers to cut the emissions tied to imported goods, carrying reusable containers in order to minimize single-use waste.
Beyond enjoyment, Knitting has taught me patience and focus, and I want to carry those qualities into how I move through a new place. Slowness isn’t just aesthetic, but a genuine reduction in environmental impact. Edinburgh is consistently ranked among the most sustainable cities in the world, and I want to meet that reputation with my own habits rather than import the convenience-first patterns I’m used to in the U.S. I am going to rely on walking for transportation, as well as Edinburgh’s extensive public transit network, instead of short-haul flights or cars to explore the country, consciously choosing slower methods of travel in order to truly enjoy the journey.
Inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, prioritizing secondhand and regionally produced goods over fast fashion supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), while relying on public transit and slow travel over flights reduces my carbon footprint in line with SDG 13 (Climate Action). Engaging with Edinburgh’s local economy and infrastructure on its own terms, rather than as a transient consumer passing through, also supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Knitting only comes together when each stitch is placed with care, and I want my time abroad to leave Edinburgh’s cultural and environmental fabric intact and protected one deliberate choice at a time.
