Knitting is a way of making fabric by looping yarn together using two long needles or a circular needle. Each loop connects to the next one, creating rows that build into sweaters, scarves, blankets, socks, and countless other items.

When someone knits, they hold one needle in each hand (or use a circular needle that connects at both ends) and use the needles to pull new loops through existing ones. The repeated motion creates a stretchy, flexible fabric that's different from woven cloth. You can knit with thick, chunky yarn to make a cozy winter hat quickly, or use thin yarn for delicate lace patterns that take weeks to complete.

People have been knitting for over a thousand years, and it remains popular today both as a practical skill and a relaxing hobby. Some people find the rhythmic, repetitive motions calming, almost like meditation. Others enjoy the creativity of choosing colors and patterns, or the satisfaction of making something useful with their own hands.

The word can also describe how bones heal: when a broken bone knits back together, the pieces gradually rejoin and become solid again. You might also say that a close group of friends is tightly knit or close-knit, meaning they stick together and support each other, like the interlocking loops in knitted fabric.