My mum’s Aunt Loulette was a knitter. Every fall she would knit herself a sweater in the latest fashion, and come springtime, she would unravel that sweater, wash the yarn and run it all around the house to dry. She’d pick it back up again the following fall and knit herself a sweater in the latest fashion. That was in 1952.

Now it’s 2003 and some major changes have taken place. Since most of our mothers had their hands full proving that they were more than just seamstresses and cooks, homemaking skills once passed down from mother to daughter have skipped over our entire generation. Kudos to them, but we can have it both ways; just ask high-power celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker, Debra Messing, or Julia Roberts, who find knitting to be one leisurely pursuit in their otherwise stressful professional lives. Even the teenage Olsen twins have taken a shining to this granny habit, because with Shabby Chic and Living Simply back in fashion, chunky cuts and ragged hems are the new Haute Couture.

The simplest garment to make is a scarf. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• Needles- A nice mid-sized pair.
• Yarn- You’ll want to start with something thick so that you can see the stitches.
• Scissors- Never pull at yarn; it will fray. Always use a pair of scissors.

Bright Ideas: Plain white yarn is the cheapest kind so load up on it and dye it yourself using food coloring or even Kool Aid.