A craze is sweeping the nation and it’s doing so in a rather sedate and polite manner. Knitting has found a new legion of followers thanks to blogs and websites devoted to the activity.

Knitting shop Stitch, based in Beaumont in north Dublin, has developed a legion of followers through its website www.stitch.ie. The store doubles as a café, allowing customers to sit down, have a cup of tea, browse through Stitch’s products and do some relaxing knitting.

On top of informing customers about all of this, the shop’s website provides information on events run by Stitch, such as classes and knitting circles. The firm is also developing an online shop, which will allow users to buy products on the internet.

The social aspect of knitting has not been lost on other businesses. This is Knit regularly hosts “knit nights” on Thursdays at its Blackrock store in south Dublin. There are also knitting blogs, such as the Dublin Knit Collective, that aim to keep knitters informed of various events around the city.

For participants, knitting offers a relaxing way to wind down after a long day. “I just tend to knit when I’m sitting at home watching TV in the evening,” says Una Craddock, an avid knitter from Mount Merrion in Dublin.

Having learnt to knit as a child, Craddock picked up her needles again a couple of years ago. “I find it very relaxing while I’m sitting on the couch,” she says.

On top of proving relaxing, it’s turned out to be a productive hobby, with Craddock making hats and scarves for friends and relatives to stave off the winter chill.

Craddock and her cohorts are part of a global phenomenon. Stretching from Sydney to San Antonio, and likely crossing through Stradbally, World Wide Knit in Public Day will be celebrated on 13 June this year. The annual event began in 2005 and gives knitters a chance to meet up and celebrate this most relaxing activity. There have even been knitting Olympics and, last October, the Knitting and Stitching show took place in Dublin’s RDS.

For many knitters, however, it’s not about the celebration or being part of a collective throng looking to demonstrate their hobby to the world. “I just like being able to take it easy and knit a scarf or hat,” says Craddock. “It’s handy that I can actually make something in my spare time and it’s not too much hassle.”

Essentially, for knitters such as Craddock, knitting is a release from the stresses of the world. In a time when extreme sports such as rock climbing and other high-intensity activities are all the rage, knitting offers an alternative to that adrenaline rush. Rather than try to push yourself to the limit in your spare time, why not put the kettle on and take out some needles and wool.