I like the idea of knitwear as soft armour, a layer of tough protection, but malleable, woolly and comforting. Rather than being a defensive shield to hide behind, it provides a galvanising boost of self-esteem, an inner glow, and an outer warmth. It’s the familiar embrace of an old friend that makes you feel secure, cheered, and equipped to take on the day. Confidence, much like creativity, is a muscle that needs to be stretched, worked, and honed. It’s not a case of you’ve either got it or you haven’t, but a daily practice that requires attention and effort. As you pull your sweater over your head and reach through the sleeves to find that feeling of shelter, you can literally dress up in confidence. And anyone who has dedicated the hours to stitch a garment by hand will know the unique sense of pride that comes with wearing your handiwork. It’s a good trick to have in your back pocket (or by your side in your knitting bag). Clothing can help you to stand a little taller, to stride into a room with purpose, and to present a superficial confidence that can’t help but animate an inner conviction too. I’m not talking about bright colours, shoulder pads or red lipstick, but whatever feels authentic to you. The collective noun for tailors is a ‘disguisery’, such is the power of cloth, not just to clothe, but to costume, to create an outward display that protects the self underneath and in doing so provides that reassurance which, with practice, becomes self-confidence.
© 2024 Erika Knight
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