I used this knitting kit to get myself back into the hobby now that I have more time on my hands — it comes with everything a beginner needs to get started

• We Are Knitters sells hundreds of knitting kits, complete with wool, knitting needles, and instructions, starting at $36.
• Even though I know how to knit, I ordered a blanket kit ($98) to test out the quality of the materials and see whether or not creating professional-looking blankets was as easy as the company promised.
• After a bit of practice, I found knitting to be relaxing and fun, and I can't wait to order more wool in different colors to start a new blanket.
• Read more: How to knit: Everything beginner knitters need to get started

I've known how to knit since I was in my early teens, but it hasn't been a consistent hobby. I'll pick it up for a few months, then forget about it again for a year or so before picking it up again. I usually have to give myself a little refresher of the stitches before diving into easy projects like blankets or beanies.

We Are Knitters sells knitting supplies (like needles, wool, and yarn) as well as pre-made knitting kits that are rated from beginner to advanced. The kits start at $36 come with everything you need to get started, including materials, needles, instructions (called "patterns"), and even a small tag to sew onto the final product.

In an effort to get back into knitting now that I have more time on my hands, I ordered the Nick Blanket ($98), which was rated as easy. I loved knitting with the kit and enjoyed the experience overall.

Knitting has become more popular in recent years and can be a great way to relax

You can find plenty of online knitting happy hours, and you've undoubtedly seen young people knitting on their commutes. Now that people are finding themselves with extra time on their hands at home, it's not surprising that knitting has become even more popular.

We Are Knitters was founded in 2011 after founders Pepita Marin and Alberto Bravo visited NYC and noticed young people around the city knitting and that colorful yarns and fabrics were easily available. "Nothing like that was happening in Spain," Bravo tells Insider Reviews over email. "Quite the opposite, to be honest. We thought that if it was a trend in the US, it would become popular in Europe in about two to three years." Marin and Bravo thought it looked like a fun hobby and started the company after teaching themselves to knit from YouTube videos.

They now have headquarters around the world and sell internationally; Bravo estimates they sold around 100,000 knitting kits last year, with blankets and snoods (also known as infinity scarves) being the most popular. He attributes this to the peacefulness that comes from making something with one's hands. "To see that you are able to create a scarf with your hands, wear it, or even gift it to someone is very satisfying," he says. "A lot of people knit not because they need a new sweater or a beanie, but because they find it relaxing and it helps them destress. Some even call it the '21st-century yoga.'"

I made a blanket with a We Are Knitters kit, and even though I know how to knit, I used the kit's instructions to familiarize myself with certain stitches

First things first: you need to know how to knit before you can start click-clackin' your needles. Fortunately, it's pretty easy. I wrote a tutorial here and We Are Knitters has dozens of online videos that break down how to make each stitch step by step. If those aren't working, there are thousands of knitting tutorials on YouTube that might better suit your learning needs.

Each kit comes with instructions (called "patterns") that explain which stitches you'll need, what stitches to knit on each row of your project, and what the measurements of the final product should be.

My kit came with a one-page pattern. There were a few errant commas and strange descriptions of stitches on the instructions (probably just due to translation issues), but they didn't get in the way of understanding the process at all.

Even though I knew how to knit, I still had to read the pattern a few times to understand exactly where to start. There's no start here-type of text on the pattern, so it was a little hard to know where to start. Should I practice stitches first? Watch videos first? Dive right in?

However, after reading it a few times, I came up with a plan. I'd first review the stitches the kit told me I'd need to make, then practice making a few rows of each to get used to the wool and needles. Once I'd feel comfortable, I'd start following the pattern.

Expert knitters will have no problem with diving right into their project, but if you're a beginner, I recommend reading the pattern sheet and practice a bit before starting the actual project. The Nick blanket kit came with thick, high-quality Peruvian wool yarn, so it was easy to make a few rows of practice stitches before pulling the knitting needle out of the loop, re-wrapping the yarn, and starting over.

Each kit also comes with high-quality materials like wooden knitting needles, yarn, and a tag for the finished product

All We Are Knitters kits come with handmade beechwood knitting needles and yarn you'll need for the project in a large recyclable paper bag that doubles as a storage container for your yarn while you work on your project.

My Nick Blanket kit had four balls of thick, natural wool. I chose an off white color to match my decor, but there are 39 colors available, including some multi-color threads (which are likely what I'll try next.)

Nearly all yarns come from Peru and from factories the founders have personally visited to ensure that animals are treated humanely and that practices are environmentally friendly. Most blanket kits come with wool yarn, but We Are Knitters sells bamboo yarn, cotton, recycled fibers, and other materials in case wool isn't your thing. The needles are made from wood from sustainably-certified forests.

The kits will be more expensive than if you'd bought the materials on your own, but I found the materials to be high-quality and the patterns easy to follow

I didn't find any major cons that would turn me off from buying another kit, but there are things worth considering — like the type of yarn you like to use and the price of the kits.

"The Wool" is We Are Knitters' most popular fiber. It's quite chunky and easy to work with, but it's not as durable as a synthetic fiber. The yarn will rip if pulled too hard and one time, I accidentally separated the fibers of the wool with my knitting needle, though it didn't damage it at all. I have a dog who sits with us on the couch at night, so I'll be sure to use this blanket in our guest room, where his nails can't pull or snag the blanket.

Yarn from We Are Knitters is generally a bit more expensive than synthetic options from craft stores; a skein (roll) of "The Wool" yarn starts at $24 (or closer to $20, if bought in a bundle). However, other fibers from We Are Knitters are less expensive, like a cotton blend at $12 a skein. I find that the wool looks more luxurious and inviting when compared to the budget synthetic fibers I'd normally buy at a general craft store like Michael's.

If you're not ready to commit to knitting an entire blanket but think you may want to give knitting a try, consider buying a smaller kit that takes less time and costs less as well, like the Downtown Snood ($40) or the Dragonfly Baby Blanket ($54).

Alternatively, if you're brand new, you may want to buy basic needles and a skein of yarn to practice with as you start learning the simplest stitches. We Are Knitters sells fun, shimmery wool called the "Bling Bling Yarn" that would make a fun scarf as well as recycled yarn made from used jeans.

The bottom line

Did I make mistakes in my blanket? Absolutely — some of my stitches are looser than others, so the rows aren't even, and I accidentally added and dropped stitches in some rows. The mistakes are hardly noticeable but, much more importantly, I really enjoyed my time spent working on the We Are Knitters kit.

I finished it quicker than expected and I wish I had more of their wool to start a new project. In total, it took about eight hours to finish. I'll definitely buy more wool from We Are Knitters, and keep an eye on their website for events like knitting parties and discounts on some of their more unique wool blends.

All in all, the kits are reasonably priced, the materials are high-quality and sustainable, and knitting the blanket was tons of fun. I'd recommend a knitting kit to anyone who needs a way to relax at home in the evenings.