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Good morning everyone. So today we're going to look at an important creative activity and that's hand knitting.
大家早上好。今天我们要来了解一项重要的创意活动，那就是手工编织。
Ancient knitted garments have been found in many different countries, showing that knitting is a global activity with a long history.
许多国家都发现古代编织服装的存在，这表明编织是一项历史悠久的全球性活动。
When someone says the word 'knitting' we might well picture an elderly person - a grandmother perhaps - sitting by the fire knitting garments for themselves or other members of the family.
当有人说“编织”这个词时，我们很可能会想到一位老人，也许是祖母，坐在火炉旁为自己或其他家庭成员编织衣服的情景。
It's a homely image, but one that may lead you to feel that knitting is an activity of the past - and, indeed, during the previous decade, it was one of the skills that was predicted to vanish from everyday life.
这是一个简单日常的场景，但它可能会让你觉得编织是一种过时的活动。事实上，在过去的十年里，有人预测编织是将从日常生活中消失的技能之一。
For although humans have sewn and knitted their own clothing for a very long time, many of these craft-based skills went into decline when industrial machines took over - mainly because they were no longer passed down from one generation to another.
因为尽管人类在很长一段时间内缝制和编织自己的衣服，但当工业机器被广泛使用后，许多基于手工艺的技能开始衰落，这主要是因为它们不再代代相传。
However, that's all changing and interest in knitting classes in many countries is actually rising, as more and more people are seeking formal instruction in the skill.
然而，这一切都在改变，许多国家对编织课程的兴趣实际上在不断上升，越来越多的人在寻求正规的编织技能培训。
With that trend, we're also seeing an increase in the sales figures for knitting equipment.
在这一趋势下，编织设备的销售量也在增长。
So why do people want to be taught to knit at a time when a machine can readily do the job for them?
那么，在机器随时都可以为人们做这项工作的时候，为什么人们还想学习编织呢？
The answer is that knitting, as a handicraft, has numerous benefits for those doing it.
答案是，编织作为一种手工艺，为那些从事编织的人提供许多益处。
Let's consider what some of these might be.
让我们想想可能会有哪些好处。
While many people knitted garments in the past because they couldn't afford to buy clothes, it's still true today that knitting can be helpful if you're experiencing economic hardship.
虽然过去许多人都是因为买不起衣服才织衣服的，但今天仍然是这样，如果你正在经历经济困难，织衣服可以帮助你。
If you have several children who all need warm winter clothes, knitting may save you a lot of money.
如果你有几个孩子都需要保暖的冬衣，编织可能会为你节省一大笔钱。
And the results of knitting your own clothes can be very rewarding, even though the skills you need to get going are really quite basic and the financial outlay is minimal.
虽然编织所需的是十分基础的技能，成本也很低，但自己织衣服却让人很有成就感。
But the more significant benefits in today's world are to do with well-being.
但在当今世界，更显著的好处是与健康快乐有关。
In a world where it's estimated that we spend up to nine hours a day online, doing something with our hands that is craft-based makes us feel good.
据估计，现如今我们每天花9个小时上网，动手做一些手工艺活会让我们感觉很好。
It releases us from the stress of a technological, fast-paced life.
它让我们摆脱了来自科技和快节奏生活的压力。
