Watching the Late Late Show while fumbling with knitting needles is not my idea of a great Friday night. Yet this is what I found myself doing this weekend.

It was when I searched YouTube for a tutorial on how to repair missed stitches (ripping them out is the only way to go) that I started to despair, as did my puzzled housemate.

My Fridays aren’t always like this, honest. I have agreed to challenge myself and make something that will be displayed at the Knitting and Stitching Show. By the end of this month, with help from my brilliant ICA mentor Margaret Clince, I should have one oddly-proportioned scarf to my name. There’s also a competitive element to the task - my creation will be judged against four other novices.

Craft is the new yoga and knitting is cool, or so I’ve heard. Apparently everyone’s doing it, from nans to Cara Delevingne and even Ryan (swoon) Gosling.

After a few days into the challenge, I can see why they like it. There’s something oddly therapeutic about stitching row after row and seeing the scarf take shape is quite gratifying. I have to admit, despite a few mishaps, I’m enjoying the challenge so far.

I’m not the only one to be soothed by knitting. Google ‘Knitting therapy’ – it’s actually a thing. According to a 2013 survey of 3,500 knitters published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 34% reported feeling happy and 23% being sad before knitting. Post-knitting, less than 1% remained blue.

Another fact: A person burns 55 calories by knitting for half an hour, while walking burns 60 to 70 calories.

Now I know a scarf isn’t the most ambitious of projects but at least it’s functional with the winter coming up. A handmade jumpers might be pushing my new skill a bit too far.

But I’m going to persevere. At least if I run into Ryan Gosling we’ll have something to chat about.

Updates about the knitting challenge will be posted Twitter using #KnitnStitch. Read more on the blog next week.

The Knitting and Stitching Show runs from Thursday 3 October to Sunday 2 November.