
The role of knitting and crochet has changed a lot over the centuries, going from necessity to established art form and addictive hobby (ask anyone who crafts, they all stay up past bedtime to do “one more row”). More recently, the idea that knitting, crochet, and other handicrafts that involve repetitive movement of the hands can promote healthy mental well-being is becoming more than just a theory. Studies are starting to show a legitimate connection between crafting and mental health. So, if you ever need a reason to pick up your needles or hook, read on to find out what crafting can do for you.

Many people who learn to knit or crochet find it’s a hobby that draws them in and to various degrees takes over their lives. It’s fun, it’s relaxing and it’s creatively stimulating in a way that can transform your lifestyle. There is much to be said for learning a new skill, dedicating time and effort to perfecting it and having something to show for it at the end. Craft is the perfect hobby for this. With each finished project comes the next one, and the satisfaction you get from completing something can improve your mental well-being. Studies have shown it can boost confidence and allow your brain to enter an active meditative state when the same hand actions are repeated over and over.
When you pick up the skill and can go through the motions stitch by stitch, you can do some of your most creative and productive thinking. It’s easy to see why amigurumi has become so popular in recent years; smaller projects that look great when they’re finished will you give the satisfaction boost of having completed something more often. The combination of feeling good about yourself and the relaxation that comes with crafting makes learning to knit or crochet a great accompaniment to working towards good mental health.

So, craft skills can make you feel good during a project and when it’s finished. But what about before? Another aspect of how craft projects can promote mental well-being is that the knowledge and planning that goes into choosing your next project is also a very satisfying process. Project preparation builds anticipation, motivates you to work hard so you can see the end result, and requires you to use the knowledge you’ve picked up along your crafting journey. It can be challenging choosing the right yarn, pattern and equipment to fulfil your creative desires. All the steps you must take to cast on your first stitch are linked to making you feel good about yourself, which makes it understandable that many crafters get addicted to making things! Creating something challenging by your own hands rewards you with stimulating planning, a meditative process and satisfying final product, and the science behind crafting to improve well-being is starting to show that this can increase quality of life and mental health. Crafting might even help you live longer.
Some parts of the world are beginning to use knitting as a type of therapy, with Learn to Knit courses starting to appear in children’s hospitals and doctors prescribing knitting to help fight off the mental anguish of eating disorders. Being creative through the arts of knitting and crochet is a very immersive experience that can really engage the senses. Bright shades of yarn with interesting colour palettes, soft textures that you get to touch and work with, and new stitches for your hands to master that will all give you a different end result. Following a pattern, counting your stitches, and performing the movements are all intellectually stimulating challenges that help you maintain a positive outlook as you learn and master the skill.
Many people find that knitting or crocheting helps alleviate stress. It helps you get out of your head as you focus on the task at hand. Even the shape can help, whether going round in amigurumi circles or granny squares. The repetitive nature of these crafts makes you relax while still being engaged as you perform the action.

The benefits of crafting are becoming so apparent that some schools around the world have started teaching children to knit before they learn how to read and write. It’s believed that knitting and crochet can help a child’s cognitive development and set them up to be a better learner as they grow up, particularly in mathematics. Instead of learning to solve theoretical problems, they have a concrete project in their hands. And once they’ve mastered a skill they can move on to the next, feeling motivated and confident. As with knitters and crocheters of any age, the self confidence and sense of accomplishment you feel through crafting makes you feel good about yourself, which in turn will help you live a more happy and fulfilled life.
In today’s climate especially, everyone could use a happiness and confidence boost, whether it’s just a lockdown project or a full time hobby. Perhaps knitting and crochet are the new superfoods, self-care for your physical and mental well-being. There are so many benefits to learning a craft that it really is an investment in yourself; we’re all winners, and that’s a great feeling.

How does knitting or crochet have a positive impact on your life and well-being? Are the therapeutic benefits what drew you to it? Do you think we should teach children to knit before they learn to read? We’d love to know!
Article by Alex Waterson
Sources:
https://www.yarnmarketnews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/06/YMN-2014-MAY.pdf pages 52-55.
https://www.yarnmarketnews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/06/YMN-2015-SEP-OCT.pdf pages 36-39.