The positive impact of Crochet on your mental health
It’s just after 7am and I am sitting at my kitchen table with a cup of tea. We have walked Connie and the sourdough I prepared yesterday is baking in the oven. My current crochet project (my holiday cardigan) is folded neatly on the table and I am looking forward to a quiet half an hour before I launch into the rest of my day. I feel content and calm and I know that this is an important part of my self care. I put my earphones in and press play on my audio book. I pick up the ball of yarn, squish it, hold it up to my nose and inhale - and relax aaaahhhh! I love the soft feel, the woolly smell and the criss cross lines of yarn making a pattern on the ball. I lay out my cardigan and look at the progress I made last night, checking the last few rows I did when I was tired. I’m happy with it and keen to start. I relax into the repetitive stitches, and drift into my own little world. I need this, I am not someone who relaxes easily, I overthink and worry a lot. There is a lot going on in my life (l know I’m not alone there), lots to be grateful for and some more challenging things. I am certain that having crochet in my life is hugely benefiting my mental health.
The positive impact of crochet and other creative pastimes seems obvious to me, but is so often overlooked. Anyone who picks up a hook and yarn, and gets lost for a hour or two can testify to the calm it brings. I know it works for me, but until recently didn’t know exactly why. I’ve been doing some reading and I thought I would share some of what I have found out. Firstly the sensory elements of crochet. The texture of the yarn and multitude of colours you work with are a feast for the senses. The tactile nature of the hook and yarn as you stitch and as I said before I love the smell of yarn, especially wool. It’s so earthy and comforting.
Yarn - Nord by Raincloud and Sage
Then there is there is the mental calmness. Occupying your mind with a positive action forces out negative thoughts that can easily creep in when you least expect them. Whilst making stitches, counting rows and reading a pattern there is less (or no) room for your worries and anxious thoughts. The familiarity of the motion your hands and fingers follow can be comforting when you are feeling unsure too. Crochet is good for keeping your brain healthy. When you learn to crochet, or begin a new project, you will feel completely absorbed. As well as preventing the negative thoughts, learning a new skill (which creates new neural pathways) is hugely beneficial to your brain health. When you master a skill and create wonderful woolly things there is also a fantastic sense of achievement which boosts your self esteem. And let’s not forget that while your hands are busy with crochet they aren’t returning to bad habits. It’s brilliant if you are trying to stop yourself nail-biting, smoking or comfort eating. Or in my case thumb sucking!
Don’t just take my word for it. There are many articles and books advocating the mental health benefits of Crochet (and other crafts). I have a lovely book called ‘Crochet Therapy’. The projects are in categories such as Energy, Calm and Find Joy and each pattern is accompanied by a ‘Feel-good tip’. I didn’t realise when I first got the book that the author, Betsan Corkhill, is a Well-being expert and founder of Stitchlinks www.stitchlinks.com - a support network for people who enjoy the therapeutic benefits of crafts, particularly knitting. She has also written a book called ‘Knit for Health and Wellness’ which I am currently reading and finding fascinating and life affirming. I can also recommend ‘Craftfulness’ by Rosemary Davidson and Arzu Hahsin. This is an inspirational and very readable book which highlights the benefits of having a creative outlet in your life and will appeal to both established crafters and those who are new to the idea. Lastly is Do/Make by James Otter. I challenge you to read this and not want to attend one of his courses and make your own surf board (I can’t surf by the way). It’s a little book which reminds us that we are all makers and that ‘nothing quite beats the feeling of having made something with our own hands’. Thank you to my lovely and very talented friend Claud (who I studied Art with years ago) for gifting me these books.
I love how a seemingly simple thing like crochet can be such a rich and deep subject. I think more people are coming to understand how crochet, knitting and crafting can play a big part in your life and how supportive it can be to your wellbeing, which is so positive. When I think back to my Grandma and Auntie Jo quietly sitting with their hooks and yarn I do wonder if they knew that secret back then, I think they did. I am so grateful that I am passing on the craft that they passed on to me and hopefully a little of the calming influence and joy that crochet can bring.
