Knitting for Mental Health
Okay, hear me out. I know there is no real replacement for a great therapist (trust me, I have one that I love). But I can also tell you that before I made the leap into traditional therapy, knitting was there for me in ways that I can’t describe. I’ll attempt to below:
Knitting forces you to be introspective.
Whether you’re working on a complicated fair isle sweater or a very meditative piece that’s mostly one stitch (my bread and butter), you are truly forced to unplug and listen to your inner dialog. I frequently find myself losing my phone on purpose, in an attempt to completely disconnect from screens and focus solely on the tactile nature of knitting. Even as a professional creative, I find myself missing playing with good old art supplies instead of Photoshop. And this outlet has given me that tenfold. These are art supplies that you can cuddle with once you make a sweater, I mean wow.
Knitting unlocks your creativity.
Yes, I can confirm that there is a learning curve with knitting. I learned when I was 23, and at first I was quite frustrated with my wonky little stitches and holes in my work. That said, it was so so worth it to continue and then realize that I have complete creative agency with the pieces that I’m knitting. If I want to use double the size needles that the pattern asks for to create a mesh-like garment, I can. Changing the colors? Absolutely! This sense of freedom is often an anchor point for me when many other facets of my life seem out of my control (Type A hoes, where you at).
Knitting gives you a profound sense of accomplishment.
I was one of those girls that LOVED Little House on the Prairie growing up. And when I found knitting, I also found myself thinking “I could totally survive during that time period”. There is truly such a satisfying feeling when you complete a project, however small. Your sense of ownership in that piece is irrevocable. You touched every single stitch and, in turn, have created something that is truly one of a kind, every time. That feeling is irreplaceable.
Knitting saved me from depression.
I know that’s a lofty statement, but hear me out first. The year before I started knitting, I was in an extremely emotionally abusive relationship. Everything that I did was abhorrent to my significant other. My lipstick was too dark, my pants were too tight, my profanity was… profane. After finally distancing myself from this toxic person, I felt a bit lost. I was told how much I sucked so frequently that I truly began to believe it. I felt useless, and I felt so insecure about my appearance. After moving to NYC (no job, two suitcases, I’ll tell that one later), I started seeing all this gorgeous knitwear and I knew I had to give it a try. And what seemed like just picking up a new hobby was actually helping to rebuild my self esteem. My physical appearance was belittled on a daily basis, and now with the power of knitting I could say “You know what? Fuck your opinion, I’m not only going to wear a crop top but I’m going to wear a crop top THAT I MADE BY HAND, BIIIIIIIIITCH.” Yes, he was right about me being profane, but I love that about myself. And now, with the power of knitting, I can be more expressive than ever before.
Your reading this B.L.O.G. post is not an accident, my dear. I truly believe that EVERYONE can benefit from the power of knitting, in all the reasons above and many more. In the coming months, it’s my goal to convert you into a person that finds themselves reaching for a half-finished beanie rather than their Instagram feed. And when you do, please give me a ring. I’d love to hear about how knitting has benefitted your life.
