Last update: 24 March, 2022
Knitting or wool therapy: This activity has been found to bring a number of important emotional benefits. If you want to sew, be it a sweater, a vest, a bib or whatever you can think of, in addition to getting a wonderful handmade garment, you will take care of your mind. Interesting, right?
American author Kathryn Vercillo, an expert in manual work, did research on the subject. The result of her work is the book Crochet Saved my Life (“Crochet saved my life”). She has also dedicated most of her career to demonstrating the benefits that come from the art of manual work.
Why does knitting have emotional benefits?
There are various therapies that involve the implementation of knitting as an exercise to improve the patient's health. Apparently, manual labor brings agility to the brain, as well as generating emotional stability. Let's see the details together.
Knitting reduces stress
Knitting is a perfect solution to reduce anxiety in cases of high stress and nervousness.
This is due to the large amount of concentration it requires: when we begin to focus on crochet hooks, little by little everything around us disappears, including problems, almost as if they were a vanishing background. This is a great way to clear your mind since it rarely involves negative emotions such as anger, sadness or resentment.
"There are a lot of people in this world who spend so much time checking their health that they don't have the time to enjoy it anymore."
-Josh Billings-
Improve brain agility
This aspect is easily explained. As is logical, crochet or other techniques for knitting they require good mental as well as motor focus. By activating the brain in this way, brain activity is "refined". As can be understood, the benefits are incredible in the case of elderly people, as the activation of basic psychological mechanisms, such as sustained attention, delays the effects of aging.
It also increases motor coordination, which improves coordination problems especially for children with motor activity disorders or people with arthritis or rheumatism.
Enhance social development
Will an activity that stimulates concentration ever have social benefits? Well yes, and probably many of you will have had the opportunity to see your grandmother years ago reunite with other friends to sew.
Although this aspect of socialization has been gradually lost for years, there are still many initiatives to recover it. Whether in the form of courses or therapies, knitting is back in fashion: it helps to exchange ideas and share them with other people.
Relieves Depression
Sewing is also good for those with depression. Carrying out this practice promotes the secretion of serotonin, our natural antidepressant. All of this is what was said in a study published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, where 81% of cases treated showed remarkable improvements after a knitting session.
Improve self-esteem
Another huge benefit of knitting is the growth of self-esteem. This is due to the achievement of new skills and the sense of productivity that is felt by carrying out this activity. What's more, it is considered a way of making yourself useful for others when sewing for friends and family.
Anyway, knitting is a real form of expression. A method to create something useful, beautiful and personal. All this can lead the person to feel proud of her work and, of course, of those who made it: herself.
"Doing what you like is freedom, loving what you do is happiness.".
-Frank Tyger-
Improve sleep quality
Another disorder that seems to be affecting an increasing portion of the world's population is insomnia. Our sleep has reached very poor quality levels due to the stress, anxiety and tension we are subjected to. However, Dr. Herbert Benson, professor of the Mind and Body Medical Institute, showed that 90% of his patients show improvement following therapies that include sewing.
It seems that focusing on a repetition-based activity relaxes and calms us. Obviously all this allows us to go to sleep free from tension and in a state suitable for rest.
As we have seen, knitting brings a number of rather irrefutable emotional benefits. This activity has a clear anti-stress effect that can make us feel better about ourselves and the world around us. So why not give it a try?
