This project invites students to discover knitting and crocheting as effective methods for enhancing mental well-being and alleviating stress. Through engaging, hands- on workshops, we will cover the fundamentals of these crafts, including selecting the appropriate yarn and tools, as well as mastering essential stitches. To deepen our understanding of the materials we use, participants will have the opportunity to visit local experts at a textile mill and a fiber farm, where they can learn about the journey of yarn. These experiences will provide valuable insights into the craftsmanship involved in yarn production and the connection between our projects and the larger textile community. In addition to learning these skills, we will explore research that highlights the positive impact of crafting on mental health, such as its ability to reduce anxiety, elevate mood, and promote mindfulness. By the conclusion of the project, participants will not only have crafted their own unique pieces but will also gain insights into how these mindful practices can contribute to their overall mental wellness. In what ways can knitting and crocheting serve as therapeutic activities that promote mental well- being and stress relief, and what evidence supports these benefits?
Day 1
Sarah Nguyen "Crocheting and knitting makes me feel focused and takes my mind off of other worries. It helps me focusing without trying, the opposite from when I do my homework. It also helps me pay attention to details and I feel successful when i finish something".
Kaite Bird "In the moment, while I crochet I kind of dissociate and my fingers cramp a little but its nice to just like have my mind be so quiet. I’d say it’s pretty relaxing but knitting is not for me. It was making me frustrated and I was just not really as much into it. It’s also been a long day however so I’m not opposed to picking it up and trying again another day".
Camila Gil Salazar "It is the first day so I felt really frustrated, I used to know how to crochet but now I completely forgot and that stressed me out a lot. Knitting also made me feel frustrated because when I felt like I had it then I messed up and had to restart the whole thing".
Day 2
Starting the day with a little mindfulness and yoga goes a long way—especially when you're about to dive into a big final creative project!
Kaite Bird "My stress levels during crocheting sometimes are higher especially if I’m struggling in a specific area like those granny squares. But when it’s easy my stress levels are usually pretty tame like I’m not super stressed at all. It was kind of stressful picking out yarn though because I didn’t expect to have such a variety of choices."
Day 3
This morning, the Mindful Stitching Project had a blast experimenting with Kool-Aid to dye yarn in vibrant, fun colors! It was a colorful and creative way to bring some extra personality to our projects. But that’s not all! We were also lucky to have Mrs. Jones (Ellie’s mom) join us to teach the art of needle felting. Her guidance made it easy and fun to create beautiful felted designs, adding a new skill to our crafting toolkit. A wonderful, creative day full of color, fun, and learning—can’t wait for our next crafty adventure!
Credits:
Created with images by puhimec - "The macro concept of knitting wool and needles" • netrun78 - "Craft hobby background with yarn in natural colors. Recomforting, destressing hobby for cold fall and winter weather" • LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - "top view of blue wool yarn and knitting needles on white background" • oksix - "Close up of colorful yarn wool on shop" • Kwangmoozaa - "Red knitted wool texture background"