Knit and Crochet Your Way to a Stress-Free Day

Everyone experiences stressful moments sometimes, but many people do not understand how important it is to have ways to find relief when feeling tense.  Stress is the body’s response to something that interferes with its equilibrium. It is good to experience stress when faced with situations where it is necessary to quickly react, but when stress does not go away, it can affect our health. For me, being creative is an ideal way to get rid of stress and make beautiful things at the same time.

If I feel stressed, I love to pick up my yarn, grab a hook or needles, and start to knit or crochet. When I spend time turning fibers into a new fashion or home décor item, I am able to calm my mind if it starts to race. I can slow down my thoughts and become more mindful so I can live in the current moment.  The act of creating stitches is repetitive and meditative. Making the back and forth patterns puts me in a Zen-like zone, and I am able to relax.

Knitting and crocheting are perfect activities to wind down after a long day at work. If I am restless before bedtime, playing with my fibers helps me to easily fall asleep. One reason for this is repeating the same movements over and over can increase serotonin levels, which helps to improve mood. I knit and crochet in different ways depending on the type of stress I am experiencing.  If I need to quickly unwind and relax, I like to start stitching without following any instructions. I just let the stitches flow.  If I am having lots of wandering thoughts, I choose a project that has instructions that require me to concentrate.  This forces me to focus and there is no room in my mind for anything else.  I usually keep 2 to 3 projects going at the same time, and I choose the one to work depending on how I am feeling.

Kathryn Vercillo is a writer, blogger and crochet artist. She describes in her book Crochet Saved My Life how she used crochet to improve her life after battling depression for fifteen years. After hearing from others who experienced health improvements from crocheting, Vercillo decided to expand her book to include their stories about how they were able to heal from circumstances such as anxiety, PTSD and even schizophrenic hallucinations.  The restorative power of practicing fiber arts has helped many people to recover and cope with things that affect their lives.

I recommend fiber crafts such as knitting and crochet for anyone who would like an activity that is a healthy distraction from life’s demands. Being creative is also a way to practice generosity. I love making gifts to help others celebrate special occasions or cope with grief. Not only does this help me to look beyond my concerns, it also enables me to express my gratitude to those who are special to me. When I look at what I create, I feel proud and my confidence is lifted.

If you have never tried fiber arts before, it is easy to get started. You can search online for free videos and tutorials that will teach you the basics and help you progress into learning more advanced techniques. YouTube is a great place to start, and there are also many bloggers who provide step-by-step instructions for new knitters and crocheters.

If you prefer to have someone personally teach you how to knit or crochet, you can register for a class. Your local fabric or craft store probably offers classes for all levels.  If you don’t see a class schedule, just ask. You can also find a local yarn store and check out the classes.

A meet up group is great for people who like to learn in a casual environment with others who enjoy fiber arts. Check the local events calendars and your library to find a fiber arts group.  Ravelry is the number one online community for knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and other fiber artists. It is free to join, and there are groups for just about every interest out there. So if you are a Christian woman who loves to dance and wants to connect with crocheters who love the same things, there is probably already a group of like-minded individuals on Ravelry.

We all experience stress at some point. Conditions such as physical and mental health, work or finances can prevent us from relaxing. If you are dealing with stress and have not found a way to get relief, consider giving knitting, crochet or another fiber technique a try.  Fiber arts will help you to reduce stress, and you can also make beautiful handcrafted pieces for yourself and others.

Rhonda Davis

Rhonda Davis

Rhonda Davis aka TurquoizBlue is a digital media designer and an award-winning fiber artist whose work has appeared in several books and publications.She creates marketing and branding solutions for creatives.TurquoizBlue also currently serves on the Board of the Southeast Fiber Artist Alliance, an organization that promotes fiber arts through education, events and exhibitions.To learn more about TurquoizBlue and see some of her work, visit www.TurquoizBlue.com.
Rhonda Davis

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