Knitting Therapy – Why Knitting Is Good For You!

In this post, you will learn about knitting therapy – why knitting is good for you!

Knitting is one of the oldest crafts in the world and can be very therapeutic.

It has a rich history through the centuries and moved from a craft mainly for men to a source of income for many people, to a hobby for our grandmas to a hobby for all.

Furthermore, knitting has a lot of benefits not only in a materialistic way but in our physical and mental health our happiness, and social life.

Knitting Health Benefits 

There are many health benefits of knitting.

The repetitive motions of knitting not only exercise the arms but the whole brain too.

Keeping the brain sharp slows the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Also, knitting can improve our motor functions and lower blood pressure.

Patients with Parkison’s disease, for example, have shown significant improvements in their motor functions after starting to knit.

Knitting has also been known to be one way of combatting depression, the repetitive movements helping to settle the mind focussing on the pattern.

Does Knitting Help With Anxiety?

Knitting also can be a great way to improve our mental health.

It can also be a great stress reliever and ease anxiety.

Knitting up a project can help you in a moment of stress and anxiousness as it occupies your body and brain and relaxes you. 

Research has shown that there is a correlation between feelings of calm and happiness and knitting. 

*Just looking at yarn can increase your serotonin (and make you happy!)

Why does knitting help with anxiety?

There are many mental health benefits to picking up your needles.

Focussing your mind on something, where you have to concentrate can help to improve your sense of wellbeing.

Knitting can give you a great confidence boost, lessening your fears and helping you to have a feeling of calm.

Your mind can really get into a pattern and help to peak your interest in how something can be created through different stitch patterns, shaping, maths skills, and pattern instructions.

How is knitting therapeutic?

The repetitive and rhythmic movements of knitting can be likened to meditation, giving you a state of mindfulness.

Also if you have a lot of free time and want something therapeutic to do, knitting is a great way to fill that time.

During the recent stay-at-home period and isolation, we all experienced seeing many people learning how to knit, not only for a sense of calm and relaxation but to pass the time they had at home.

For some knitters, their projects got them through loneliness.

Many also reconnected with other knitting skills that they hadn’t used for over 20 years or so and discovered a newfound love for the craft.

Those suffering from burnout also look to craft activities.

Why Knitting Is Important To Us 

Knitting can bring a sense of accomplishment to our lives. 

In knitting, every time you finish up a project or learn a new technique or stitch you feel proud and happy.

This helps to increase your self-confidence and well-being. 

Giving back to the community

Moreover, it’s a great way to give back to the community. 

You can donate your knits to hospitals, animal shelters, and homeless shelters. 

Not only will you make someone extremely happy with the gift of a scarf, a hand-knit hat, or a blanket, but you’ll also feel a sense of happiness and pride that can only be achieved by making someone else happy.

Related Post: How To Knit A Hat For Complete Beginners (+ Video Tutorial).

Knitting can connect you to lots of like-minded people

Knitting can also be a way to create bonds.

So many more people are knitting every day and connecting over your favorite craft is a great way to meet new people socialize and make friends. 

Connecting with other people through a mutual interest can help you to improve your social skills.

Meeting up through Facebooks Groups, Zoom knitting group chats, or through reaching out to your favorite designers (cough*cough*).