Crochet as therapy is a recurring theme that’s already been explored quite a bit within the crochet community. It’s no secret that crafts are a place where a lot of us find a simple joy that gives us peace and that can connect us with our inner child. It’s definitely such a big reason why a lot of people from all walks of life love to crochet, including myself. Crafts can also put you in a state of mind that’s truly comforting.
Here are some of my thoughts.
As a new mom, I find myself reminiscing and reflecting a lot about my childhood. Doing arts and crafts were among my favorite things to do as a little kid: I remember playing with my knitting spool that my Oma got me; I would make long cords that I’d then turn into coasters for my mom’s tea kettle and pans. I also went through a phase where I wanted to be a fashion designer and would draw countless designs on my notebooks. I once sewed a bag out of old denim… As amateur and imperfect as it turned out, I’d still feel proud enough to actually wear it. When we're kids, play is a place of happiness and plain fun. But as we grow older, we lose than relationship with play and have to be intentional about getting it back.
When I started to crochet in 2017, I found myself going back to that place of play, of using my hands and having fun for the sake of it. It's definitely the main reason why I keep doing it to this day. Beyond the fun though, I’ve found that the motions in crochet help my mind get in a state of relaxation and creative thinking. Every time I crochet and the atmosphere is right (some ideas below) I experience what I think is the reason why so many of us love this craft: I feel more relaxed, I find purpose and comfort in my little project and, best of all, my brain gets in the zone and in creative thinking mode.
So why is that?
The mechanics of crochet is about repetitive motions. As you insert the hook to work your yarn, you slowly make progress, one stitch at a time, and build each row. Crochet has no shortcuts, and you have to continue working one single stitch at a time, until your work is done.
It turns out, the mind finds this repetition very soothing because it’s the opposite of having to be figuring out all sorts of stimuli that we navigate in our everyday lives. This repetition puts us in a state of relaxation, that in turn triggers a state of creative thinking.
This is to me the ultimate magic of crochet: As you surf this meditative state, you find yourself having new thoughts and ideas that otherwise wouldn't fire at you.
Crochet is also therapeutic in that it can boost your self esteem. Sure, making a scarf or a sweater may, in the grand scheme of things, not feel like much, but it is relevant, because you made it. You put the hours of work, and created something that didn’t exist before, something that just lived in your head. How powerful is that? Crochet can be a trial test to materialize bigger ideas in other areas of life.
Crochet has definitely helped me feel better in moments of sadness or anxiety. After a few years into this craft, these are my humble tips to make the most of “crochet as therapy”:
- Breathe. Make sure you take full inhales and exhales. The frustration of figuring out new stitches and techniques will mess your breathing, get you tense and anxious.
- Rest your arms. Crochet is taxing on your arms and wrists, rest them on pillows while you work and avoid a sore body.
- Take breaks. Crochet can get addictive and the “one more row syndrome” is real, stop every now and then.
- Crochet pairs well with audio, so next time you’re at it listen to your favorite music/podcast/audiobook. No I'm not good enough to watch Netflix while crocheting, but you are welcome to.
- Avoid spending too much time recording your work for social media. We're all guilty of this, but it totally ruins getting in the zone.
- Simply be kind to yourself and the progress you’ve made, be it big or small. Try to crochet for the sake of it, and with no high expectations. Mistakes will be made along the way, it's part of the learning process and it means you're getting closer to mastering the skill.
- Just keep crocheting! Don't abandon the craft, because it's your space to play.