Improve your grades!
Lower your stress level!
Make gifts for your friends!
Boost your self-esteem!
What do these things have in common? Crafting, specifically knitting and crochet. Scientists, educators, and therapists agree that occupying the hands occupies the mind, redirecting the synapses into constructive conduits. Additionally, making and gifting are proven boosters to self-esteem and interpersonal relationships.
A brief internet search bears this out. Perhaps you’ve seen #craftastherapy on Instagram. How about some of these books: Crochet Therapy: 20 Mindful Projects For Relaxation And Reflection, The Mindfulness In Knitting: Meditations On Craft And Calm, Knit Yourself Calm: A Creative Path To Managing Stress, Crochet To Calm: Stitch And De-Stress With 18 Simple Crochet Patterns (Craft To Calm).
Kathryn Vercillo’s groundbreaking book, Crochet Saved My Life, portrayed the stories of hundreds of crocheters. She followed it with Hook To Heal,
…a set of approximately 100 creativity exercises designed for people who crochet to use the craft to improve their lives in myriad ways. It covers a range of topics, including using crochet for mindfulness practice, improving relationships through crochet and honoring your inner artist with crafting.
Finally, at stitchlinks.com you will find a vast supply of stories and resources particularly for educators on the value of using knitting in the classroom. When students are allowed to knit or crochet during lecture, they are more focused and retain more information.
You don’t know how to knit or crochet? You can find instructors through your local yarn store, continuing education class, or at your big box craft store. Check the bulletin boards at your community center or library too. Most knitting and crochet guilds have lists of teachers that you can be referred to. Of course, if you are local, you can contact me using the contact menu option above.
Fruit of These Hands 