Knitting is not just for grandmas anymore—although its benefits may make you want to call your grandma and ask for that knitting needle and yarn.
I first learned to knit in my home economics class in middle school. Our school was sending knit hats made by the students to homeless people. Each winter, we would take out our knitting needles and colorful yarns and knit away.
At first, it was hard to create perfect patterns. Some looked crooked, sometimes it took forever to knit a single hat. However, once I got the hang of it, I managed to make some hats and little coasters in a short amount of time. I was amazed how one single yarn could be turned into various pieces and came to love knitting.
Ever since, I knit once in a while. What I noticed was how super calm and relaxed I became when knitting. The repeated hand movements of creating the patterns seems boring and simple, but it requires an immense amount of concentration. You need to settle down your feelings, quiet down and just focus on knitting. My emotions get calmed down and organized as well. Knitting seems like a pleasurable moment of silence in the busy, restless daily life.
Research has shown that in fact there are actual health benefits to knitting.
Betsan Corkhill, a UK physiotherapist, found out that knitting settles our minds and lets us gain more control over our thoughts. While knitting, your brain gets occupied by the continuous hand movements, leaving only little space to think about issues that may be harmful for your well-being. In addition, the textures carry large meaning as well. Touching something soft creates a calming response and feeling the soft yarn does just that, amplifying the relax benefits. Corkhill suggests to keep a working project nearby because “Knitting can provide immediate relief whether you’re traveling, sitting in a meeting, or trying to fall back asleep in the middle of the night.”
Knitting also seems to help manage anxiety. A 2009 University of British Columbia study had 38 women with eating disorders learn knitting. This resulted in a decrease of anxiety with 74% replying that knitting lessened their fears and thoughts, clearing the anxious preoccupations with eating disorders. The study also reported that knitting had a calming and therapeutic effect, helping to reduce intense emotions.
In addition, the satisfaction one can gain from finishing a craftwork is large too. You can visibly see your accomplishment after you finish, which may lead to higher self-esteem and confidence. You can also make something special for others and gift it to them. The satisfaction you would gain from here is large too.
Not just the satisfaction but knitting may be a good way to get technology out of your life as well. Being glued to computer screens all day and then turning to your phone is a large (or becoming the only) part of our daily lives. It’s never too late to start something new and do a bit of digital detox.
Instead of using YouTube and Netflix for study breaks, how about knitting once in a while?