The Therapeutic Benefits of Knitting

It all started when I caught a severe cold. It was the start of winter two years ago, Covid 19 had passed, or at least the lockdowns had ceased, I had not had the wretched virus, but the cold felt like I had eventually succumbed to it: I tested negative a million times over, and yet the cold left me bedridden for three weeks, I was incredibly bored with myself and needed to find a project that didn't require a hell of a lot of brain cells, meditative and productive.

My mother taught me the basics of knitting and crocheting when I was young, but I was far more interested in boys, pop stars and fashion. I remained grateful for being taught the essentials of handmade things. I searched online for blogs and YouTube videos on knitting patterns and techniques. Finding an array of tutorials, I dragged my frail mass to the nearest wool store, where I discovered that they were offering free raglan knit patterns with easy-to-follow instructions, perfect. I shopped for some lovely, soothing, coloured thick wool and headed home to bed.

Water colour sketch

I had been living independently for many years until the pandemic, when circumstances forced me into an alternative living style. Through the crazy months of lockdowns and the world standing still, I had moved into a shared home. It would be temporary, but how temporary was out of my control at the time. As we emerged from our caves, work had become scarce, if any at all, and people were slowly readjusting from being locked in with each other for long periods. What I didn't expect was the stress that followed. Without getting into the nitty-gritty of sharing a space with people with boundary issues, I was fortunate to find a craft that relaxed my nervous system while flexing my creative muscles. I began designing clothing that I was proud to wear. It felt like painting or drawing, except that it included measurements, math, and repetition, not my strong suit.

I was surprised that the art of knitting reflected life with all its nuances: it reminded me to be patient, focused, pay attention to details, and allow myself to make mistakes. I learnt that in knitting, as in life, there is no such thing as total failure because there is always a way to mend or start fresh. At first, my fingers became sore, I would massage and stretch them, and my shoulders ached, until I found the correct posture to avoid discomfort. I had a determination that was unworldly, wanting to see the final work, to wear it, and feel the cosy comfort of a garment I had made with my own two hands. And after each conquest, I would search for more ideas and patterns to try. I never made it difficult for myself. I kept within the realm of easy patterns so that I would not invite more stress into my life. Patterns have their own language of abbreviations and maths, which reads more like quantum physics. But I told myself that if others could learn this language, there's no reason I can't. It was through sheer willpower that I found a sense of purpose, control, and dignity.

Knitting took my mind off the issues in my life, calming my nerves and giving me something to look forward to each day. I was producing elegant clothing for myself and learning a new skill. Now that I'm more relaxed and living in my own home, I can knit for the pure creative pleasure of it. I'm not the only one who has discovered the bliss of yarn and weaving. Look at Tom Davey, a British Olympic diver, and actresses Meryl Streep and Kristen Stewart, and many more who have found the benefits of yarn knitting and crochet.

Instructional videos on YouTube will help along the way. As I became more confident, I created designs without a pattern. The beauty of it is that if you make a mistake, you can start over, unravel and begin again. I keep a notebook and pencil beside me in case I lose count of rows or increases and decreases while watching my favourite TV show or movie. Find your own way, invite peace and harmony into your life and start creating your own handmade clothing.