Crochet as therapy? Science says yes!
Crocheting may feel therapeutic, but is it actually helping you? Many of us have turned to some form of craft and felt like it had benefits in our lives. Personally, crochet helped me deal with grief, C-PTSD, anxiety and depression, but is there any scientific evidence that this is true? Studies and research say yes!
In an international study conducted online in 2020, respondents showed a significantly increased mood score after crocheting. They stated that crocheting made them feel calmer (89.5%), happier (82%), and more useful (74.7%). We can all attest to that! Analysis of the text answers of the respondents revealed 5 key themes, (1) health benefits, (2) process of crochet, (3) personal connection, (4) crochet as contribution and (5) online crochet communities. Let’s break them all down individually and see if we can find out why crochet is such a beneficial past time.
Health Benefits: These are probably the most widely reported category. Let’s explore this a bit further. Depression & anxiety- Crocheting and Knitting have both been linked to a decrease in depression. CNN reported that “in one study of more than 3,500 knitters, published in The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 81% of respondents with depression reported feeling happy after knitting. More than half reported feeling “very happy.” Repetitive motions have been shown to have a calming effect on the brain and the body, and can increase serotonin levels as well as relieve stress. Reducing stress has a significant positive effect on your health, since high stress levels have been linked to heart failure, migraines, fatigue, and memory loss. Keeping your hands and mind busy can also greatly reduce anxiety. The mindfulness and counting of fibrecrafts can occupy the mind enough to help reduce intrusive thoughts. It’s even been shown to help eating disorders. In a study, the Craft Yarn Council reported that nearly ¾ of women with anorexia found knitting to be calming and beneficial.
Insomnia- Anyone who has been up crocheting at 1 am can tell you that it’s also been reported to help with insomnia. In a study by professor Herbert Benson of the Mind/Body Medical Institute, 100% of insomnia patients reported improved sleep with 90% being able to eliminate medication in a program that included knitting. The act of crocheting (and knitting) is calming and soothing. When used as part of a pre-bedtime routine, it can help you to wind down and feel more tired.
The process of crochet: We’ve seen how crocheting can be beneficial to your overall health and mental health, but the process of crocheting itself has benefits. Engaging in a mentally stimulating activity, like fiber arts, is great for your brain and cognitive function. Researcher Yonas Geda, MD, a neuropsychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic, completed a study that showed knitting is neuroprotective and may reduce dementia by as much as 50%. Even if you are already in your 70s or 80s, you can still benefit from the act of crafting. It’s never too late!
Fiber arts, like crochet, improve hand eye coordination and fine motor skills. The act of carefully manipulating delicate yarn into a beautiful piece of fabric requires delicacy and dexterity. The more you perform these intricate stitches, the more skilled at it you become over time, eventually becoming able to make things that were beyond your wildest dreams as a beginner. Additionally, by counting stitches and remembering repeating stitch patterns, crochet can boost your working memory, as well as your ability to focus and concentrate.
Don’t forget the mindfulness aspect, either. By paying attention to the moment that you are in and your current stitches, you’re alleviating stress, improving your mental well-being and teaching yourself patience, all while having a fantastic finished piece to show for it. I personally believe crochet is a top tier fidget activity and is the best thing for keeping your hands busy. I’ve felt like it has helped my ADHD and improved my ability to concentrate, and this study backs that up! It showed that even after a single crochet session, people who crochet had better alertness and ability to shift their attention compared to those who didn't crochet. This was also reflected in the way different parts of the brain were connected to each other, which showed that information was exchanged faster after crochet. These findings suggest that crochet could be used in neurorehabilitation to help people with attention problems, possibly in combination with meditation.
Studies show that crochet can also be helpful for processing trauma and grief. It can be done in small increments over time, and the colors, textures and physical motion of crochet can soothe the mind, helping you make it through another day, stitch by stitch.
Personal connection: Fiber arts are ancient! Evidence of humans using textiles for warmth and comfort dates all the way back to prehistoric times, which anthropologists estimate is between 100,000 to 500,000 years. Knitting dates back to around the 5th century in Egypt and/or Syria, while crochet shows up as a modern art form in the 1800s in Europe. All of this is to say that no matter where you descend from on this planet, you have ties to fiber arts in your past. Crochet can help you feel a sense of connection to people in history that may otherwise be impossible. Many fiber artists learned their craft from an elder relative and are continuing a long family tradition of fiber arts. I like to think about how many of my relatives sat doing exactly what I am doing when I crochet. While our projects may look different, we are fundamentally the same. Most of my elder relatives died long before I was born, but by crocheting I feel like we are connected. In a world where everything is so fast; fast food, next day shipping, fast fashion, etc, it’s refreshing to step away and get in touch with a piece of history.
Crochet is also a fun way to express your creativity and your personal style. You can create things that only existed inside your head, or use it as a medium to give new life to an existing idea or character. Maybe you dream of wearing custom clothes but can’t find or afford what you want on the rack. Or perhaps you just enjoy making a crocheted version of your favorite things. Crochet is a unique way to find your voice, share your creative vision with the world and find others like you. Be like a fabulously colorful bird showing off its plumage to attract a mate! Seriously though, being your authentic self is a good way of connecting with people who share your beliefs and passions. You can even find local crochet groups to join and find other cool crocheters in your area.
Speaking of sharing your passion with others, crochet makes a great gift! Many of us experience deep joy in giving a thoughtful, handmade item to the people we love (except for those who have lost a significant other to the dreaded ‘sweater curse’ haha). The ability to custom make anything you can dream of for your loved ones is a very uplifting feeling and a way to create a lasting memory or family heirloom that can be treasured for years to come.
Crochet as contribution: As I just mentioned, giving to others can be rewarding and fulfilling in a way that nothing else can be, and that doesn’t stop with giving things to the people in your life. So many fiber artists use their crafting abilities as a way to contribute to others in their community. Whether it's through random acts of crochet kindness, giving warm items to those in need, donating creations to be auctioned off for charity, crafting Eco-friendly items with recycled materials, and so much more, fiber artists all over the world give back in so many ways, it is astounding. I’ll have to do a future post highlighting all the amazing charity work that fiber artists are out here doing so people can get involved, because it is truly awe inspiring!
Not only does crafting provide ways to give back to your community, it also contributes to you, too. Learning new things (like new crochet stitches and patterns) helps to build your confidence and self esteem. Spending time crocheting gives a sense of purpose and fulfillment, and makes you feel productive. It's hard to feel bad about yourself when you’ve just created a crochet masterpiece! And to twist a Mark Twain quote to suit my needs, “Time spent crocheting is never wasted.” Crochet can be financially empowering, too, by providing people with skills that can be used to earn money and start a business. Selling crocheted items can be a way to bring in some extra funds and can even turn into a career for some.
Online crochet community: Modern life is very isolating at times. While we may be surrounded with people, it isn't always easy to find people who share our own unique thoughts, feelings, interests, or priorities, leaving us all desperate for a deeper connection to others. Many don’t have access to in person groups and that is where the online fiber arts community comes in. Crocheters all over the world are meeting and building lasting friendships through social media that would never be possible without the internet. We can show off our makes, share tips and tricks, vent about our pet peeves, find help when we are struggling with a project, get inspiration for your next creation, and even make new friends!
In the deepest pit of my depression, one of the reasons I decided to crochet was so that I would have something to show for my time, and I gotta say; it was effective. I may have been depressed, but I’d made 4 little dinosaurs so I felt like my time wasn’t completely wasted. Slowly but surely, crocheting pulled me out of my deep depression pit and into a slightly less deep one. I’m convinced it’s the only thing stopping me from sliding back to where I was. Having something to look forward to, even if it is just making a little plushie, really made life seem a little more bearable. The sense of accomplishment I felt kept me creating, and sharing my makes online showed me just how many other people there were out there just like me, which has helped me feel less alone. I’ve built friendships with people I never would’ve met otherwise and I am so grateful for that.
Crochet has helped so many people in so many ways. I’ve seen countless stories on TikTok similar to my own and I thought it would be fun to dive into the subject a bit deeper. I was hoping to find that there was some scientific backing to what we have all experienced informally. Crocheting is an A+ skill and art form that will definitely make your life better (according to science!).I hope you enjoyed coming on this deep dive with me today 🙂
Did I miss anything? What are some of the ways that crochet has helped you in your life? Share it in the comments below; I’d love to hear! Until next week…Happy Hooking!
