Handcrafting + more handcrafting = relaxation

It’s clear that not everyone has discovered the fantastic benefits of handcrafting when you hear comments like “Knitting?! That’s something my grandmother used to do!” or “Why would you crochet a scarf yourself? Isn’t it easier to just buy one?”. It’s up to us crafters to prove the opposite for them and make it clear that handcrafting is an outlet for plenty of fun and a space where you can let your creativity run free.

Academics have cited handcrafting as a great way to hit the reset button. The rhythmic and repetitive actions involved in knitting, crocheting, needle punching, and macrame produce a sense of calm. Once you’ve got the hang of the technique and have a few projects under your belt, picking up your hook or needles can actually slow your heart rate down and lower your blood pressure. That’s because with experience and a firm grasp of the basic stitches, you stop having to concentrate so hard and the actions become more automatic. Cue relaxation!

In recent years, more and more young professionals have woken up to the finer qualities of handcrafting. Not only can a little yarn and a hook or needle allow them to empty their minds and escape their busy jobs for a while but handcrafting also caters to their taste for self-sufficiency. Young (and not so young!) people are increasingly turning their backs on mass production and instead welcome anything that is original and authentic with open arms. Crocheting or knitting a beautiful throw blanket or a lovely scarf in a colorway that is unique to you fits in seamlessly with this DIY movement.