Knitting has been on the upswing during the last decade or so after quite a lull in the last couple of decades of the 20th century. The revival started when yarn makers brought out the fancy and fun fur yarns. They continue to produce new yarns that keep knitters intrigued.
There are, however, other reasons people of all ages knit: handmade can be a quiet rebellion against mass produced, knitting can be a creative outlet or means of self-expression and knitting can be a retreat from an otherwise very busy society.
Some of the seasoned knitters I know knit to relax. Not that I'm all that seasoned, but I do knit for relaxation as well as an outlet to create. There is something about the rhythmic clicking of the metal needles or the repetitive movements of your hands (if you are using non-metal needles) I find soothing.
So, I thought I'd do some checking to see, what if any, real research has been done about this. Betsan Corkhill writes about the topic. She is from the UK and a former physiotherapist now craft writer. She turned to knitting as a way to get her most troubled patients (when she was a physio) to find relief. Corkhill suggests knitting is related to Mindfulness. Mindfulness is generally a type of meditation that allows the subject to focus on the present with other issues from the past and the future fading away. She goes on to suggest knitting is a constructive addiction, that is portable so therapy can be done on-the-go and thus accessible when needed, and can be used as a part of a holistic therapy treatment for those with mental illness.
I am not suggesting all of us who knit have taken up the craft to self medicate. I don't believe all of us are that scientific about the act. If one goes back a century crafters were a necessity. Knitting sweaters and socks for soldiers in war was a way women became directly involved in the war effort. So is it a required craft, creative outlet or therapy? Or is it all of them?
Nor am I convinced knitting consistently contributes to Mindfulness, even though there may be something to its rhythm and the feel and look of the yarn that could contribute directly to improved health. The Lion Brand Yarn company issued a press release in 2007 based on research done at Harvard Medical School - Mind/Body Institute stating a knitter can drop their heart rate by 11 beats per minute and lower blood pressure as well. Both are good things to do for better health. Although I am not sure beginning knitters would agree this is possible.
There doesn't seem to be much real research out there that would meet the standards of the Ph.Ds I know sometimes read these ramblings. So I am going to have to do more searching and see if my suspicions are true.
BTW I do continue to knit. The second Ugg-like boot is done, progress continues on the wall flower and I have started another baby sweater. Until I get the photos uploaded here's a picture of the azaleas Paul gave me for my birthday. It continues to flower as we approach a month beyond my special day.
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| Lion Brand Yarn |
Some of the seasoned knitters I know knit to relax. Not that I'm all that seasoned, but I do knit for relaxation as well as an outlet to create. There is something about the rhythmic clicking of the metal needles or the repetitive movements of your hands (if you are using non-metal needles) I find soothing.
So, I thought I'd do some checking to see, what if any, real research has been done about this. Betsan Corkhill writes about the topic. She is from the UK and a former physiotherapist now craft writer. She turned to knitting as a way to get her most troubled patients (when she was a physio) to find relief. Corkhill suggests knitting is related to Mindfulness. Mindfulness is generally a type of meditation that allows the subject to focus on the present with other issues from the past and the future fading away. She goes on to suggest knitting is a constructive addiction, that is portable so therapy can be done on-the-go and thus accessible when needed, and can be used as a part of a holistic therapy treatment for those with mental illness.
I am not suggesting all of us who knit have taken up the craft to self medicate. I don't believe all of us are that scientific about the act. If one goes back a century crafters were a necessity. Knitting sweaters and socks for soldiers in war was a way women became directly involved in the war effort. So is it a required craft, creative outlet or therapy? Or is it all of them?
Nor am I convinced knitting consistently contributes to Mindfulness, even though there may be something to its rhythm and the feel and look of the yarn that could contribute directly to improved health. The Lion Brand Yarn company issued a press release in 2007 based on research done at Harvard Medical School - Mind/Body Institute stating a knitter can drop their heart rate by 11 beats per minute and lower blood pressure as well. Both are good things to do for better health. Although I am not sure beginning knitters would agree this is possible.
There doesn't seem to be much real research out there that would meet the standards of the Ph.Ds I know sometimes read these ramblings. So I am going to have to do more searching and see if my suspicions are true.
BTW I do continue to knit. The second Ugg-like boot is done, progress continues on the wall flower and I have started another baby sweater. Until I get the photos uploaded here's a picture of the azaleas Paul gave me for my birthday. It continues to flower as we approach a month beyond my special day.
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| My still profusely blooming azaleas |
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