Crochet as Therapy...

I learned to crochet when I was 16.  I saw an article in a sewing magazine, "Accent Your Sewing with Crochet!" and was immediately intrigued.  Christmas was coming and my babysitting money wasn't going to stretch very far toward gifts that year.  I bought a book and practiced every chance I got, and then everyone received either a hat or scarf that Christmas!

For many years I saw crochet simply as a means to an end.  If a gift was needed, I had it covered.  Baby layettes, afghans, pillows, shawls, scarves, hats, spa sets, you name it, I could produce it in a hurry and was never again without a gift to give.

When I entered the grown-up working world and made a bit more money, I began buying gifts instead of making them, and crochet took a back burner, and sometimes non-existent burner, in my life.  I didn't "need" crochet anymore...or so I thought.

Fast forward several years and I had a year when several tragedies struck at once; illness, separation, money woes, my father's passing, and I felt I was in a downward spiral and cast about looking for some kind of solace in the face of my life moving in such a negative direction.

One day as I lay in bed, not even wanting to get up, a family member was going to the store and wanted to know if I wanted anything.  I thought for a minute, and said, "Yes--please get me some yarn, several skeins, any colors, I don't care, just bring me some yarn."  I hadn't crocheted in some time, but I dug out my old hooks and just started crocheting.  It felt soothing to have the yarn running through my fingers and the rhythmic movements of making stitches were comforting.  I didn't care what I made, I just wanted to keep going, and made coasters, hot pads, baskets, bath mats, throw rugs, slippers, toys for my cats and a couple of afghans.  I was beginning to feel better.  After that, crochet never left my life again.  A few years later I began designing crochet patterns as a fun, creative sideline, and eventually also began teaching crochet.

It's now well-known that the meditative qualities of making fiber art, particularly crochet and knitting, are beneficial to our health.  I remember some time ago asking my beginning students why they wanted to learn to crochet, and several of the answers were "I need to do something to reduce my stress level," or "I need to do something to help counteract all the bad news we hear every day," or "I need something to help me slow down and relax."  Crochet can and does do all these things!

Here are some resources regarding the health and well-being benefits of crochet:

Crochet Saved My Life
Crochet Therapy -- Crochet for a Happier You
Crochet as Occupational Therapy
Crochet Therapy for Mental Health

Also, finding a crochet or knitting group is very beneficial; there are many associated with yarn shops and other local organizations.  Contact me (contact form is in the sidebar) for more information about those!

And a side note:  The little drawstring bag above is done in tapestry crochet.  Yarn is Caron Simply Soft in white, raspberry (discontinued color) and plum wine.  I mailed this bag to Caron and as a result I wound up with the happy task of designing items and patterns for them over the next several years!

Do your health a favor and learn to crochet!

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