Knitting, once a hobby for the elderly, is now trending among young people. What has made it so popular? And how does it help improve mental health?
Entering a building on Norbury Road, inside, you’ll find a cozy wool shop with colourful rolls of wool neatly arranged on shelves and a wide variety of woven products in the room. Leann Harrington, 46, the owner of this wool shop, sits at the table, expertly manipulating two woollen yarns with her fingers, as she knits a baby sweater, but it’s about more than just that.
“Knitting really makes me feel calm and relaxed,” Leann said. “I’ve had really bad anxiety since I got sick. If I feel an anxiety attack coming on, even the thought of doing everyday things like dishes and cooking everyday things makes me feel uneasy. So I turn to knitting, sitting down with my knitting for half an hour helps me calm down.”
“In 2019, I decided to undergo a major surgery to remove my large intestine, which had been causing me issues for many years. After the surgery, I told my mother I needed something to occupy my time. So she started teaching me to knit again, and I haven’t stopped knitting since then”, said Leann. It was a painful memory, but it was also the beginning of her relationship with knitting.
Knitting and crocheting were once regarded as hobbies for the elderly, but now they are experiencing a revival. This tradition craft is attracting more people of different ages to get involved. According to the British Knitting Association, since the outbreak of the pandemic, about one million people have taken up knitting sweaters. It played a significant role in accelerating this trend.
Walking into Cardiff University’s knitting society, the room is filled with lively chatter. Around the tables, several young boys and girls are busy working on their projects, their hands moving with varying degrees of skill and rustiness. A slide at the front of the room shows the steps to crochet a nipple pattern. This is the passionate world of young crochet, where cute and quirky handmade crafts are created.
Unlike the pragmatism of older knitting enthusiasts, younger knitting enthusiasts prefer to make cute and fashionable items. On social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, tags about knitting and crochet have been viewed millions of times.
Knitted clothing such as dresses, has become a new trend for many fashion brands.”Sometimes, when I see a sweater in a store and check the price tag, I think, ‘I can make this, too,'” said Lucie Cloke, a 21-year-old member of the knitting society.
While young people see knitting as a creative and fashionable expression, one aspect of knitting that is often overlooked is its mental health benefits.
Jacci Peach, 51, a participant in the knitting group at the Cardiff Hub Library, recalls the experience of starting crochet because of the stress. “I’m very busy at work and feel a lot of stress. I wasn’t taking time to do something for myself. Then I found a “knit and natter” group near where I live. So, I decided to come here every Friday, it was time for myself”, said Jacci.
Although knitting is often thought of as just a way to pass the time, many practitioners highlight its profound impact on mental health. A study published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience found that activities such as knitting sweaters and crocheting with cross-stitch can significantly reduce psychological stress and improve brain health.
“When you’re knitting, you go into your own little world, focusing on the pattern, and nothing else matters. It gives you space to forget everything else for a while,”said Leann. This is the best relief method during her recovery and anxiety.
Jacci agrees with this, she said: “It’s very repetitive, calming and soothing. It also gives a sense of anticipation, I get to create something at the end, which gives me a sense of achievement. “
This is because rhythmic knitting activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which reduces heart rate and cortisol levels. And repetitive actions stimulate dopamine, which relieves depression, and completing a project fosters a sense of pride and purpose.
Besides, when you focus on patterns and stitches, it distracts from anxiety and allows the brain to focus on the present. In cognitive behavioral therapy, this is also a habit replacement therapy.
“I used to be unable to resist tearing the barbs off my fingers, especially when my hands were idle, which caused many cuts on my fingers. Later I found that knitting is a good alternative, which is difficult to do when my hands are busy ,” said Elizabeth, 69, another member of the “ knit and natter” group.
In addition to its psychological effects, knitting can also promote social interaction. In knitting groups, people not only create, but also communicate and support each other. Especially for some retired people, this has become an important place for them to communicate with others.
“I started to join the knitting group two years ago because I was retired at that time,” Elizabeth said as she was knitting a hot water bottle cover for charity. Decades of knitting experience have enabled her to complete some simple knitting without looking at the needles.
“After retirement, I found it difficult to adapt to the change in the pace of life. My children were not around, so I was lonely. I wanted to find a place to chat and talk about some women’s topics,” said Elizabeth.
Socialising is also one of the reasons why knitting appeals to young people. It’s an opportunity to get together, meet new people, learn new skills, and share experiences and techniques.
Cardiff University’s knitting society has more than 70 members and holds events every Wednesday. Everyone gets together and gets busy with their own knitting or crocheting projects, the progress and the work varies, but there are always a lot of people participating each week. “Maybe it’s because most of our activities are online, so people like to take a break from it,” says Lucie.
“Sometimes in the summer, when the weather is nice, we go to the park and sit and knit, and that’s really good for my mental health,” said Lucie.