I have known for a long time that crochet (and other creative endeavors) are very healing. This is the premise for my blog and offerings, which is why I use the tagline Create~Nurture~Heal. I have seen a lot of anecdotal evidence for this, however, when I started to look for research to support this theory, I was overwhelmed with how much evidence there is for why crochet is so good for you!
I know from my own personal experience that creativity, of any kind, makes me feel good. I learned to crochet when I was ten years old, but stopped when I was about sixteen. I didn’t pick it up again until the fall of 2018 and I fell in love! I had forgotten how relaxing crocheting was. I had forgotten how wonderful it felt to have the yarn move through my hands and to work the crochet hook in a repetitive and meditative motion. I had forgotten how wonderful it felt to complete a beautiful piece of work that I had created!
I joined some crochet groups on Facebook and soon found that many people commented on a regular basis about how crochet had helped them with stress, anxiety, depression, getting over the loss of loved ones or the loss of health, relationships or a job. I have a few of these comments below.
“I have started crocheting recently, following the death of my son. It helps me to relieve my anxiety.”
“Crocheting is a great stress reliever and helps to get through the bad days.”
“I am new to crocheting. I stumbled upon this hobby in the fall, while desperately looking for a means to relax after sadly stepping away from a career that nearly gave me a heart attack due to stress, at age 36! Crocheting was the key! What a blessing! It’s more than “just yarn” it’s making something from the heart. Each stitch is a step in a beautiful journey!”
“I mourn the death of my daughter. Crocheting helps me to focus on reading patterns. I really don’t think I could have managed this past year without the distraction of crochet.”
I decided to look further into anecdotal comments like this to see if there was any research to support what seemed to be a very healing craft. The evidence was overwhelming, and quite honestly, I had a hard time sorting through everything to bring together something that wasn’t too long-winded.
I came across this video from the Craft Yarn Council which offers various findings from studies done by Harvard, the Mayo Clinic, and more. Some of the research found that 60% of the total surface of the brain is dedicated to the hands. Hobbies that use both hands, such as crochet and knitting, stimulate both sides of the brain and is considered ‘preventative medicine’. Other research has found that needlework lowers the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and reduces stress.
While the video refers mostly to knitting, the benefits of crochet and any other type of needlework are the same…it reduces stress and anxiety, increases self-esteem, gives a sense of accomplishment, and in the case of crochet and knitting groups, it provides social support.
The most quoted study on the healing effects of crochet was done by Pippa Burns and Rosemary Van Der Meer with the University of Wollongong in Australia. I wasn’t able to access the research directly, as you need to be a student or alumni member, but the summaries provided by other writers had a general consensus. Up to 90% of people surveyed agreed that crochet helped them feel calmer, over 80% reported that it made them feel happier and over 70% said that crochet helped to improve their memory and concentration.
These statistics are mind-boggling, and I can say from experience (I worked as a pharmacy technician for 25 years), that the pharmaceutical industry has never brought a drug onto the market that could make these sorts of claims. If they did, the drug would be declared a miracle drug and would probably cost a fortune!
This report by the American Counseling Association clearly found that crocheting is not only beneficial to patients with dementia but that it helps to reduced depression and anxiety. It also helps with insomnia, builds self-esteem, reduces irritability and restlessness, builds community, and more.
The Craft Yarn Council published this report in 2014, and it found that 83% of knitters and crocheters reported this hobby reduced stress. Another 68% said it improved their mood and 56% said it improved their self-confidence.
I have heard people claim that crocheting saved their lives. That is a powerful claim! Kathryn Vercillo is once such person and she wrote a book about her experience simply called Crochet Saved My Life. I have not read this book myself and I don’t normally recommend books if I haven’t read them, but the reviews are very positive and encouraging.
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Nadia Faud also has a heartwarming testimonial of how crochet saved her life. She has gone on to create a Youtube Channel and website dedicated to crochet.
For myself, crocheting is giving me the means to begin to create an income to support myself. I have a chronic condition called Central Sensitivity Syndrome (CSS) which has prevented me from working at a regular job. I create blog post tutorials and videos on a variety of creative projects, including crochet. And I will admit…crochet is by far, my favorite craft for all the reasons demonstrated in this post!
The nature of CSS is that my body is in a chronic state of stress, so crocheting helps to bring me into a relaxed state and the benefits last for some time after. While I’m not surprised that there is evidence to support the healing benefits of crochet and other needlecrafts, I am surprised by just how much evidence there is!
I am a big fan of doing creative work as a means to find healing and balance in our lives. My book, Healing Through Creative Expression, uses intuitive painting, writing, and storytelling as a healing process. I truly believe that if I didn’t have creative time, that my health issues would be more debilitating. I manage to balance my well being through my creative work as well as other self-nurturing practices. And for that…I am very grateful!
If you like this article, you may also like:
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I hope you enjoyed this article and find the information helpful. Feel free to leave a comment below…perhaps to share any benefits you’ve found from crocheting. Click on the social share buttons at the top or bottom of this post and choose a pin from above to share! Thank you 🙂