Background Within public health, activities that promote and maintain wellbeing remain limited and relatively unexplored. In particular, little is known about the relationship between creative craft hobbies and wellbeing in the general population. Methods Twenty-nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with women from a local quilting group. Ideas and experiences of quilting in relation to wellbeing were explored with participants. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Results Cognitive, emotional and social processes were uncovered, which participants identified as important for their wellbeing. Participants found quilting to be a productive use of time and an accessible means of engaging in free creativity. Colour was psychologically uplifting. Quilting was challenging, demanded concentration and participants maintained and learned new skills. Participants experienced 'flow' while quilting. A strong social network fostered the formation of strong friendships. Affirmation from others boosted self-esteem and increased motivation for skill development. Quilts were often given altruistically and gave quilting added purpose. Conclusions The findings illustrate how creative craft hobbies such as quilting can be a meaningful vehicle for enhancing wellbeing. This study sets the foundation for further research into creativity, creative hobbies and hobbies in general.
The authors hypothesized that a textile art-making activity that was high in arousal, engagement, and positive mood and low in rumination and negative affect would be most effective for mood repair and would buffer inflammatory immune reactions. Forty-seven experienced textile handcrafters were asked to recall an upsetting situation before random assignment to either textile art making, quiet ego contemplation (neutral), or writing (to maintain negative mood). Textile art making promoted the strongest positive mood, highest arousal and engagement, and lowest rumination and negative mood. Only the writing task was associated with cytokine disturbance. Results suggest that high energy, engaging art-making tasks that focus on positive mood may be important for well-being.
Original research and examples from artists illustrate how different textile-based art approaches can provide therapeutic outlets for women with a complete variety of life experiences. The psychology of this therapeutic approach is explained as well as explanations of specific techniques and suggestions for practise with a wide range of clients.
Knitters can be spotted in cafés, on trains, and browsing boutique yarn stores. There is some consensus that people find knitting a relaxing and fulfilling hobby, but there is limited empirical evidence as to exactly why this is the case. This article will argue that Csikszentmihalyi's ( [1992] 2002 ) theory of creative "flow" offers us a sound explanation for why and how knitting is beneficial. Csikszentmihalyi argues that "flow" experiences involve devoting full attention to the activity, a balance between challenge and accessibility and a sense of control. These key elements make creativity activities engaging and satisfying. This article draws on a qualitative research project investigating why women knit. This used a staged design influenced by grounded theory. The final stage of this research involved in-depth interviews with 30 women knitters living in Edinburgh. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematically analyzed with support from QSR*NVivo. Data analysis suggested that women identified benefits from knitting related to both the knitting process and knitted product, and described positive experiences very closely related to those conceptualized by Csikszentmihalyi as "flow." These included a distraction from worries, engagement in a problem-solving process, and a sense of autonomy. Understanding the benefits associated with "flow" experiences may also be key to making sense of the investment some women make in knitting.
Only one person at a time works on a piece of knitting and it is often a solitary activity. However, it can also be very social. For some, the opportunity to interact online and in-person with other knitters is a significant motivation for undertaking the activity. Knitters interviewed as part of this qualitative research reported three core inter-related benefits of sharing their knitting with other people: technical support; feeling part of a community; and forming meaningful friendships. This article makes an original contribution by exploring the nature of the benefits of knitting as a way of connecting with others. It follows that friendships can spring from leisure activities, as participants may be likely to have some similar interests. The article speculates that undertaking a shared and tangible activity seems to offer powerful benefits to ease and facilitate meaningful social interactions. Women were the focus of this study and it is suggested that the opportunity to experience these interactions with other women was core to their experience. This empirical research project used a grounded theory approach, involving several stages of data collection and analysis. This article is primarily based on the final stage, consisting of in depth interviews with women knitters.
The main goals of this study are to depict the elements reported to enhance well-being in the descriptions of craft-making participants and to describe the meanings behind crafting. The study is based on written narratives of 59 female textile craft makers aged 19 to 84. The analysis revealed that the elements that participants characterized as enhancing their well-being were the following: the raw materials, the artefacts, the sense of achievement, the possibilities for personal growth, the development of physical and cognitive skills, the control of one's body and feelings, and the social and cultural dimensions of craft. Craft as a meaningful leisure activity had positive effects on the craft makers' well-being by fostering the feelings of self-managing and empowerment.
Craft-based textile activities such as knitting, crochet, tatting, and lace making have provided challenges, physical and mental stimulation, creative outlets, and social interaction for generations. The role of craft and the relationship between craft and maker vary across cultures, geographic groups, and gender. However, a common thread is that craft practitioners are often emotionally invested in these activities and many continue to make through all stages of life and into old age. Given the ageing of the global population, activities that can be carried out by people with reduced mobility and increasing physical or mental limitations as a result of ageing, and which can promote healthy ageing and positive well-being, are now becoming increasingly important. Existing research has established a link between creativity and health and well-being. But, it is only recently that multidisciplinary research involving arts and crafts, social science, and medical and health scholars and practitioners has begun to show the importance of activities, such as craft textiles, for positive well-being. The relationship between craft activities, creative engagement, mental and physical stimulation, social interaction, self-esteem, and, therefore, positive well-being has been insufficiently explored. This article reports findings of a study of lace makers at the Lace Study Centre at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia, that examined how craft activities contribute to well-being in a variety of ways. This research, which focused on female practitioners, found that craft-based textile activities and associated social practices provide insights into the individual and societal importance of "everyday creativity" for promoting positive well-being and general good health.
Background. Examining craft-based occupations is necessary to explicate the relationship between occupation and well-being. Purpose. This study aimed to understand the role of knitting in the lives of passionate knitters and their experience of how knitting contributes to health, well-being, and occupational identity. Method. Principles of phenomenology guided interviews with 21 knitting-guild members (with and without health conditions) and observations at seven guild meetings as well as guided the data analysis. Eight interviewees and 24 additional guild members confirmed key findings in writing. Findings. Five main themes capture how knitting (a) “makes me happy,” (b) is “the mental challenge I need,” (c) is “a hobby that joins” through social connections and skill development, (d) sustains identity such that “I can’t imagine life without knitting,” and (e) is a creative outlet “reflecting my personality.” Implications. This in-depth description of how knitters experience their craft in daily life bolsters the philosophical assumption that favoured occupations have the power to promote health and well-being.
In her 2008 novel The Knitting Circle, American writer Ann Hood identifies knitting as a form of prayer, with every stitch connecting her to her deceased daughter. In 2016, a Rotterdam-based knitting icon, Loes Veenstra, passed away. For many years, Veenstra knitted hundreds of jumpers that were not intended to be worn. She knitted solely to fight her smoking addiction. In 2010, hundreds of Peruvian women knitted together in a square in Ayacucho to commemorate their missing relatives, whose fate had remained unknown since the civil war in the 1980s and 1990s. The scarf they created served as a symbolic grave because these women knew that their relatives would probably never get a real one. The written and spoken testimonies of these women as well as the knitted objects reveal the significance of knitting as a remedy. This creative endeavour practiced in daily life becomes a remedy when it is the only activity that women want or are able to undertake while experiencing grief, trauma or addiction. Knitting is a cure for women who have no other recourse to action within their social or cultural circumstances. These case studies illustrate how being creative (as a woman) in daily life can be beneficial in difficult times.
This article explores the role of the crafts of knitting and crochet in memorialization, an aspect of how contemporary knitting culture uses craft as a means of connecting with the sacred. It argues that knitting and crochet as material memorialization is part of wider trends in late modernity: the sacralization of the family; the preoccupation with the past; and the seeking of connection with that which is perceived to have been lost. Drawing on qualitative interviews, it discusses participants' craft projects used to honor maternal heritage, uncover marginalized histories, make space for reflection in commemoration and grieving, maintain the presence of the dead, and provide tactile comfort in the face of loss.
This work draws on two sister projects which explored the subjective perceptions of wellbeing in women amateur makers who hand crafted in knit and crochet when alone rather than in physical group settings. In the first, participants engaged in a Ph.D. research project where they contributed experiences of sharing their making in a closed group on Facebook, 'stitching together' in digital space. In the second, a small, self-selected number from the Facebook research group also took part in a journal-writing project; here, they recorded their experiences of knit, crochet and its impact on wellbeing over several months and shared journals directly back to the researcher rather than the wider Facebook group. Participants from these complementary projects provided insight into the ways that working with yarn helped them feel connected, calm and creative whilst also revealing that their experiences in knit and crochet were not always the soothing panacea one might expect. The approaches in these two projects illustrate how a rich understanding of the ways hand crafting together may be beneficial for wellbeing can be developed even where participants and the researcher are physically remote from one another. Several distinctive methodological contributions can be claimed in these related works: First, the approaches taken in both the journal writing and Facebook-based projects opened up space to question and explore the ethics of care for researcher wellbeing in having participant stories to 'hold'; secondly, the reflective distance provided by online commentaries and the writing of a journal over time allowed more complex craft experience stories to emerge than would normally be facilitated through a shorter workshop setting.
Previous research suggests that engaging in creative and meaningful leisure activities enhances mental health, wellbeing and quality of life. However, studies often explore specific creative activities in isolation. We compared happiness and wellbeing in adults involved in knitting (835 amateur knitters) and musical activities (122 amateur musicians). Participants completed the Subjective Happiness Scale, the BBC Subjective Wellbeing scale, and open-ended questions about past and current engagement. Knitters scored significantly higher on happiness than musicians. No differences were found for subjective wellbeing. Older participants scored more highly on all wellbeing measures, with no effect of time doing the activity. Open-ended responses were grouped into four themes. Learning and teaching was oriented towards communities of practice for knitters and formal teaching for musicians. Process involved positive and negative emotions, grouped around subthemes of self-care and sensory experiences. Outcome was associated with connections to others, expressed through pride or anxiety. Purpose linked to a sense of fulfilment, identity, and obsession. Despite differences between the activities, participants experienced broadly similar physical, psychological and social benefits. Further research should explore more creative and non-creative leisure activities to establish if these effects can be generalised and what other unique features may be involved.
In this survey research study, a convenience sample (N = 821) of women textile handcrafters reported the frequency and pattern of their handcraft making, reasons for creating with fibers, and whether they used handcrafts to change difficult moods. These variables were examined in relationship to several measures and indicators of well-being. Women who used textile handcrafts to change mood reported more success, rejuvenation, and engagement than women who did not use textile methods to cope. The overall sample reported well-being indicators that were at least average, engaged in their art form quite frequently, and reported high mastery with several different techniques. The most important reasons given for engaging in textile making were the need to have beautiful aesthetics, to feel grounded, and to cope. The implications of these findings for art therapy are discussed.
Introduction: There is increasing evidence that engaging in creative and meaningful occupation can impact positively on health and wellbeing. Much of the research in this area has concentrated on general occupational categories and less is known about the benefits of specific occupations. This study aimed to identify the benefits of knitting for individuals' personal and social wellbeing as a prerequisite to investigating its therapeutic use. Method: An online survey was conducted through an internet knitting site. Responses were received from 3,545 knitters worldwide. Quantitative data were analysed statistically to establish relationships and differences among variables and qualitative data for key themes. Results: Respondents came from a virtual community of knitters. The majority were female white adults and frequent knitters, who commonly reported knitting for relaxation, stress relief and creativity. The results show a significant relationship between knitting frequency and feeling calm and happy. More frequent knitters also reported higher cognitive functioning. Knitting in a group impacted significantly on perceived happiness, improved social contact and communication with others. Conclusion: Knitting has significant psychological and social benefits, which can contribute to wellbeing and quality of life. As a skilled and creative occupation, it has therapeutic potential — an area requiring further research.
Aims: With rising rates of mental health disorders being reported globally, it is imperative that we investigate economical and accessible ways to increase relaxation and reduce stress. While there is a plethora of anecdotal evidence as to the positive effects of domestic crafts on mental wellbeing, there is little empirical research in this area. As such, we aimed to explore perceived links between crochet and wellbeing. Methods: An online survey was developed and piloted, based on an existing tool that explored knitting and wellbeing. The final survey was promoted through social media, over a 6-week period, resulting in valid responses from 8391 individuals. Results: Most respondents were female (99.1%), aged between 41 and 60 years (49.5%) and living in 87 different countries. Many respondents reported crocheting for between 1 and 5 years (42.6%). The three most frequent reasons reported for crocheting were: to be creative (82.1%), to relax (78.5%) and for a sense of accomplishment (75.2%). Respondents reported that crochet made them feel calmer (89.5%), happier (82%) and more useful (74.7%). There was a significant improvement in reported scores for mood before crocheting (M = 4.19, SD = 1.07) and mood after crocheting (M = 5.78, SD = 0.82); z = −69.86, p
The purpose of this study was to explore the meanings of and intentions behind craft-based leisure activities among stay-at-home mothers. The study attempts to shed light on the meanings of craft in relation to the participants' and their families' well-being. This qualitative study was based on the written narratives of 34 stay-at-home mothers, ages 23-40. The meanings of craft-making was described by home centeredness, items as personal fingerprints, mental resources, personal growth and identity, and social relationships. The intentions behind crafting were to help the stay-at-home mothers escape their daily worries, to pursue craft as a form of enjoying their family-centric life, and to enhance self-realization without the added stress of having to do so while negotiating their family's needs. The findings revealed that although the participants' intentions were to enhance their subjective well-being, they in fact reflected their concern for the well-being of their families.
This article presents findings of a Ph.D. case study that uses interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to elicit a deep understanding of lived experience within the context of a 'craft-encounter' shared by an adult carer with her mother, who has dementia. Recent studies have evaluated the health and well-being benefits of participatory craft practice in community-based projects. However, a less examined site of research is the lived experience of participating in shared craft-encounters as a domiciliary based intervention for dementia care. This study elicits a nuanced understanding of lived experience of participatory textile-based craft and explores the value of working with video as an adjunct to IPA's existing methodology as a way of attending to non-textual communication that is easily missed in the moment of occurrence. Reviewing primary-source video with participants produces additional data as a result of participants' reflexivity and meaning-making through interpretation of video footage. The findings challenge the dominant bias that frames dementia care only in terms of losses without considering the potential gains and meanings of the dementia care experience.
More encompassing than just the facts and figures of physical health, well-being is often used to acknowledge how we feel. The World Health Organization has defined well-being as "an ability to realize personal potential, cope with daily stresses, and contribute productively to society." This article explores the varied ways knitting can contribute to our well-being. It brings together the authors' individual presentations from the well-being panel at the 2012 conference "In the Loop 3: The Voices of Knitting," now reconfigured and reordered as a coauthored paper. Opening the paper are facts and figures-the very evidence of what many of us have felt or intuited-established by Betsan Corkhill and Jill Riley in their joint contribution on the therapeutic benefits of knitting. Angela Maddock then follows, not with the stuff of scientific reason, but with its exact opposite: the symbolic contribution which knitting that is disrupted or troubled can signal in a narrative. My interest in the difficult identity of solitary knitting in literature, and the need to take stock of the current infatuation academic research holds for collaboration, now acts as the final contribution to this dialogue. The outcome is eclectic, the voices varied; but so too are the many ways to consider the contribution knitting can make to our well-being today.
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