7 Surprising Benefits You Didn’t Know About Knitting
I’ve been knitting since I was a little tyke in middle school. My mom taught me how to knit, and my grandpa taught my mom how to knit. It’s been a great inter relational bonding experience.
Since then, I’ve knit off and on, but it’s one of the crafts I tend to come back to. There’s just something about it that’s so relaxing. As it turns out, there’s scientific evidence behind that.
Here are some more benefits of knitting. (These also apply to crocheting)
1. It lowers blood pressure.
Research done by Harvard Medical School¹ indicates that knitting induces the relaxation response and lowers the heart rate by an average 11 beats per minute. The relaxation response can be elicited by meditative activities, such as meditative breathing, yoga, running, and it turns out, knitting. The repetitive motion of knitting is much like its’ own meditation.
2. Reduces depression/anxiety
Various research shows a significant relationship between knitting and increased mental well being. Committed knitters commonly report feeling more calm and happy². Engaging in creative activities is linked to positive wellbeing and better health.⁴
3. Slows onset of dementia
4. Knitting can be used to manage pain
As knitting lowers stress levels and engages relaxation, it interrupts the brain’s alarm signals and allows it to reinterpret those signals in a different context³.
5. Increases sense of wellbeing
6. Reduces loneliness and isolation
Loneliness is quickly on the rise and earth’s inhabitants are feeling more alone than in previous generations, and it’s only growing more⁵. Knitting may be a solitary activity, but it provides an excellent avenue for communities. You can choose to join a group online or join a local community group. If you don’t have one, start one!
7. Increases sense of usefulness and inclusion in society
Knitting is great because it provides a reward at the end. Once you finish a project, you have something new that you created. It makes you feel productive, and if you so choose to donate you have the additional feel good of creating something for someone who needs it. It’s a bonus feeling when you actually drop it off and see the joy people have for the knitting you made for them.
In summary, engaging in creative activities is a great way to feel better about yourself. It reduces your stress, alleviates anxiety, helps manage your pain, and promotes a sense of wellbeing.
Pick up some needles and yarn today.
(1) Harvard Medical School (2007) The Relaxation Response
(2) Riley, J, Corkhill, B & Morris C. (2013). The Benefits of Knitting for Personal and Social Wellbeing in Adulthood: Findings from an International Survey. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(2), pp.50–57.
(3) Department of Health and Arts Council England, (2007). A Prospectus for Arts and Health.
(4) MacFarlane, A (2007) Stress-realated musculoskeletal pain, Best practice research clinical rheumatology 21(3): pp. 549–65
(5) Victor C (2011) ‘Loneliness in old age: the UK perspective. Safeguarding the convoy: a call to action from the Campaign to End Loneliness’ Age UK Oxfordshire.
