Hello!
“My name is Carol and I am obsessed with knitting and crochet. I want to scream from a mountain top the gift these crafts can be and all the benefits they can bring. Knitting has done wonders for my mental wellbeing, and you do not need to be an expert to reap the perks. You do not need to be perfectionist about your knitting or crochet. A little progress is more than enough and gives huge added value to your life. Think reduced stress, improved cognitive function, mindfulness practice and a sense of achievement and control. I can teach you these crafts and help you access all of these benefits whether you have never picked up knitting needles or a crochet hook before, have distant memories of something you did as a child with no idea where to start again, or have knitting experience and want help getting to grips with a new technique.”
I am originally from Dundee on the East Coast of Scotland and am one of four siblings. I have lived in Scotland, Wales and England and am currently living in West London with my husband Graham and our cat Frank the Tank (our vet calls her a little chunky). ..
My earliest ever memories as a child are of my mum knitting. Whether she was knitting for one of my three older brothers, myself, or one of my dolls (or my brothers action men, don’t tell them I told you) I was fascinated by it. These memories are rich in detail. The sound of the knitting needles clicking, the different brightly coloured yarns, the changing texture of the knitted materials with all of the intricate cables and of course the smell of the wool. I think these are strong memories as they hit all my senses. My mother enjoyed making things for us, she was good at it and it gave her a real sense of achievement. It also saved her and the family money (I remember the tales of 13% endowment mortgages), and she had always dreamt of being a dressmaker but never got the chance.
I was a crafting magpie. Flying around from one interest to another, drawing, pottery, sewing, stencilling, paper-mache, origami, sewing, embroidery, tapestry … you get the idea. My mum taught me to knit, but I was never able to stick to just one thing. I would later say, many times, that I did not remember anything about knitting, because I genuinely did not think I did. However, I believe now I must have taken so much more in than I realised. When I started knitting again when older it was all surprisingly familiar and I have my mum to thank for that. Thanks Mum.
From my crafting magpie stories, you can probably tell I am easily distracted. Taking time for myself, enjoying the moment, embracing the journey rather than the destination, meditation, mindfulness, all completely foreign to me. Mindfulness practices have been recommended to me many times, but I find it so difficult to just be still.
Then I reunited with knitting and crochet. It turned out to be the most marvellous antidote to the stresses of life and I am not sure where I would be today without it. Giving myself something to concentrate on in a mindful way, something that requires co-ordination of my two hands together, something tactile and something colourful and creative, something I have to pay attention to whilst I practice means the negative committee that lives rent free in my head has no available time to do its usual shenanigans. Enforced mindfulness. It’s a thing! And I love it and I want you all to try it for yourself.
There was no stopping me once I had picked up the knitting needles and crochet hooks. I decided to go part-time in a job I had been doing for 26 years straight out of University where I studied Physics. I started working part-time in Tribe Yarns in Richmond and I have met so many incredible people. People who get the same from knitting and crochet as I do. A real community. Something I was really missing out on in my Government job.
After seeing what this craft has done for my mental wellbeing I wanted to share it with as many people as I could. I wanted to let people know what it had done for me and what it could do for them too. I wanted to let people know that you do not need to be an expert knitter to reap the benefits, that we do not need to be perfectionist about our knitting or crochet. Progress is more than enough and gives huge added value to our lives.
Whether you are new to these crafts, or have tried them before but given up, I implore you to give it another go. Come pick up a hook or some needles, start with a simple project or book in for one of my beginners knitting or crochet classes. Come along to our monthly meet ups and see what all the fuss is about! Start or reignite your knitting and crochet adventures and enjoy the benefits of yarn therapy! I am here to help you every step of the way.
