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Knitting and Well-being
Abstract and Figures
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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... The model presented below is derived from the thematic analysis of the studies included in the review, keeping the focus on the effects of these activities on different facets of well-being. can significantly reduce stress and anxiety (Corkhill et al., 2014). Jackson (2010) explains that the people studied generated rewarding flows through crafting activities, kindling a sense of self. ...
... Jackson (2010) explains that the people studied generated rewarding flows through crafting activities, kindling a sense of self. Additionally, these activities stimulate mental agility and creativity, offering cognitive benefits and enhancing problem-solving skills (Corkhill et al., 2014;Hackney, 2006;Turney, 2004). For many, the act of crafting or handmaking items is not just a hobby but a form of mindfulness or meditation (Corkhill et al., 2014) where the repetitive and immersive nature of the work allows for emotional regulation and a break from the hectic pace of daily life (Elliot, 2016). ...
... Additionally, these activities stimulate mental agility and creativity, offering cognitive benefits and enhancing problem-solving skills (Corkhill et al., 2014;Hackney, 2006;Turney, 2004). For many, the act of crafting or handmaking items is not just a hobby but a form of mindfulness or meditation (Corkhill et al., 2014) where the repetitive and immersive nature of the work allows for emotional regulation and a break from the hectic pace of daily life (Elliot, 2016). Finally, some studies also mention the helpful effects of technologies, which allow better access to co-creation tools (Steyn et al., 2011) and foster a stronger sense of autonomy (Fisher, 2022;Rayna & Striukova, 2021;Zhu et al., 2022). ...
Building something with your hands, whether a piece of furniture, a scarf, or a vase, triggers a unique mental process enhancing a feeling of well‐being. Various research studies explore the potential effects of diverse types of activities involving hand labor. This scoping review analyzes 181 such studies spanning multiple disciplines (psychology, marketing, technology, design, health), and explores the richness of these activities and their distinct effects on individual and societal well‐being. Through this comprehensive analysis, the review enhances the understanding of the effects of handmade activities on consumer well‐being and advances marketing knowledge within the broader context of well‐being. Additionally, it probes into the commonalities among different academic theories, identifying gaps in existing marketing and psychology research and proposing paths for future exploration.
... Quilts, in particular, have been created to express personal meaning as a symbol of caring and shared experiences (Cheek & Yaure, 2017). Wrapping a person in a knitted item to provide warmth and comfort is a symbolic example of caring (Corkhill et al., 2014). Needlecraft is integral to many cultures, finding expression through carefully crafted traditional ware and providing a sense of cultural heritage (Kumar, 2021). ...
... Engaging in needlework has been recognized for its positive effects on mental health, fostering mindfulness, reducing stress levels, and alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression (Scott & Williams, 2024). By focusing on the needlework task, individuals may find a therapeutic outlet that promotes relaxation and mental clarity (Corkhill et al., 2014). Furthermore, the handiwork may provide a sense of accomplishment and the opportunity for creative expression. ...
... Almost all the included studies addressed the social benefits of needlecraft. The act of creating a textile item is usually solitary but often done in groups, or the end product is gifted to others, making needlecraft a social activity (Brooks et al., 2019;Corkhill et al., 2014). Some studies have found that it is not about the end product; needlecraft is simply the conduit that brings people together (Corkhill et al., 2014). ...
Encompassing many crafts, needlecraft has been popular, particularly amongst women, for centuries. This scoping review mapped and explored primary research on sewing, crocheting, knitting, lacemaking, embroidery and quilting and its impact on mental health and well-being. A comprehensive systematic search across PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Google Scholar was conducted in January 2024, identifying 25 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Four themes (and 15 subthemes) emerged from the data: (1) mental well-being; (2) social connection, sense of value and belonging; (3) sense of purpose, achievement and satisfaction; and (4) self-identity, family, culture and legacy. The review showed that needlecraft has an overwhelmingly positive effect on mental health and general well-being. This scoping review may be used to inform mental health nurses and other professionals of the benefits of needlecraft for a wide variety of consumers and may also find application in the well-being of healthcare workers.
... The signifcance of making crafts has been studied among highly diverse groups of people in various life situations (e.g., Collier, 2011;Corkhill et al., 2014;Kouhia, 2015;Mason, 2005;Pöllänen, 2015). According to Pöllänen (2012), crafting as an occupation helps reduce stress and serves as a calming activity for the mind. ...
... No longer seen as inherently solitary, crafting has shifted toward greater collaboration among crafters (Adams-Price & Steinman, 2007;Kouhia, 2012), who increasingly seek opportunities to work and socialize with others who share their passion (Corkhill et al., 2014;Kouhia, 2023). Research suggests that crafting with others not only fosters the formation of new friendships but also strengthens connections within a community (Huhmarniemi, 2021;Kouhia, 2015;Niinimäki et al., 2021). ...
The purpose of this study was to examine the views of student teachers on the meaning of craft hobbying. This study employed a qualitative case study approach and used essay submissions from a sample of craft student teachers enrolled in a craft-related course. The study findings suggest that making crafts plays a significant role in both their personal lives and academic pursuits. Their perception of craft making transcends mere recreational activity and is viewed as a means of expressing their creativity, honing their skills, and promoting sustainability. It seems that crafting is culturally ingrained in Finnish craft student teachers.
... Terminada essa pesquisa e curiosa sobre a forma como esse fazer material afetava a quem o realizava em nível emocional (Collier, 2011;Corkhill et al., 2014), aproximei-me, pela primeira vez, em 2016, a trabalhar com costureiras da memória na Colômbia. Isto pela mão de outras antropólogas que há muito pensavam a violência política juntamente com esses coletivos, constituídos principalmente por mulheres afetadas pelos flagelos do conflito armado no país. ...
.A primeira coisa é agradecer o convite do “Grupo de Estudos em Memória, Gênero e Identidade” da Universidade Federal do Maranhão para participar deste III Encontro. O tema geral deste evento “Gênero em Movimento: Corpo, Política e Luto” me interpela de formas muito particulares. Me alegra muito poder ter esta possibilidade de compartilhar com vocês algumas das minhas pesquisas atuais sobre como o fazer têxtil, e o que esta prática material gera, as formas como nos vincula, as viagens a que nos convida, pode contribuir para pensar (material ou mais-que-humanamente) a perda, a dor e consequentemente o luto (ou aquiloque o transcende).
... El tejido resulta en un satisfactor sinérgico a varias de las necesidades humanas, en tanto es una actividad creativa y manual, concebida como una herramienta eficaz para mejorar la salud y el bienestar (Corkhill, Hemmings, Maddock, y Riley, 2014;Brooks, Ta, Townsend y Backman, 2019;SjöbergyPorko-hudd, 2019), el cual es un concepto que refiere a la capacidad de lograr el máximo potencial personal, hacer frente a las tensiones diarias y contribuir productivamente a la sociedad (OMS, 2020). ...
“Tejiendo vida” es un proyecto que propone espacios recreativos y culturales intergeneracionales que revalorizan saberes populares para la promoción del bienestar a través del tejido como medio aglutinador. “Las Eximias”, sus integrantes, constituyen un grupo de mujeres residentes en la ciudad de La Rioja, que se ha conformado al interior de la experiencia de extensión. Sus reuniones son semanales y el lugar de encuentro fue variando según el acuerdo realizado con diferentes organizaciones. Se ha erigido como un espacio educativo informal que, al mismo tiempo, es una red que sostiene a cada una de sus participantes. El proyecto favorece el vínculo, el diálogo y la contención de quienes conforman el grupo a partir de la producción de interaprendizajes de tejidos, tintes y técnicas ancestrales. El principal propósito del proyecto fue, en base a experiencias previas, responder a la necesidad de quienes coincidían en el gusto por el tejido asociado a búsquedas terapéuticas.
Disability offers important considerations for participatory crafting projects that seek to foreground diverse forms of knowledge-making. As a case study in ‘disability craft’, this ethnographic knitting project uses collaborative knitting pattern design to explore autistic adults’ interests in the context of the autistic self-advocacy movement in the United States. Colloquially known as ‘special interests’, these interests challenge ableist stereotypes about what it means to be autistic. Crucially, this project was informed by the autistic author’s own special interest of knitting, making special interests both the object and method of research. Knitting is used to explore what counts as meaningful knowledge and who can create it. Through themes of identity, well-being and communication, special interests are shown to be intensely meaningful. The final knitted objects from this project materialize knowledge about how autistic people navigate the world and show how craft can support autistic activism against epistemic injustice.
This article explores the narratives embedded in the public discourse that surrounds knitting in the United Kingdom today. Knitting, a process by which a fabric or 3D object is made, is a familiar concept to most. Using a single end of yarn, a four-way stretch fabric is created. Despite this versatility and the abundance of applications it brings, the general public’s understanding of knitting places it firmly in the domestic sphere. Through the analysis of discourse within articles featuring the term ‘knitting’ published in The Guardian in 2021, I analyse how and why particular representations of knitting still dominate and direct cultural attitudes towards the discipline. To provide further context, I will compare the language used in articles from the same source and timeframe featuring an alternative term: painting. This comparison provides a means through which narratives concerning both disciplines become more clearly visible. With applications spanning the medical, construction and automotive industries, knitting, a process that can be zero waste, is very well suited to tackling the environmental challenges we face today. This paper illustrates, however, that there remains a particular narrative that surrounds knitting in sections of the British media: one centred on the domestic, the female and increasingly, mental health. I suggest that this prevents knitting from being contextualized in more broadly innovative ways. This article aims to uncover the explicit and implicit ways in which language used in this identified section of the British media influences and shapes the public’s understanding of knitting.
In the latter years of the twentieth century, the social relevance of the leisure field diminished as consumption and individualism came to dominate leisure and recreation research and praxis across modern democratic nations. A consequence of this focus in leisure studies has been a neglect of community and the common good. Now, at the commencement of the twenty-first century, three interrelated crises become increasingly apparent - the crisis of identity or self, a social crisis, and a political crisis. If leisure studies is to contribute to an attempt to address these crises and rebuild community, how might this happen without returning to the norms, duties and traditional structures that have oppressed and marginalized citizens? In this paper the notion of social capital is used to examine community structures and their potential contribution to social cohesion, trust, mutuality, co-operation and openness. The challenge is to develop a concept of community that can provide spaces for the social self and civic engagement to emerge. The paper explores the role of leisure practices in this pursuit. Central to the discussion is Borgmann's notion of focal practices - those pursuits which bring an engagement of mind and body and a centring power - and the way in which such practices create shared meaning and communities of celebration. Participation in communities of celebration entails people coming together in sports, festivals, hobbies, volunteering, and the arts, and finding in these leisure activities common and public goods. This communitarian conceptualization of leisure stands in stark contrast to the privatization of leisure that has become commonplace in recent decades.
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.
This chapter covers key elements of the fashion process from the initial inspiration to the final product. It explains what influences fashion, the means by which that happens, the role of the consumer and the retailer in the fashion cycle and how new fashion is disseminated. The role of fashion designers in creating new fashion is considered, as is the impact of global issues such as sustainability and ethics. The impact of new technology on the fashion system is considered in the context of design and e-commerce. The case studies explore different fashion perspectives and how the impact of e-tailers is changing the fashion retail landscape.
We discuss the emergence of a new craft movement known as Stitch'nBitch. Prevalent around the globe, particularly among women, this movement is based locally in places such as hotels and cafes, and virtually using the internet. The women meet to knit, stitch and talk. The groups use new technologies as an enabler and resource exchange. At the same time, their presence can be seen, in part, as a negative response to major political, social and technological changes including globalization, terrorism, damage to the environment and the dislocation of the Information Society. We introduce five themes to assist in the development of a research agenda into this new form of material culture, discussing (1) remedial, (2) progressive, (3) resistance, (4) nostalgic and (5) ironic possibilities. Each is considered in terms of their respective foci on community, cyberfeminism, craft, conservation and comment.