I remember when I was a teen, my grandmother tried to teach me how to crochet. I didn’t have the patience for it and never learned.
Years later, after retiring I took it up. My husband’s cousin’s wife got me started, and I remember practicing the chain stitch while my stepmother was recovering from hip surgery.
Over time I learned a couple more stitches and I was off to the races. I made my husband a scarf, which he actually wore, and small baby blankets for my grandsons.
I thoroughly enjoyed crocheting and found it relaxing. The one thing I never learned, though, was how to read and follow a pattern.
In researching the brain I learned that knitting and crocheting are actually good for you. They can reduce stress, improve your ability to focus, and help with relaxation.
The repetitive motion has an almost meditative effect and at the same time learning new patterns can help to create new neural pathways.
Engaging in crocheting and knitting can also alter mood due to the release of dopamine. Add to this opportunities to spend time with others who enjoy this hobby and it becomes a win-win.
Perhaps the most interesting thing I learned had to do with the placement of your hands while crocheting or knitting. When you hold your hands together in front of you this creates a “safety bubble.” This can help to make you feel less anxious without you even knowing why.
If you haven’t given it a try you can find YouTube videos that will teach you how to either crochet or knit. I find crocheting to be preferable because it’s easier to fix a mistake. Although, I did teach myself how to knit using YouTube.
Do you know how to crochet or knit?
I love to crochet I started to learn when I was 5 just making a chain. Over the years I have got better! I go to my little happy place when crocheting! I learned to read patterns when I was a teen my mother never did learn to read them. She could look at something and just make it!
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