Craft and Wellbeing Research
– Rosie Heape, 27th June 2019 Rosie is a Psychology Graduate from the University of Southampton, and aspiring Health Psychologist, who ran a study investigating the relationship between creative hobbies and wellbeing as her 3rdyear research project. Creative hobbies can be therapeutic in clinical populations, such as eating disorders and dementia. However, knowledge…
Powercraft: lunch-time craft session for staff
Louise Smith – 24th April 2019 Louise is an Occupational Therapist in the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust How many times have your work colleagues said ‘Let’s get together for a ‘crafty ‘evening soon!’ And then times goes on, life goes on ….and it just doesn’t happen. That was us, a small rural based NHS employed…
Knitting My Mind Back Together
– Christy Grace Collins, March 16th 2019 When I learned to knit at the age of six, I had no idea it would become an important therapy later in life. I just loved it. Six concussions later (from figure skating) and a slew of post concussive symptoms ranging from slurring my words, losing my balance,…
Messy Realities: Technology, Craft and Accessiblity
Exploring the messy realities of using crafting to soften the hard edges of technology
The knitting artifact: Neuroscience and knitting
A look at the weird and wonderful academic articles that have been published about knitting.
Touch and Happiness: What is the evidence?
Can touch have a positive effect on your emotional state? Scientists have wondered this since 1895…
The art of self-care: social butterfly or solo venture?
Emma writes about knitting in the pub and solo-crafting, and how they might promote wellbeing.
Projects: Process vs. Product
– By Anne Ferrey When we started the Yarnfulness Project, our goal was to find hard evidence on the effect of crochet/knitting/crafting on well-being. In researching this, we’ve tended to think about the benefits of crafting as if they would be similar for everyone – despite individual differences, we have been thinking about crafters as…
Changing perspectives on our research
On using public input to change our research plan, and getting back to basics.
My vessel of escapism
– Lucy Sutcliffe Lucy Sutcliffe is an artist, designer, maker, and textiles teacher, having studied for a BA in Textiles at Goldsmiths University. Her work uses a combination of mixed media, print and stitch, taking inspiration from vintage materials and postcards. She has written for us about her experiences with craft and wellbeing. As a…
Knitting at the Winter Olympics
Knitting on and off the slopes was popular with athletes as a way of relaxing. We wonder why that might be.
On Crochet and the Art of Chipping Away
Tiny steps can lead to huge results: Demonstrated using the medium of crochet
Research, Stress and Stitches
Beverly Ayling-Smith writes about her experiences of work stress and relaxation by stitching.
Do you want to write for us?
As our project is about including a community of contributors, we don’t want to be the only ones writing on the blog.
Five Ways Crafting Could Help your Mental Health
Anne looks into whether knitting or crochet help your mental health.
The Yarnfulness Project 