The Power of Knitting

We caught up with a few Let’s Knit Together members to find out how knitting has touched their lives and kept them going through hard times.

DIANE HALSTEAD uses her passion to help focus through dark times.

“I’ve been knitting since I was a teenager, having been taught by my grandmother. As the years went by I made sweaters for my children, but as they grew, I lost all interest, so I put my yarn away for years. It wasn’t until I suffered with depression that I took it up again. It really did save me.

“Now, when I feel like I’m in a difficult place, I go to my craft room, get my knitting out and I know that I’m in a safe haven. Knitting is my best friend, and keeps me from falling apart.

“I’ve been a member now for over a year, and I never get fed up with what the club offers me. For anyone thinking about joining, all I can say is that if you don’t, you’re missing out on great people who have got a lot to give, all for less than the price of a cup of coffee.”

DOROTHY FORD lives in County Down and uses knitting to help her through periods of bad health.

“I love all types of knitting, but I particularly enjoy making toys. I used to be outgoing when I was younger, and knitting had been put on the back burner. However, I was born with a
bone disease and I knew that one day I would likely end up in a wheelchair. Fifteen years ago I had emergency surgery, and was given a colostomy bag. I lost all confidence and shut myself away.

“In an effort to give me something to focus on, my husband bought me a knitting magazine. I immediately remembered how much joy it had brought me. Soon enough, I felt like myself again.

“Joining Let’s Knit Together is the greatest thing I’ve done for my knitting, and my confidence is going up week by week.”

KATHRYN LASKEY lives in the Wirral and uses her hobby to help her through times of high anxiety.

“I first learned to knit at the age of four, when my grandmother taught me – and I’ve not stopped since! I’m a Registered Nurse and I’m currently working in a nursing home, where I have been for most of my career.

“Throughout my life I have experienced periods of depression and anxiety, which can make me feel horribly inadequate and useless at times. However, when I complete a knitting project that I’ve been working on, it makes me feel worthwhile. Knitting is my release, and working with yarn and a set of needles keeps me sane. I love trying out all sorts of knitting, from small simple makes right through to more advanced projects – I recently finished the Green Goddess shawl from a past issue of Let’s Knit, which was really fun to complete.

“I can be hard on myself – sometimes, the advanced patterns I try might take me a while to complete, and I will often unpick and start again because it has to be perfect. But once I’m finished, I am filled with confidence.

“I took part in the Let’s Knit Together Birthday Party this year and I actually won a prize – I received a special first birthday Let’s Knit Together mug and a tote bag. I got a real personal boost from that. I especially love the bag, because it’s so useful for keeping my current projects in!”

Knitting is proven to have mental health benefits and is a wonderfully mindful activity because of its slow and repetitive nature. As you can see from just three of our members, it’s a hobby that helps people copy with stressful times in life and nothing beats that sense of achievement when you get to cast off a project!

Find out more about a Let’s Knit Together membership here and we’ll see you in the Facebook group!