- 2014 Tracking Study surveyed over 3100 crocheters and knitters nationwide about motivation for doing these crafts, benefits they derive, where they get inspiration and what they are making.
- Conducted online, in October, like the past study. 3178 participants
- All regions represented, NE – 22%, SE – 24%, Midwest 28%, W – 11%, NW – 7%, SW – 8%
- All age groups: 15% 18-34 yrs, 13% 35-44 yrs, 23% 45-54 yrs, 32% 55-64 yrs, 17% 65+
- 48% primarily crochet, 32% primarily knit, 20% equally knit and crochet
- 84% report they crochet or knit 3-4X per week. 58% claim crochet or knit daily. 53% of 18-34 crochet or knit daily.
- Hats, scarves and baby blankets were of the most popular items made for charity.
- Top 3 most important reasons they do the craft: Provides creative outlet (65%), enjoy making things for others (51%), provides sense of accomplishment (44%). 45-54 yrs (70%) and 35-44 (69%) more likely than younger to say they knit/crochet b/c it gives creative outlet. 18-24 years creative outlet ranked 1st (57%) follwed by cope with stress (54%) and feeling productive (47%).
- Top benefits: feeling accomplishment (93%), reduced stress (85%), improved mood (68%), and sense of confidence (56%).
- 90% of all say improves mood. 90% say helps them relax. 76% of all who say they have health challenges claim it helps them cope. Of all who have health challenges, 85% say helps relax. 81% decreases stress and 57% decreases anxiety.
- 69% report having participated in a knit/crochet group. They have experienced the following benefits: social (78%), happy (59%), sense of community (58%), proud (53%).
- 37% know a child who knits/crochets and noticed a positive influence. 46% noticed sense of accomplishment, 31% more self-confidence, 26% perseverance, 24% better concentration.
Knitting ‘can delay’ memory loss
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3204924/
- 2/18/09 when article published.
- 200 ppl aged 70-89 with mild memory probs compared with group that had no impairment.
- Researchers from Mayo Clinic in Minnesota asked volunteers about daily activities w/in past year and how mentally active they were b/w 50-65.
- Those that were reading, playing games, doing craft hobbies like patchworking or knitting, were found to have 40% reduced risk of memory impairment for those during their middle age.
- The same activities reduced the risk by 30-50% in later life.
- Those that watched tv for less than 7 hours a day were 50% less likely to develop memory loss than those that spent longer.
- This research was based on past memories so the findings need to be confirmed with additional research.
- https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/1444. This was used in 2016.
Research on Therapeutic Knitting
- The Impact of Knitting Intervention on Compassion Fatigue in Oncology Nurses February 2016
- Compassion fatigue: “emotional exhaustion and stress that nurses can feel when caring for terminally ill patients.” Contributes to high nurse turnover rates, poor job satisfaction and decreased ability to provide quality care.
- Oncology nurses are especially vulnerable to develop compassion fatigue because of the nature of their job.
- “Knitting has been shown to lower heart rate and blood pressure and reduce muscle tension.” – study in 2001.
- The study was designed to explore the impact of a knitting education program and related incidence of compassion fatigue in oncology nurses.
- Participants were from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington DC. Nurses worked part time or full time on one of two inpatient hematology and oncology units, one year experience at least and chemo and biotherapy certifications.
- Study participants worked with knitting instructors from Project Knitwell, a non-profit org whose mission is to bring the therepeutic benefits of knitting to people dealing with stressful situations.The volunteers provided baskets with yarn and needles to each nursing unit. Nurses could knit on breaks, during lunch or after dealing with stressful situations.
- When possible they learned to knit in groups which gave time to debrief over stressful situations while knitting.
- At the end of the project, each participatants square was was conjioned, framed and displayed.
- The knitting intervention on compassion fatigue was measured with a tool that measures compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, burnout and secondary stress using numerical rating system.
- There were 39 nurses with an average experience of 8.16 years and the average age was 32 (22-65 yrs). Each participated in the program 1-5 times during the six week time.
- Burnout scores were change from 24.72 preintervention to 22.91 post. The nurses with the highest burnout scores pre had most decrease in burnout scores after.
- Younger nurses (<30) experienced lower compassion satisfaction and higher burnout prior to the study. Scores improved after participating.
- Open ended questions asked at the end survey to evaluate the study and its benefits. Comments include:
- “I really enjoyed learning to knit. It has provided me with a new skill.”
- “I really enjoyed the soothing rhythm of knitting and creating something useful.”
- “Oncology nursing is very demanding, and the staff members definitely need ways to de-stress, enjoy life, etc. So learning a new creative skill is a good way to help accomplish this.”
- “I feel like it was a very positive experience. In addition to freeing our minds and bringing back compassion, it was something for staff to bond over.”
- Many reported not having enough time to participate, but wish they could’ve. And night time knitting instructors were not readily available for the night shift nurses.
- Conclusion: “this study demostrated that a knitting intervention may help oncology nurses manage stressors on their shift and combat compassion fatigue.”
Managing anxiety in eating disorders with knitting.
- 38 women with “Recovery from anorexia nervosa (AN) if often confounded by intrusive, anxious preoccupations with control of eating, weight and shape.”
- Results: 28/38 (74%) lessened the intensity of their fears and thoughts and cleared their minds of eating disorder preoccupations, 28/38 (74%) reported it had a calming and therepeutic effect, 20/38 (53%) provided satisfaction, pride and sense of accomplishment.
- Knitting may benefit inpatients with eating disorders by reducing their anxious preoccupations about eating, weight and shape control.
Herbert Benson: The Relaxation Response. Director of the Benson-Henry Institute, Mind Body Medicine professor at Harvard Medical School
https://www.mass.gov/video/relaxation-response-dr-herbert-benson-teaches-you-the-basics
- 2 steps are necessary. #1 is repetition, could be word, sound, phrase or repetitive movement. #2 is disregard other thoughts when they come and go back to the repetition.
- The 2 steps “Break the train of everyday thinking”
- WHen you have your word or phrase, sit comfortably and close your eyes. Relax your body. Breathe slowly and on each out breath say silently your word or prayer. Other words will come to mind, it’s normal. Just say oh well and come back to your word and continue your repetition. Do for about 5 minutes. Keep your eyes closed, but start thinking your regular thoughts.
- Practice daily for 10-15 minutes or so. you are tappinging into a resource which is the opposite to stress.