Hand Knitting and Your Mental Wellbeing

Knitting can be an intimidating art form to start. There are an overwhelming amount of yarn sizes, colors, and materials to choose from, as well as a variety of sizes of knitting needles. You may think it would take months, maybe years of experience to make something functional. 

If I told you that you could hand-knit your own blanket in less than 4 hours, with no experience, you might look at me like I'm crazy. You might not even have known that knitting without needles was even possible!

Coastal Design Workshops has developed a hand-knitting workshop that can teach you how to make a blanket, pillow or even a beanie in a matter of minutes, but also will help you unlock a new creative outlet.

There are scientifically proven mental health benefits that are associated with the art of knitting that you might not have been aware of before. Keep reading to find out the reasons we love hand-knitting so much, and how it can help you on your journey to mental wellbeing. 

First let’s talk about what we mean by hand-knitting. In our workshops, you learn to use jumbo sized yarn to make chunky blankets, pillows, beanies and even holiday stockings. Using a larger weight yarn helps you create the same loops, stitches and knots you would if you were knitting with needles, just on a supersized scale.

This means knitting a blanket just got so much easier, faster and less intimidating for a complete beginner. Chunky blanket knitting is not your grandma’s knitting. Instead of it taking months and months to complete a blanket, you can now take a quiet Sunday afternoon to be with yourself, your knitting and at the end of the day have a beautiful piece of art created by you!

According to research done by the Department of Clinical Psychology, crafts like knitting are particularly effective in reducing stress and combating any anxiety we may keep stored in our minds. Spending time focused on using your hands to create something has mental benefits beyond relaxation. Knitting can encourage new creative ideas in your career and your personal relationships. Furthermore, the feeling of accomplishment and pride you have when you learn a new skill is something everyone enjoys! Luckily, in our hour-long hand knitting classes, you will be on your way to creating joy for yourself in no time. 

It is very important for all of us to take the time to do things that make us happy and less of the things that don’t. Spending lots of time in front of screens and at office desks can take a toll on our physical and mental wellbeing. If you’re looking for a way to boost your creativity, productivity and overall mental health, consider hand-knitting as the perfect starting point.

Not to mention, when you learn to hand knit - the possibilities of creations are endless! Check out our virtual workshop options, or our local craft events in Saint Augustine, FL, for learning to create chunky knit blankets, pillows, beanies and more! They make perfect additions to any living room or bedroom, and also can be the next best gift idea for your loved ones.