After listening to an interview with Carol Caparosa, founder of project Knit Well (linked below), I knew I had to read the book The Comfort of Knitting: a How-to-Knit Guide for Caregivers and Family. Project Knit Well is a not-for-profit organization that specializes in teaching patients receiving treatment for severe illness, as well as their families, loved ones, and professional caregivers, how to knit. They recognized the therapeutic benefits of knitting and seek to share instructions and materials with those who can benefit.
What I appreciate about this book is the recognition that caring-giving, while an act of love and kindness, can take an emotional toll. Oftentimes the strain of caring can go unnoticed, particularly in a medical setting where the emphasis is on the identified patient. Caregivers are at greater risk or depression as well as burnout and compassion fatigue. This can manifest as feelings of stress, anxiety, and hopelessness, difficulties sleeping, and loss of interest or enjoyment in activities.
The book nicely summarizes in plain terms some of the current research about the potential benefits of knitting for emotional and physical health. Cognitive benefits of knitting may include the lower the risk of memory impairment and delayed onset of dementia. Emotional benefits may include reduced depression, greater feelings of relaxation, a sense of accomplishment, and feelings of satisfaction. The structured, purposeful, and repetitive nature of knitting can also impart a sense of control which is particularly important for caregivers who may feel they have lost control over their lives due to their responsibilities and obligations for others.
“Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn’t hurt the untroubled spirit either.”
Elizabeth Zimmerman
The Comfort of Knitting also provides step by step knitting tutorials with photographs of each step. There are even seven easy projects for beginners. You are looking for a basic, introductory, brief text about knitting or self care this is a good place to start. If you are interested in the studies cited in this book you can find those in the links below:
The Benefits of Knitting for Personal and Social Wellbeing in Adulthood: Findings from an International Survey
Managing Anxiety in Eating Disorders with Knitting (Free Full-Text)
Engaging in Cognitive Activities, Aging, and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Population-Based Study (Free Full Text)
The Impact of a Knitting Intervention on Compassion Fatigue in Oncology Nurses (Free Full Text)