Women, Stress, Eating Disorders, and Knitting.

50452

This is an article from yahoo, but it struck a cord with me.

https://yahoo.com/makers/happiness-is-a-needle-and-thread-away-the-mental-113527012940.html

Sometimes, I can't get out of my own head. I think might take up knitting.

jgnatca

Lurrve that article. Great find.
As an added bonus, repetitive activities like knitting is retained even for Alzheimer's patients.
https://www.ted.com/talks/alanna_shaikh_how_i_m_preparing_to_get_alzheimer_s

Have you seen arm knitting?
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Arm-Knitted-Infinity-Scarf/

callsitlikeiseeit

i can knit a scarf.

its the only ting i can make. LOL

50452

I've resisted learning how to knit because I don't want that "old lady" look. @jgnatca, I'm going to check out your links.

dnamouse

I crochet, I'm too slow at knitting and it causes more stress lol

kristydi

If you do take up knitting (or crochet) check out Ravelry.com tons of free patterns and even more patterns to buy plus forums for help and chat. I'm not real active there right now, but my user name is the same. My project page has most of the stuff I've made.

Ang108

50452 wrote: »

I've resisted learning how to knit because I don't want that "old lady" look. @jgnatca, I'm going to check out your links.

That is a very out-of-date image you have of knitting. I belong to the biggest knitting community ( internet ) there is and the average age of a knitter there is 36 years and a few month. Not exactly the " old lady " image you mention.
Now, I am going on 70 and knit, but I don't care what people think, because knitting keeps me sane, plus it is one of my creative outlets. I started when I was about 5 years old and I am still going strong.

tomatoey

Knitting is awesome. Most of the women in my family used to knit, they all know how to see really well, and my grandma s great at crocheting. I don't have the patience, myself, I'd rather destress at the gym. Which is fine but there are no pretty sweaters at the end of it.

SherryTeach

I have been knitting for over 10 years now. I love it so much I regret that I didn't learn it earlier in my life. It reduces stress, provides an outlet for intellectual and creativity pursuits, and prevents boredom eating. I participate in several knitting communities and have made lots of friends. I can definitely recommend it. Many of the people in my group are in their 20's. Some men too.

tomatoey

*SEW

Ellaskat

I knit. I'm 36; took it up at 32. Love it. Best way to occupy a long train commute.

williams969

50452 wrote: »

I've resisted learning how to knit because I don't want that "old lady" look. @jgnatca, I'm going to check out your links.

Oh, no! Yarn crafts are definitely not just for "old ladies". Our university even has a knitting and crocheting club. Those young adults make some really awesome stuff.

Even my brother (he's definitely a "man's man"--ex military and all that) crochets for stress relief. He favors sci-fi related crocheting--Star Wars, Firefly, etc. characters and pillows and such. He puts my plain old scarves, hats, and socks abilities to shame, lol.

Ellaskat

Also... I'm also on ravelry,but not very active.... I taught myself to knit using youtube videos. Do yourself a favor and learn continental knitting. It's a million times faster.

knittnponder

I knit and crochet. I'm bi-stitchual. It keeps me from eating while watching TV because I don't want to get food on my beautiful yarn! And for the record, all four of my kids knit and/or crochet and none of them are even legal to drink yet.

JPW1990

I use knitting to survive all the waiting room time when I have to take someone to the doctor or dentist. It's really fun at the pediatrician appointments when toddlers stop dead in their tracks and just stare at the needles moving.

50452

kristydi wrote: »

If you do take up knitting (or crochet) check out Ravelry.com tons of free patterns and even more patterns to buy plus forums for help and chat. I'm not real active there right now, but my user name is the same. My project page has most of the stuff I've made.

I will. Thanks!

I've been looking at pictures online (not many) and have yet to find one where the illustration is good enough to understand. I'm sure I'll find something, though.

Ang108 wrote: »

That is a very out-of-date image you have of knitting.

williams969 wrote: »

Oh, no! Yarn crafts are definitely not just for "old ladies".

I know, and I'm properly ashamed.

I just need to get past it. I'm projecting my notions onto my husband, I guess. I don't want him to walk into a room and see me knitting and watching TV and think, "I married my grandmother."

williams969 wrote: »

Our university even has a knitting and crocheting club. Those young adults make some really awesome stuff.

Even my brother (he's definitely a "man's man"--ex military and all that) crochets for stress relief. He favors sci-fi related crocheting--Star Wars, Firefly, etc. characters and pillows and such. He puts my plain old scarves, hats, and socks abilities to shame, lol.

That sounds awesome.

tomatoey wrote: »

*SEW

I actually do sew. Not well, but I do love it. Next week I plan on cleaning and organizing the room with all my sewing supplies. Right now, that room is my sewing room/junk room/brooder room for my baby chicks. (Chicks are cool )

knittnponder wrote: »

I knit and crochet. I'm bi-stitchual. It keeps me from eating while watching TV because I don't want to get food on my beautiful yarn! And for the record, all four of my kids knit and/or crochet and none of them are even legal to drink yet.

Ha! You made me laugh out loud.

brendak76

I taught myself to knit last year after a surgery when I was in bed a couple of weeks afterwards. From YouTube videos. I started from square one and I just loved it. After a bit I sat with a friend one afternoon and she helped me with some trouble spots and how to read a pattern. I can't make anything too fancy and wish I had more time to do it, but thanks for the reminder to pick it back up again. It helps with the late night snacking.

Smallc10

Knitting is awesome!!! I'm only 27 and always have a knitting bag with me, I don't think it makes me look old at all. It is so therapeutic and helps me relax and gets me through stress without turning to food. You can't eat when you have a needle in each of your hands!

misskarne

My fingers are too stupid to knit or crochet. My mother attempted to teach all of us at one point. My sisters can knit and crochet, I never got the hang of it. But I can sew both by hand and machine, so!

MzShelleRenea

Knitting is great! I highly recommend it. knittinghelp.com is a great website with tons of video tutorials. I basically lived there the 1st month I was learning to knit.

50452

misskarne wrote: »

My fingers are too stupid to knit or crochet.

Ha. Funny

MzShelleRenea wrote: »

Knitting is great! I highly recommend it. knittinghelp.com is a great website with tons of video tutorials. I basically lived there the 1st month I was learning to knit.

Thanks.

eponine1976

I knit, crochet, cross stitch, and quilt. I can spend hours and hours at my crafts on any given day. Only problem is all of those are very sedentary hobbies that don't burn many calories! On the plus side though is that I will become so engrossed in my projects that it distracts me from constantly thinking about food or snacking which helps me to not eat as much.

HeySwoleSister

I knit and spin (hello, fellow Ravelers, I see you there!) and tried to learn to crochet once. Once. It did not turn out well. Hooking is not for me, despite the glamorous wardrobe and easy money.

I actually got laughed at in a thread here once for giving "knitting" as a "diet tip." I think that handwork is the BEST thing to do when trying to cut out mindless snacking. I stand up and spin on a drop spindle in front of the TV instead of sitting and snacking...and I never get popcorn or candy at the movies because it would mess up my knitting. (I always bring boring garter stitch to the movies so I don't need to look at my hands. Someday this darn Color Affection will be DONE, I'm so bored with it!)

50452

EWJLang wrote: »

I knit and spin (hello, fellow Ravelers, I see you there!) and tried to learn to crochet once. Once. It did not turn out well. Hooking is not for me, despite the glamorous wardrobe and easy money.

I actually got laughed at in a thread here once for giving "knitting" as a "diet tip." I think that handwork is the BEST thing to do when trying to cut out mindless snacking. I stand up and spin on a drop spindle in front of the TV instead of sitting and snacking...and I never get popcorn or candy at the movies because it would mess up my knitting. (I always bring boring garter stitch to the movies so I don't need to look at my hands. Someday this darn Color Affection will be DONE, I'm so bored with it!)

I tried drop spindling once. It was a cool thing, but I couldn't help but imagine that that is how people spun threads/yarn before the spinning wheel came along.

At what rate can you produce yarn (or whatever) by drop spindle? What do you do with it.

This is fascinating to me.

Knitters: I want to start. What is an easy first time project? Potholders? What's the minimum equipment supplies needed beyond knitting needles and yarn?

HeySwoleSister

50452 wrote: »

EWJLang wrote: »

I knit and spin (hello, fellow Ravelers, I see you there!) and tried to learn to crochet once. Once. It did not turn out well. Hooking is not for me, despite the glamorous wardrobe and easy money.

I actually got laughed at in a thread here once for giving "knitting" as a "diet tip." I think that handwork is the BEST thing to do when trying to cut out mindless snacking. I stand up and spin on a drop spindle in front of the TV instead of sitting and snacking...and I never get popcorn or candy at the movies because it would mess up my knitting. (I always bring boring garter stitch to the movies so I don't need to look at my hands. Someday this darn Color Affection will be DONE, I'm so bored with it!)

I tried drop spindling once. It was a cool thing, but I couldn't help but imagine that that is how people spun threads/yarn before the spinning wheel came along.

At what rate can you produce yarn (or whatever) by drop spindle? What do you do with it.

This is fascinating to me.

Knitters: I want to start. What is an easy first time project? Potholders? What's the minimum equipment supplies needed beyond knitting needles and yarn?

Spinning wheels weren't invented until about 1200 CE, so every bit of fabric before then, from mummies wraps to sails on Viking ships? All spun on spindles. It takes me a while to spin up a whole 4 oz bump of fiber, but it usually gets me only a little less yardage than a commercial hank of the same weight. I've knit it up into shawls and hats before, and also gifted them in Ravelry swaps to non-spinning knitters who wanted to give handspun a try. I use supported spindles (there is one in my current profile pic!) while a passenger on roadtrips (like garter stitch, I don't have to look at my hands) and suspended (aka drop) spindles in front of the TV...even while walking outside! I also have a collection of working antique spinning wheels because I'm just that weird.

To learn to knit, watch a bunch of You Tube videos. To start, make a washcloth (get cheap "kitchen cotton" yarn for that, they make great dishrags or shower cloths) or, if you want to start with something prettier, just make a garter stitch scarf from something soft and pretty. (But, don't use the eyelash or other novelty yarn. Some people will suggest it, but I think it's a better learning experience if you can actually see your stitches) Join Ravelry. Make 8000 new friends. Then, when you are ready to try a pattern, I usually suggest Hitchhiker as a first scarf/shawl because it's super easy and there are lots of examples on there to look at.

DO EET! I've also had friends quit smoking by doing more handwork. It's amazing how many bad habits come from just wanting something to do with fidgety fingers!

Dragn77

I dont know how to knit, but I do crochet... Learned how when I was about 8, so I never considered it an old lady thing LoL! It is super relaxing though...I have issues with stress, so I should pick this back up again. All I can make are blankets though, have never expanded my horizons with that. LoL

FitFitzy331

My grandmother taught me how to crochet (very basically) when I was young, and I was curious about knitting. I know the needles come in all sizes, any recommendation for just starting out or is it based on a pattern you choose?

HealthyStartsHere

This is wonderful!

knitapeace

Did someone call me? My knitter senses are tingling...

Knitting is my meditation. Ravelry.com is the best thing to ever happen to the internet...all the knitting in the universe in one incredibly well-designed and user-friendly website!

freefallebby

knitapeace wrote: »

Did someone call me? My knitter senses are tingling...

Knitting is my meditation. Ravelry.com is the best thing to ever happen to the internet...all the knitting in the universe in one incredibly well-designed and user-friendly website!

Bahahaha, your post made my day! I'mma check that website out, always wanted to knit, just started sewing again because I got a new machine. I'm a pillow making crazy lately...

WickedPineapple

I knit and do embroidery. I do some other crafts too with sewing, paper, and used to do glasswork, which I need to get back into! I've noticed over the years that I'm much happier when I have a craft project. As someone else mentioned above, I do it while watching TV or movies so I don't feel lazy.