Knitting as Self-Care

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are eager to embrace winter traditions filled with cheery decorations, joyful celebrations, and meaningful gatherings with cherished family and friends. But before we get there, we often find ourselves racing to the finish line as we tackle endless to-do lists. How can we get everything done while still finding time to take care of ourselves?

As knitters, we know all about the powerful mental-health benefits of maintaining a sustained knitting practice. Finding a way to prioritize a self-care task like knitting is key to mobilizing the energy we need to embrace all the season has to offer. Read on for some essential tips to help you knit your way through and stay calm during the holidays.

Try these tips:

1. Set Your Space
Sometimes having a visual cue that points to knitting can make all the difference in your daily routine. Before things get hectic, take a little time to prepare a go-to spot in your home where you’ve staged everything you need to knit—project, yarn, tools, and perhaps a few inspiring knitting books or magazines. Then when you find yourself with a bit of free time, you’ll be able to take advantage of every spare minute by going to your prepared space.

Find cozy, well-lit spaces in your home to support your knitting habit throughout the season. Photo by Hutomo Abrianto on Unsplash

2. Give FaceTime to your Knits
Constant contact with our cellular phones is a mainstay of modern life. But when you crave a little me-time, try reaching for your knitting rather than your phone. Learning to be conscious of the time you spend on social media and the internet can open up blocks of time for things you really want to do, like knit. And the best part? Each time you choose your knitting over your cell phone, you’ll be on your way to solidifying a habit that will improve your mood and boost your creativity over the long haul.

3. Keep it Close—Buy Local
With the proliferation of online retail shops for knitters, it’s easy to click, click, click when shopping for yarn and knitting supplies. But there’s nothing quite like holding a skein of yarn in your hands to feel connected to the process of knitting at its most basic level. Consider planning an authentic experience to a local farm with loved ones this season. Farmers’ markets and small, locally owned yarn shops are also great places to support makers and source products made by people and animals you can interact with.

Support local farms when sourcing yarn, as with these yarns from Connecticut farms. Photo by the author

4. Listen to Your Body
Paying attention to your body as you move through your day is important. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids to keep your body functioning at its best. And when you sit to knit, make sure your chair is as comfortable as possible (not too soft, not too hard) so you can maintain good posture, with your knees slightly lower than your hips and your feet flat on the floor. Consider adding in a few simple hand and neck stretches every few rows to keep your body relaxed and flexible.

5. AMRAP It
Have you heard of AMRAP? The acronym stands for As Many Reps (or Rounds) As Possible. It’s a high-intensity workout strategy used by athletic trainers, but you can apply this idea to your knitting by setting goals that adapt to whatever timeframe you have on hand. Got five minutes? Challenge yourself to pick up your knitting and complete five rows. It’s a satisfying way to accomplish a considerable amount of stitching in small, manageable bursts that can provide an energy recharge to carry over into your next task.

6. Take Notice of Nature
This time of year, we often think of warm, cozy indoor gatherings to escape the cold, blustery temperatures outside. But rather than contemplating a long winter’s nap, why not embrace the season by stepping into it? Bundling up and heading out into the cold can help you de-stress and reactivate your energy levels. Take a brisk walk and notice the colors of the birds, the spindly shapes of tree branches, and the diverse ecosystem around you. Be inspired by the beauty of the natural world and use what you see (textures, colors, shapes) in your knitting.

Take knitting inspiration from colors, shapes, and textures in nature. Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

7. Light it Up!
Adjusting to less daylight this time of year can be a balancing act. As the nights get longer and the temperatures get colder, seek out well-lit, cozy spaces in your home that are functional for knitting. By day, take advantage of the sunshine by selecting places with lots of natural light. By night, identify overhead lighting and lamps that will illuminate your projects without eye strain. It might be worth investing in supplemental lighting to create environments that keep you relaxed and knitting though the season.

8. Phone a Friend
Connecting with others through craft is a powerful way to bring comfort and joy during busy times of the year. Identify a friend who loves to knit as much as you do and make a plan to nurture each other’s healthy habit. Share a daily or weekly knitting goal and plan to touch base by phone or virtually to stay on track. Knowing your friend will hold you accountable can provide just enough motivation to keep you committed to taking care of yourself through the mindful ritual of knitting.

9. Practice Mini Self-Care
Despite our best intentions, it’s hard to take time for ourselves when life is hectic. Things come up, plans fall through, and soon we’re back at square one without being any closer to calm. But don’t give up! Make one change and build from there.

Practice mini self-care by picking up your knitting at the same time every day. Photo by Marina Emakov on Unsplash

Enjoy the Season

Go slow and be gentle with yourself. Carving out time for yourself may be as simple as doing one little thing—like picking up your knitting project—at the same time of day, every single day. It doesn’t matter if it’s first thing in the morning or the last thing at night, as long as you strive for consistency.

We all want to savor the seasons, but sometimes we find our energy levels depleted because of the multitude of “must dos” on our list. Focusing on your own self-care can create a big impact when you are feeling tired and stressed. When you insist on knitting for even a tiny bit each day, you may find yourself happier, healthier, more energetic, and better equipped to enjoy every moment of the season ahead. Happy Holidays!

Marsha Borden writes, knits, and makes art on the shoreline in Connecticut, USA. She enjoys collecting needlework-related historical objects, including paper needlebooks, darning eggs, and button hooks. She has written for PieceWork magazine and the PieceWork website. Find her @marshamakes on Instagram and at marshaborden.com.