The art of making has been shown to provide a host of benefits, including reducing stress, improving mood, strengthening the brain and engaging the senses. Research has found that activities such as knitting and sewing boost happiness levels, while drawing, painting and sculpting help with mental health. In fact, sewing and knitting have the highest participation rates of all arts, with embroidery and crochet following closely.

The reason for this is that crafting can provide a way to escape from the stresses of daily life and focus on one thing at a time. When you get lost in your project, it’s like a meditation, where worries are pushed to the back of your mind as you focus on stitching or knitting, helping to reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem. Plus, the act of creating something from scratch is a satisfying experience.

Another reason why crafting is so good for us is that it can help alleviate symptoms of depression, especially if you choose to make things using recycled materials or trash that would otherwise be thrown away. Crafting stimulates the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which can help to improve your mood and relieve feelings of sadness. It also helps to combat chronic stress by lowering cortisol, which can have devastating effects on your health.

It can also be a great way to express your feelings, whether you’re doing a collage or decoupage to help name and understand what you’re feeling, or sewing or baking to give voice to your emotions. Many crafts can engage the senses too, such as using the right colours to stir up creativity and problem-solving skills or cooking to stimulate the sense of smell.

In addition, crafts can provide an opportunity to socialize. Knitting groups, for instance, can be a wonderful way to meet new people and make friends. It’s not surprising that crafting is becoming increasingly popular, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, with more and more people searching for ways to occupy their free time and to feel productive and satisfied with their efforts.

What’s more, it can be a great way to save money, as you can turn old clothes or cardboard boxes into creative knick-knacks. And, of course, you can save even more money by sourcing your materials from nature or recycling your household goods! So, what are you waiting for? Pick up your paintbrush or knitting needle and start creating!