Name: Lemai
Age: 22 years old
Country: USA
Instagram: @lemaiknits
Website: http://lemaiknits.carrd.co/
About the series
The Healing Craft Series features creators sharing their thoughts and feelings on crafting and healing through crafting.
“Crafting […] helps me slow down and reflect on my day while connecting my mind to good thoughts and places”
Lemai, @lemaiknits
What kind of craft do you do and how long have you been doing it for?
Knitting since July 2016
Crocheting since March 2017
What is your favourite place/time of day to craft and why?
I usually craft during the evening due to my crazy school schedule and/or once I finish everything on my to-do-list. Crafting at the end of the day helps me relax, wind down and meditate. It helps me slow down and reflect on my day while connecting my mind to good thoughts and places. My crafting ideas are more spontaneous in the morning, so I try to write down or draw those ideas and implement them at night.
What inspires you (in life & in crafting)?
My life experiences and what I see on a day-to-day basis has inspired me to create pieces based on my feelings and wild thoughts. My pieces are so colorful because I see things from multiple perspectives. My outdoor surroundings inspire me to create unique, bold pieces.
How has/is crafting helping you and your mental health?
Crafting has created a therapeutic escape for me to get away from my busy, hectic life as a college student and just make something beautiful. It allows me to slow down and conserve my energetic energy into something that requires a lot of patience.
What is your advice to other creators (or newly started creators)?
Remember your purpose. You will have many off days, but remember why you love to create and what you do it for to push you back up. Growth is also different for everyone, so don’t get discouraged when other creators move upward faster than you. Concentrate on yourself and what image you present to the world.
Anything else you’d like to share?
My purpose and goal for LemaiKnits is to create colorful, handmade knit and crochet pieces and accessories that support slow-fashion, promote low-waste & sustainability. I try my hardest to utilize second-hand materials or ethical materials in my craft. I am still learning and being educated on the subject but I hope my business and account inspire other creators and my followers to take some small steps towards sustainability and being aware of the outside world.