Name: Madeline Skye
Age: 19 years old
Country: United States
Website: skyemade.com
Instagram: @skye.made
Poetry: msmadelineblair.com/
About the series
The Healing Craft Series features creators sharing their thoughts and feelings on crafting and healing through crafting.
“When I started knitting again because of the pandemic, it provided me with a sense of familiarity, structure, balance, and community. The act of knitting itself is very therapeutic […]“
Madeline Skye, @skye.made
What kind of craft do you do and how long have you been doing it for?
I started knitting in 4th grade but didn’t touch it for years, until I picked it back up in April 2020 because I was staying at home all the time due to the pandemic and I needed something new to do!
What is your favourite place/time of day to craft and why?
I love knitting in the afternoon while sitting on the couch passively watching TV or a movie. It has such a cozy atmosphere, and I love seeing the sun reflect off the yarn and needles from the windows behind me.
What inspires you (in life & in crafting)?
I am inspired by happiness above all else—I surround myself with hobbies and people that make me happy because they help me feel optimistic about life!
I enjoy looking forward to things, whether it’s with a concert date for band/orchestra (I’ve been playing flute my whole life), a show date for a theatre production I’m acting, a painting or drawing I put the finishing touches on, a poem I’ve finished drafting and editing, or a time-consuming sweater I’ve been knitting that I weave the final ends in.
How has/is crafting helping you and your mental health?
When I started knitting again because of the pandemic, it provided me with a sense of familiarity, structure, balance, and community. The act of knitting itself is very therapeutic, and it’s always exciting to buy new yarn and plan out what patterns I’m going to knit.
I also started following a lot people on Instagram who knit as both a passion and a profession, and their content has uplifted me to do what I want to do and have successful role models to look up to.
What is your advice to other creators (or newly started creators)?
I would say it’s important to find your own place and your own voice! Every person has their own unique flare to bring to whatever they create. Of course, when you’re first starting out it makes sense to replicate others to get a sense of the craft (I still do the same thing), but maintaining your individuality once you have your footing will really help showcase your personal talents and growth. Don’t be afraid to take creative liberties that haven’t been seen before!
Anything else you’d like to share?
In addition to being a knitter I am also a poet (I’m majoring in Creative Writing in college right now), and I have a website with a small portfolio of my work and a chapbook currently on sale! If you want to check it out, my site is msmadelineblair.com