Name: Mia
Age: 23 years old
Country: Denmark
Instagram: @miaehrensvard
About the series
The Healing Craft Series features creators sharing their thoughts and feelings on crafting and healing through crafting.
“I’ve had a hard time remembering to listen to the teacher in class, so one day I tried to bring a smaller knitting project to class, to see if it could help me focus, and it did!
Since then, I’ve always been knitting in class.”
Mia, @miaehrensvard
What kind of craft do you do and how long have you been doing it for?
I’ve been doing different kinds of crafting since I can remember.
I’m mostly knitting and sewing, but I do crochet and hand embroider from time to time. I’ve been knitting and sewing since I was around 6 years old, and I’ve been crocheting and embroidering since I was around 8 years old. So 15+ years.
What is your favourite place/time of day to craft and why?
I’m almost always knitting, just ask my friends!
I have smaller projects that I bring to university, to stay focused on the lecture, and then I knit on my bigger projects at home or when I’m going places where it doesn’t feel weird to pull out a big sweater.
I mostly sew on the weekends, because it takes up a lot of space, and I need my desk clean during the week – especially during the pandemic. Somehow I often find myself starting bigger sewing projects, like a dress, the day before I’m going to wear it, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best time to do it!
What inspires you (in life & in crafting)?
I get inspired everywhere. If I see a cute dress in a store or a nice blouse, I often think about creating it myself in a fabric that is more “me”. When I go in fast fashion stores, I often find that the items I like are made of either polyester or acrylic blends. Since I’m trying to stay away from polyester, acrylic and other synthetic fabrics, I’ll try to create my own versions of the style. I do sometime buy and make items in synthetic materials, but I try my best to stay away from it.
How has/is crafting helping you and your mental health?
Whenever I’m doing something creative with my hands, I get into a mindful state. I’ve had a depression before we (my parents and I) found out that I have ADD. Of course the doctors wanted me to try medication, but I got even more sick (mentally) of the two types I tried.
Since the medication didn’t work out, I’ve been trying to do other things to keep my ADD down. This means I’ve been focusing on both diet and training, because that’s what the doctors told me could help my situation. But the thing that I found helped me the most, was crafting. This means I have to be creative with my hands at least 30 min. every day. I mostly knit, because it’s easy to bring with me, and therefore I always have a project in my bag!
Not only does knitting help with my overall wellbeing, but it also helps me stay focused in class. I’ve had a hard time remembering to listen to the teacher in class, so one day I tried to bring a smaller knitting project to class, to see if it could help me focus, and it did! Since then, I’ve always been knitting in class.
What is your advice to other creators (or newly started creators)?
Practice makes perfect! Everyone started as beginners, but through practicing we’ve become better, and so do you!
Anything else you’d like to share?
We’re all different, and what works for me, or others, perhaps doesn’t work for you, and that’s okay! Life is about finding you own path, and way of doing things!