Crochet as therapy

Why is crochet so good for you? How can it help you become more yourself and heal your body and mind? and why is it that wearing crocheted clothes feels so amazing?

Read on below and let yourself be inspired to either learn crochet for beginners so you can crochet yourself some clothes or buy a crochet pattern from the shop!

The healing benefits of crocheting

Crocheting has been linked to lowering heart rate and blood pressure, but not only that, engaging in the repetitive movements of turning your hook to make stitches, can help you enter a meditative-like state, where thoughts are few and you feel your breathing slowing down. In an often fast-paced world, I think we need more than ever to be able to slow down from time to time, and actually be present. Crocheting is a great way to do so.

Crocheting is both benefitial for your mental and physical health – and meanwhile you’re able to create something beautiful for yourself, providing another layer of self-love.

The joy of handmaking clothes and being yourself

Handmaking crochet clothes can bring us in contact with our senses, the touch of the yarn and hook, the movements of the stitches, the feel of the project growing bigger and the sight of the stitches and colors in our hands. Furthermorer makkign our own clothes can give us a sense of accomplishment, joy and confidence, that is very specific. It’s not just about creating something we love but being in a process with ourselves, picking out designs, materials and colors we like and making something that makes us feel happy and loved and authentically ourselves.

I asked other crocheters and creatives about how crochet makes them feel, here are the answers:

Crocheting makes us feel…

Creative, Clever, Calm Complete
Empowered
Free, Fulfilled
Happy & Human
In control
Loved
Mindful
Occupied
Powerful, Peaceful, Purposeful, Productive, Proud
Relaxed
Useful

It allows us to…

– Turn nothing into something
– Make something beautiful
– Feel like we have our life together
-Feel like anything is possible
-Be less angry
-Lessen our anxiety
-Slow down

Wearing crochet makes us feel…

Accomplished
Beautiful
Comfortable, Cute, Crafty
Different
Happy
Perfect, Proud, Pretty, Powerful
Sexy
Unique

Crochet is so much more than a craft.
It’s a lifestyle.

Crocheting something from nothing…

I find it absolutely magical to make crochet clothes. When I put it on my body I see all these small steps; the single strand of yarn, my hands and this little hook and how I ended up with a unified item that can be worn and used for years. A piece that belongs to me, that envelops me both in the proces of making and wearing it – and that enables me to go into the world and feel even more like myself than I did before.
How beautiful is that!

My mission is healing. If you found your way here, then maybe you can relate.
Continue reading below for more of my thoughts on crochet and mental health.

To heal is to love myself. To love is to be (myself).

I heal by loving myself. By being myself. By going slow. By being here. By being kind to myself. Also when I make mistakes or am imperfect. Also when I do things my own way.

I want to help you find ease, love and comfort in slowing down with a crochet project in your hands.

You help me heal

I never see my customers as customers. I see them as fellow humans that help me heal. Because everytime one of you has bought a pattern, engaged with my posts or reached out to me it was like the world was saying yes to me being creative, me being myself, me finally being able to relax. I will forever be grateful for finally feeling what a life of contentment, relaxation and freedom could feel like.

Trends bore me. What’s the point of looking the same?
I want to see YOU. Your uniqueness, authenticity and quirkiness. Maybe you don’t even know what’s you, but I hope you want to explore it rather than follow the tide. You are meant for more than being a copy of someone else.

Chunky crochet patterns to give you comfort


Creating magic

When I crochet and design, I practise to let go of the idea that I have to be or do something in particular. I give up, give in, before I even try to “do”, and in that moment, magic happens. In that moment of nothing, everything appears before me, both in physical and non-physical form.

read more about why crochet is so good for our mental health here.

Learn the meditative crochet stitch 123-stitch:

Learning to love mistakes

Since childhood shame and blame has followed me. Yes, I am a perfectionist and I saw mistakes where no one else did, but I also found myself rushing through the process. The stress was haunting me into my fingertips. I was never a particular talented crocheter because I didn’t take my time, I was skipping stitches or weaving in the stitches so they became crooked, making clothes that was gaping in the wrong areas, didn’t have the drape I wanted, wrong size and shape etc. etc. But the beauty of this process was that I learned to find solutions from the mistakes. Go for simplicity so I didn’t have to perform so much. Embrace the imperfections and say “so what?”. There is so much freedom in this.

Go slow, babe.

It took me a while to understand that crochet is supposed to be slow. For years it was a stressor for me, because I relied on it to make a living. It was only when I started experiencing wrist pain that always came back, that I finally understood it.

Check out The Healing Craft Series with interviews from crafters and artists about creating and healing.

Intuitive patterns

My feelings of never being or doing enough helped me realise I could just do it my own way, and that would be enough. That’s how I started making intuitive, freestyling patterns. Where there is room for mistakes because you realise that embracing mistakes helps you to find your own path and that way you end up with an even more unique design that becomes the blueprint of you My designs are often so simple that it’s easy to make it your own, and I hope you do.

Freedom

Especially intuitive patterns allows you the freedom to crochet without having to look at the pattern for every row, it allows you to take the crochet with you wherever you go.

If you are sitting behind the screen wondering if you’ll ever feel seen, afraid of never being enough, hopeless for what’s to come. I hope that you will know, that even if you don’t see it, even if you don’t feel it, just the fact that you are here is making the world a better place. Your being is beautiful. And I hope you remember that you not only shine on others but that the light is illuminating you too.

A prayer

“Let me see the light” I tell myself. Let me see the light in who I am, in what I do. Even when I feel inadequate. Even when I feel I don’t belong. Even when it seems that no matter what I do it is never enough for this world. Even when I feel the world prefers me covered in mud (“don’t ever think you are strong enough to penetrate the darkness, don’t ever think you will shine enough to be seen, don’t ever think you can be loved unless you’re flawless”). Oh, let me see my light, let me see it shine so it makes me shiver, let me see it beam through my pores. Let me feel how powerful I can be. How powerful I already am. Let me feel the warmth. Let me hold myself in this light, let me love myself in this light. Let me know that I am this light.











Learn how to crochet beautiful, simple and romantic clothes for women and girls

Here you’ll find all crochet patterns for crochet clothes and crochet accessories. Learn to crochet clothes for girls and women, such as dresses, bags, crochet sweaters, pants, shorts and skirts. Always make sure to measure the first row or round against your body – and stretch it – as the measurements and calculations given are only suggestions.
Explore the many timeless crochet designs made for simple people who want beautiful crochet clothes for everyday and party. Whether you are a seasoned crocheter or completely new, there are crochet patterns for you. So look around, get inspired and find your own self-love and confidence while crocheting something beautiful for yourself.

Crochet patterns for crochet tops and vests

Here you will find crochet tops – both a simple crochet strap top, a crochet top with a cowl neckline or a crochet vest. You will find both sleeveless crochet tops, crochet long-sleeved blouses and if you look under crochet sweaters you will also find crochet summer sweaters that can easily be used as a long-sleeved top.

Patterns for crocheted skirts and dresses

In this crochet category you will find, for example, a crochet wrap dress, a crochet bodycon dress, a crochet rock romantic dress or, for example, a crochet tunic for the beach or to wear over jeans. You will also find crochet skirts – both a pattern for a crochet beach skirt with unique crochet stitches, a tight-fitting crochet skirt in a rib pattern (crochet that looks like knitting) as well as a crochet mini skirt with elastic at the waist and a slit in the side.

Patterns for crocheted sweaters, jackets and cardigans

Here are both crocheted sweaters for summer and winter, crocheted striped sweaters (if you want to crochet a sweater in scrap yarn, for example), a crocheted chunky sweater that resembles a chunky knit, and light, crocheted sweaters with a lace pattern.

Crochet accessory patterns

Crochet accessories, for example, crochet for the home such as crochet dishcloths and crochet tea towels, a crochet plant hanger, learn to crochet a jute scrubber for cleaning in the home, a crochet net that can handle a lot of weight or a crochet tote bag or crochet task for the beach or city trip. You will also find a crochet pattern for a crochet hat – both with a wide brim and a crocheted bucket hat. Learn to crochet socks in a super simple way and learn to crochet a mini scarf or, for example, a crocheted rose or crocheted earrings that look like leaves and flowers.

Patterns for crocheted shorts and pants

Whether you like crochet that looks like knitwear in the form of a pair of ribbed crochet shorts with an elastic waist, or a more romantic style such as crochet shorts with embroidered flowers, crochet biker shorts or crochet pants with a seashell pattern, there is something for you. With these simple crochet patterns you can learn how to crochet pants and shorts in any style and size.