TH E J
Y O OF
More than just a hobby, knitters
and crocheters are picking up their
needles as a way to relieve stress —
and give back to the community.

BY MICHELLE BLANCHARD ARDILLO
to keep me sane and help cope with the
stress,” says Caldwell. “Focusing on crafts
and working with your hands is immensely
satisfying. It grounds you. It is a task that
has a beginning and an end, like mowing
the lawn or cleaning out the dishwasher,
but with a much more satisfying outcome.”
READY, SET, KNIT
A ball of yarn and a set of knitting nee-
dles or a crochet hook are the only things
really needed to get started, and inspi-
ration is just a click away via Pinterest
and Instagram. Most yarn stores such as
Lovelyarns in Baltimore offer classes for
adult knitters and crocheters of all skill
levels. Caldwell’s FiberArt Studio offers a
variety of classes for ages 6 and up, as well
as open studio hours throughout the week
where crafters can drop in for help on a
project. Newbies can also learn to knit or
crochet by spending a few hours watching
YouTube videos.

The website Ravelry, a user-driven site
created by a knitter and blogger that now
brings together crafters from all over the
world, is a great place to find the perfect
pattern for any level of expertise. Ravelry
members post photos of projects and field
questions from other knitters, creating a
unique online community. According to
one long-time knitter, “Ravelry has taken
down barriers in terms of the fear factor of
knitting. As a forum, it’s made knitting for
beginners a good thing, less scary.”
KNITTING FROM THE HEART
Aside from the inherent sense of accom-
plishment and pride in creating a garment
or accessory, the simple act of knitting or
crocheting for those less fortunate can be a
Anja Caldwell, owner of FiberArt
Studio in Potomac, Maryland.

Knitting and crocheting offer the same mindfulness qualities as meditation.

Once they master the craft, the AIS reports that knitters experience lower
blood pressure and a reduction in heart rate as they work.

14 Washington FAMILY FEBRUARY 2020
ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS: SEAMARTINI; SHEEP: POPMARLEO;
CALDWELL: COURTESY OF ANJA CALDWELL
P eople of all ages are searching for
means of self-care after the stresses
of a long, busy day, and working
with yarn can be relaxing and fun.

No wonder knitting is sometimes
referred to as the “new yoga.”
In her 2016 New York Times arti-
cle “The Health Benefits of Knitting,”
writer Jane Brody explores the idea that
working with yarn can relieve stress
from the lives of ever-increasingly busy
people. Perhaps that’s why there’s been
a 51 percent increase in the amount of
women who knit or crochet over the
past 10 years, according to The American
Institute of Stress (AIS). Among 25 to
34 year olds, there’s been a 150 percent
increase in yarn crafts in just five years.

Knitting and crocheting offer the same
mindfulness qualities as meditation, while
following a pattern or learning a new
stitch offers the added benefit of men-
tal exercise. In fact, once they master the
craft, the AIS reports that knitters experi-
ence lower blood pressure and a reduction
in heart rate as they work.

Anja Caldwell, an architect by trade and
the owner of FiberArt Studio in Potomac,
Maryland, sounds like a therapist when
she talks about her handwork. “You would
think that a full-time working mom had no
time to knit, but I had to sometimes, just