Crafting & Wellness

My own journey into weaving began at a time in my life when I had found myself ‘too busy’ to craft, I recognized that I needed something to change, and I made an intentional decision to ‘find’ a creative hobby.

Since then, I've done more reading about what was an intuitive need for me at the time. Some day I may turn my notes into more of an article ... but for now, the sources: 

 

Podcasts & Video Interviews

• Fruity Knitting (3/22/2024), Craft Psychology – Dr. Anne Kirketerp. Episode 142 https://fruityknitting.com/2024/03/22/episode-142-craft-psychology-dr-anne-kirketerp/
• Virtual Kitchen Table Podcast (3/19/2025), Nurturing our Well-Being Through Creative Practices. S1:E37, https://pca.st/episode/814fb169-ae58-47e7-a5b5-5e65be105c36 
• Self Directed Podcast (3/13/2025), Anne Kirketerp | Craft Psychology: The Link Between Crafting & Wellbeing.  S1:E111, https://www.cecilieconrad.com/self-directed/anne-kirketerp
• Textile Indie Podcast (6/5/2026), Creativity as self-care. https://pca.st/episode/da304c6e-c85f-4192-84db-ef6c1c9facc4
• Studio 2 from WHYY, (07/30/26), Why are “granny hobbies” having a moment? https://www.youtube.com/live/PKhxipCUTqE?si=sL-B76lu-G29B_I7&t=683 

Articles

• Activate Learning (2026),  The rise of ‘Granny Crafts’: Why traditional hobbies are a modern mental health solution.  https://adult.activatelearning.ac.uk/our-stories/detail/the-rise-of-granny-crafts-why-traditional-hobbies-are-a-modern-mental-health-solution/ 
• Alcoran, Maria (2015), 7 Science-Backed Health Benefits of Crafting for Mental Wellness. Anavrin https://byanavrin.com/blogs/news/7-surprising-health-benefits-of-crafting 
• Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials (2023), What Is Neuroplasticity? How It Works. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/neuroplasticity.  
• Coleman, Theara (2026), How to tap into the mental health benefits of ‘grandma hobbies. The Week, https://theweek.com/culture-life/how-to-tap-into-the-mental-health-benefits-of-grandma-hobbies 
• Crane, Nicky (2025), Weaving for Mindfulness: Therapeutic Craft Benefit. Thread Collective https://threadcollective.com.au/blogs/weaving-looms/weaving-for-mindfulness 
• Dolan, Eric W. (2024), Engaging in creative activities predicts heightened life satisfaction and happiness, study finds. Psy Post. https://www.psypost.org/engaging-in-creative-activities-predicts-heightened-life-satisfaction-and-happiness-study-finds/ 
• Ferguson, Sian (2026), 10 Comforting ‘Grandma Hobbies’ That Soothe Anxiety and Bring Calmer Days. Verywell Mind https://www.verywellmind.com/cozy-grandma-hobbies-for-anxiety-and-calm-12016982 
• Flourish Australia (2024), The Impact of Arts and Crafts on Mental Health. https://www.flourishaustralia.org.au/news/impact-arts-and-crafts-mental-health 
• Funem Studio (2023), The Power of Calm: The Benefits of Weaving. https://funemstudio.com/blogs/news/the-power-of-calm-the-benefits-of-weaving?srsltid=AfmBOopsKXGvfA-lfLsdG52iDsA8kn_KvnpnFMygKilNkdY_Ax9f2t7n 
• Hamel, Dave (2025), Ultimate Hobby Categories That Reveal What Makes Us Human. https://www.davehamel.com/2025/11/12/ultimate-hobby-categories-that-reveal-what-makes-us-human/ 
• Henry Ford Health (2022), The Benefits of Knitting and Crocheting. https://www.henryford.com/visitors/caregivers/care-connections/education/the-benefits-knitting-and-crochet# 
• Hooked Yarn, Health Benefits of Handmade Crafts https://www.hoookedyarn.com/us/health-benefits-en 
• IE University Center for Health & Wellbeing (2025), Unlocking Your Inner Artist: How Creative Hobbies Can Help You Destress https://www.ie.edu/center-for-health-and-well-being/blog/unlocking-your-inner-artist-how-creative-hobbies-can-help-you-destress/ 
• The Knit Magazine (2025), An End to Anxiety. Issue 260, https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/2148253404/themes/2156457560/downloads/7225d4-b50c-bcd-f4a1-8cbd1fed7a26_KNIT_260_26-31.pdf 
• Mayo Clinic (2016), Mindfulness and Flow: Being "In the Zone". https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/mindfulness-in-health/newsfeed-post/5-mindfulness-and-flow/
• Micallef, Clayton (2025), Mindfulness and Flow: Distinct States or Two Sides of The Same Coin. Now About Meditation https://www.nowaboutmeditation.com/p/mindfulness-and-flow-distinct-states-or-two-sides-of-the-same-coin 
• Monson, Nancy, Craft to Heal: Taking Time Out to Pursue a Hobby Can Have Benefits for Your Body and Soul. The Glass Hammer https://theglasshammer.com/2007/11/craft-to-healtaking-time-out-to-pursue-a-hobby-can-have-benefits-for-your-body-and-soul/
• Murphy, Bernadette (2016), This is your brain on knitting. The Manifestation Station, https://www.themanifeststation.net/2016/02/06/your-brain-on-knitting/.
• Psychology Today (2014), Flow States and Creativity. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-playing-field/201402/flow-states-and-creativity 
• Spectrum Health & Human Services, The Unexpected Benefits of Crafting. https://shswny.org/the-unexpected-benefits-of-crafting/ 
• Supportive Care (2026), How Mindfulness Helps Reduce Stress and Anxiety. https://www.thesupportivecare.com/blog/how-mindfulness-helps-reduce-stress-and-anxiety 
• Taft, Michael W.  (2014), Flow State Machine: Hacking the Human Brain for Healing and Wellbeing. Deconstructing Yourself, https://deconstructingyourself.com/flow-machine-human-brain.html 
• Travers, Mark (4/14/2025), 3 Reasons You Should Indulge In ‘Grandma Hobbies’ — By A Psychologist. Forbes.  https://web.archive.org/web/20260406043435/https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2025/04/14/3-reasons-you-should-indulge-in-grandma-hobbies---by-a-psychologist/ 
• UMass Memorial Health, What Stress Does to the Body, and How Mindfulness Can Help. https://www.ummhealth.org/simply-well/what-stress-does-to-the-body-and-how-mindfulness-can-help .
• Vercillo, Kathryn (2024), 5 Ways Rag Rug Weaving Improves Mental Health. https://createmefree.substack.com/p/5-ways-rag-rug-weaving-improves-mental 
• Vercillo, Kathryn (2024), Sophie of Wallflower Weavings Shares The Mental Health Benefits of Weaving. https://createmefree.substack.com/p/sophie-of-wallflower-weavings-shares  
• Young, Caleb (10/23/2023), Woven Flow: Weaving As Meditation. Handwoven Magazine, https://handwovenmagazine.com/woven-flow-weaving-as-meditation/ .

Scientific Studies & Reports

• Bukhave EB, Creek J, Linstad AK, Frandsen TF. (2025), The effects of crafts-based interventions on mental health and well-being: A systematic review. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11830576/ 
• Burns, Pippa & Van Der Meer, Rosemary (2020), Happy Hookers: findings from an international study exploring the effects of crochet on wellbeing. Perspectives in Public Health   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340433493_Happy_Hookers_findings_from_an_international_study_exploring_the_effects_of_crochet_on_wellbeing 
• Burt, E. & Atkinson, Jacqueline (2011), The relationship between quilting and wellbeing. Journal of Public Health, PubMed https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51196419_The_relationship_between_quilting_and_wellbeing  
• Fancourt D, Finn S. (2019), What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe (Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report 67).  https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/e1cc8536-773d-446f-9822-8ae376f41415/content . 
• Huotilainen, M, Rankanen, M, Groth, C, Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, P & Mäkelä, M (2018), Why our brains love arts and crafts: Implications of creative practices on psychophysical well-being. https://helda.helsinki.fi/server/api/core/bitstreams/d38a3ca4-67d8-4876-90ba-cafb9bdd9fbb/content
• Kaimal G, Ray K, Muniz J. (2016), Reduction of Cortisol Levels and Participants' Responses Following Art Making. Art Therapy, Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, Volume 33, 2016 - Issue 2, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5004743/
• Keyes H, Gradidge S, Forwood SE, Gibson N, Harvey A, Kis E, Mutsatsa K, Ownsworth R, Roeloffs S, Zawisza M. (2024), Creating arts and crafting positively predicts subjective wellbeing. Front Public Health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11361946/
• Sheldon, Kennon & Prentice, Mike & Halusic, Marc. (2014), The Experiential Incompatibility of Mindfulness and Flow Absorption. Social Psychological and Personality Science. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276836785_The_Experiential_Incompatibility_of_Mindfulness_and_Flow_Absorption
• Tamlin S. Conner, Colin G. DeYoung & Paul J. Silvia (2018), Everyday creative activity as a path to flourishing. The Journal of Positive Psychology.  https://d24s0qdzj4qepv.cloudfront.net/Everyday_creative_activity_as_a_path_to_flourishing_f2e5ed1c1e.pdf 

Books

• Barron, Carrie (2012), The Creativity Cure : a do-it-yourself prescription for happiness.
• Csikszentmihalyi Mihaly (1975) Beyond Boredom and Anxiety.
• Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (1996), Creativity : flow and the psychology of discovery and invention.
• Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (2008), Flow : the psychology of optimal experience.