Purls of wisdom

Milly Kelly contemplates the boost that social media can provide and how it’s inspired her knitting...

Milly Kelly explores the positive e ect of knitting social media on mental health

In my never-ending quest for happy mental health I have found an unexpected source of crafting comfort – social media. These days people with mental health issues are told to stay away from social media and in many ways I agree with that, but I’ve recently learned that it’s how I use social media that is the important thing. I am an avid Instagram user, not so much in posting things, but in following other crafters and related hashtags, like #knitstagram and #memadeeveryday. I find so much comfort and inspiration in connecting with other avid knitters.

THE LATEST CRAZE

One hashtag I was following was the #soldotnacrop which is a bit of a cult knit by infinitely talented designer, Caitlin Hunter. In keeping with my New Year’s resolution not to buy (too much) new yarn, I raided my stash and found some limited edition DropsLovesYou6 recycled cotton. I decided that this would be perfect for my crop top project and picked out some particularly autumnal colours. It came together very quickly and I just love the finished product. I’m thankful to social media for introducing this excellent pattern into my library.

A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE

I’m aware that the need for approval on social media can be detrimental to mental health. However we’re all just like-minded knitting fanatics supporting each other in our happy little yarn obsession. When I finished my Stylecraft cable cardigan earlier this year I shared a triumphant picture on social media and it added, just a little bit, to the lovely, cuddly feeling of wearing the cardigan I’d spent such a long time knitting and putting together.

MOOMIN MAGIC

Another blissful moment that knittingrelated social media facilitated earlier this week, was a discovery of the Moomin x Novita collaboration. I follow #Moomin on Instagram (because I’m a little bit obsessed with Moomins) and when I saw that Novita and the Moomin franchise had rekindled their collaboration (originally launched in the 1970s) before I knew what had happened I’d bought all three pattern “bookazines”!

IT’S IN THE POST!

In a previous column I mentioned that I wasn’t buying any new patterns for a while but also that it would make it more special when I did, and boy was it special when the Moomin books arrived. I took the parcel o the postman, put it in a special place and waited until it was my son’s nap time, I made myself a co ee, sat down in my favourite chair, took a deep breath and opened the parcel. Reader, I’m not ashamed to say that I actually cried with happiness! As I poured over the pattern books a feeling of relaxation, blissful comfort and of gentle excitement came over me, what I believe one might call a Hygge moment.

MOMENTS OF HOPE

I’m SO excited to start knitting these patterns! I’m going to start with the socks and move on to the hats and jumpers. That social media facilitated this moment of hope in my life is a surprise to me but I suppose it’s how you use it that matters. So my tip is that when using social media: only follow your fellow knitters – we’re here to support each other! Right, I’m o to knit me a full Moomin wardrobe…!

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