Creating crafts with my community has woven wonders for my mental health.
I met a great group of friends in my 20s through my work best friend. The group taught me how to knit and cross-stitch. I grew to love cross-stitch the most, and it’s typically my craft of choice. Once a week, we get together in the evening to stitch and chat. Sometimes we order food for takeout, and drink wine or seltzers. My friends bring their crafts, which include needlepoint, crochet, and knitting.
There’s no pressure to work on a project while we hang out; it’s more of an excuse to get together. Sometimes, if I’m too tired, I might just show up to catch up with my friends. We usually put on 90s or early 2000s (think Y2K) music in the background, too.
Recently, the co-working space that I go to has also started a fiber arts meetup once a month! It’s a great way to meet new people, and I’ve enjoyed it thus far.
Crafting can be whatever you want! Collaging with old magazines! Painting! Colored pencils and a coloring book! Whatever brings you joy, no matter the craft.
Read on to learn about how crafting has helped support my mental health, and how you can get started!
Crafting has helped relieve my stress and reduce anxiety in a few ways. First, it gives me something to do with my hands and my mind, providing a wonderful distraction. Crafting also helps me focus on the creative task at hand. By focusing on the craft, I am able to think more mindfully about my worries and get some distance from them.
A 2024 study of over 7,000 adults found that engaging in creating arts and crafts predicted an increase in life satisfaction and a sense that life is worthwhile. The study suggests that this could be helpful at a public health level due to the relative accessibility and affordability of crafting.
I’ve been able to build and strengthen friendships through shared crafting experiences. While crafting, I’ve gotten to chat with old and new friends about what’s going on in my life. I’ve found that my social connections have helped improve and maintain my mental health, particularly in helping me feel less isolated and less depressed.
According to a 2024 study, social connection plays a vital role in preventing mental health problems, maintaining good mental health, and aiding in the recovery from both moderate and severe mental health conditions. Isolation and loneliness have been associated with less favorable mental health symptoms, particularly since the pandemic.
There are crafters everywhere; you just have to know where to look to find them! To get started, check out Meet.com for local crafting groups or your local library. Church groups or other local community groups may also have information on crafting meetups.
If you work in person, talk with your colleagues to see if they have any creative hobbies. Some people will craft together on lunch breaks or even after work.
Crafting in community and on my own has seriously benefited my mental health. It’s a good way to blow off steam with your friends.