The r/crochet subreddit was founded 13 years ago and ever since then, it has been growing and becoming an important part of the crochet community. There’s no denying that people who pick up such projects are really dedicated. Many of us could find the passion and patience that they have really useful, especially dealing with the fast-paced world that we live in.

Crocheting does not require much physical energy and if you stick to it, you can achieve beautiful results. It’s the perfect way to spend your time if you want to keep your hands busy and your mind free.

Craft Yarn Council published a study in 2014 where they found that knitters and crocheters report lower levels of stress. They surveyed more than 3,100 people who enjoy this craft and asked them about the motivation behind it and what kind of perks they derive from it. 

The majority of the participants said that they engage in their craft because it provides a creative outlet. Other significant reasons are that they enjoy making things for others and achieve a sense of accomplishment along the way. 

But there are more benefits that they get from knitting or crocheting. 85 percent of them said that it helps to reduce stress and a big majority also noticed an improvement in their mood and sense of confidence. Not to mention that it helps them to relax, cope with their health challenges and fight depression and anxiety. 

According to a report by Knit For Peace, knitting can also slow the onset of dementia, combat depression and distract from chronic pain. One of the explanations behind this could be that knitting or crocheting is an activity that gives a sense of purpose. 

Putting your focus on one thing only and concentrating on the repetitive movements of making one loop after another reduces the stress hormone and distracts you from your anxieties. For some, it can also have a meditative effect, which can result in improved physical and emotional well-being.

Not only does crocheting give you a sense of meaning and make you feel relaxed and stress-free, it’s also part of a booming industry. Powered by People conducted a survey where they found that the creative manufacturing and handmade sector is projected to grow by 20 percent per year, reaching $1 trillion by 2024. And it seems that the industry is becoming more sustainable, inclusive, diverse, female-friendly and dialed into rural populations.

According to them, the sector is “circular and employs less industrial and more sustainable processes such as small-batch production and boutique manufacturing, while relying heavily on renewable agricultural inputs.” Knitting and crocheting are not only less expensive, but also more environmentally friendly. By creating your own things, you don’t contribute to the ecological damage that the fast fashion industry is responsible for.

Hearing all of these benefits, you can’t help but feel the urge to run out and buy some yarn yourself. In our previous post, the moderators of r/crochet were kind enough to share some thoughts about the craft. “Crochet is definitely the most beginner-friendly between crochet, knitting, and sewing. This is because, in part, it’s the easiest to rip apart (called frogging) and go back to fix a mistake,” they told Bored Panda. 

“Most beginners often find difficulty in knowing where to place the hook in each stitch and figuring out how to coordinate holding the yarn, hook, and work all at the same time!” But there are plenty of resources where you can find tutorials and free patterns. If you wish to try it out yourself, this community is a great place to find support.

“Most people find it easiest to learn from YouTube videos, and they are a fantastic resource for learning new stitches and patterns. There are also some wonderful books out there that can teach every conceivable stitch—you want to look for something called a ‘crochet stitch dictionary’ or similar. Other than that, have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment! And of course, visit the sub for help or advice!”