Knitting. To some, this is a very enjoyable hobby. To me? It's a way of life. Depression and anxiety affect 1 in 13 people. This disorder hits not only close to home, but is in my home. I'm the 1 in that equation. Along with treatments from doctors, this is my therapy.
Statistics have shown that knitting actually reduces depression and anxiety, slows the onset of dementia, and can distract from chronic pain. Isn't that the most amazing and hopeful thing you've ever heard? As someone who lives, loves, and breathes knitting, it's a very positive perk to my so-called hobby!
Knitting can have the same benefits as meditation and yoga. Once beyond the learning curve, which can still be beneficial, as it distracts your brain and helps lower heart rate and blood pressure and reduce harmful blood levels of the stress hormone Cortisol.
Not only is knitting beneficial, but finishing a project can also boost self-confidence. I used to keep a journal of all my finished projects. I'd take a photo and write notes on the project. It gave me a sense of accomplishment and pride. I recommend that every knitter get a knitting journal. Biscotte has a really nice one that I use daily.
It's not often one can say their therapy is portable, LOL, but mine is! I take my knitting to appointments, to a friend's house, or anywhere I go that might allow me to knit even a couple of rows.
I was never one to flaunt my knitting on social media until I met the most wonderful family-owned company, Biscotte & Cie. It all started with one skein of yarn I purchased at a local yarn shop here in Newfoundland. The wonderful owner, whom I've gotten to know a little since discovering her yarn shop, boasted how beautiful this yarn was.
All it took was one touch! It was what I needed….soft with just the right amount of squishy!! I wanted to buy it even before I knew it was magic! It was self-striping, which I think is magic anyway. But this was different. Watermelon was my very first purchase. It even knits up seeds, she told me! WAIT!!!! WHAT???? OMG, so not only do I get to knit with the softest sock yarn, but watching this knit up kept my mind from thinking of anything other than this yarn is knitting seeds. HOW DO THEY DO IT??
I couldn't stop there. I immediately got out my computer and looked up their website to check it out. The selection of this self-striping yarn was unbelievable. Coeur de pomme again knit up with little seeds. Rainbow, Ladybug, the Sorcerer's Scarf from Harry Potter... It was like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow 🌈
Then I saw the ad for Bloggers. All I was thinking was I had NO experience with this sort of thing but I HAD to be a part of this amazing company. I want to knit and show everyone how beautiful this yarn is and also hopefully inspire other people like myself to knit!! It can help you!
The 2 lovely ladies I was in contact with, Louise Robert and Lisette Rivest, gave me the opportunity to write up a blog and teach me the ropes along the way and I was in! I danced and danced around my kitchen! They have helped me beyond words. I actually get to knit with my most favorite yarns, write about it, HOPEFULLY inspire even one person to knit, AND get complimented on my work along the way.
They have helped with my self-doubt and low self-esteem more than they realize. I believe that I'm possibly one of the luckiest gals in the world right now. Being able to knit is a blessing that my beautiful grandmother taught me. Being able to knit with Biscotte & Cie is a blessing that helps me every single day. I hope that anyone suffering from mental illness or with undue stress in their life, or even anyone just looking for a new hobby, will purchase a pair of needles and a skein of yarn. I hope that knitting can help others as much as it is helping me.
Edit from Biscotte (Louise): Andrea, we are very lucky to have you as well ♥ Thank you for all your good work 💝
