57 avsnitt • Längd: 45 min • Månadsvis
Welcome to the Why I Knit podcast! My name is Dr Mia Hobbs and I am a Clinical Psychologist who is passionate about the mental health benefits of knitting.
Each episode of the podcast I interview a different knitter about why they knit and the (k)nitty gritty of how it impacts their mental wellbeing.
I have an inspiring and diverse range of knitters lined up who have generously shared their stories with me.
You can follow me on Instagram @knittingistherapeutic and get more information on the therapeutic benefits of knitting at my website www.therapeuticknitting.org
The podcast Why I Knit is created by Dr Mia Hobbs. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
This is a bonus episode for anyone wanting to know or read more about the research into how knitting can benefit our mental well-being.
Fellow clinical psychologist and knitter, Dr Paula Redmond and I will be reading one research paper a month and discussing it in our journal club podcast. This month we are discussing Healing Stitches: a scoping review of the impact of needlcraft on mental health and well-being. The full-text of this article is available here: Healing Stitches
I refer to the interview with Betsan Corkhill which you can listen to here: Betsan Corkhill
If you'd like to learn more about how to use knitting for your self-care, check out our course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time.
Here's how to stay in touch:
Sign up to the Creative Restoration newletter here
Follow Mia on Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Follow Paula on LinkedIn here
Have you ever stressed yourself our by overcommitting to gift knitting? Do you end up being exhausted by the festive season? Then we have a bonus episode for you! Subscribe to the Creative Restoration newletter here to receive our bonus episode as soon as it is released on 14th November to help you keep your self-care on track during Christmas, and continue to use knitting to benefit your mental wellbeing.
This is the final episode in series 7 - thank you so much for listening!
Joining me this week is Kristina LaVenia who is a senior lecturer in leadership at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. She has collaborated with Project Knitwell on research delivering knitting workshops for staff in educational settings.
Kristina speaks about her own journey using knitting throughout the pandemic, and her experience of offering this as an intervention to others.
You can follow Kristina on Instagram here: @klavenia
Mia Hobbs
Find out about our NEW Audio Course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time
Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to know about new episodes: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Carole Wyatt is a cancer doctor who has been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. She speaks about using knitting to cope with the difficult days, and also to create a handknitted legacy to pass down to her future grandchildren.
Mia Hobbs
Find out about our NEW Audio Course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time
Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to know about new episodes: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Tamanna is a nurse practioner and multi-crafter who works in the field of mental health. Tamanna joins me to speak about her own journey to knitting, sewing and embroidery, how this connects her to family traditions and her values of sustainability and ethical production of clothing.
She also speaks about she uses fibre arts to benefit the mental health of herself and others.
Tamanna Rahman
Instagram: @slow.work.sewing
Website: slow.work.sewing
Mia Hobbs
Find out about our NEW Audio Course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time
Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to know about new episodes: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Whitney is a plus size knitter and YouTuber who is passionate about taking back the power to create clothes she loves in colours she enjoys. She speaks about how knitting has helped her to love the body she has, rather than feel that she to change her body to fit the clothes she can buy.
Whitney Swinimer
Whitney's website: knittedbywhitney
YouTube: Knitted by Whitney
Whitney's article on how knitting helped her to fall in love with her body
Instagram: @knittedbywhitney
Mia Hobbs
Find out about our NEW Audio Course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time
Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to know about new episodes: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Elena Lo Presti is the founder and director of Craft Forward, which is a not-for-profit organisation that provides accessible, creative, experiences suitable for everyone, regardless of their skills and background. Their aim is to disrupt the current elitism within the arts and crafts world and open creativity to all through workshops with a clear social impact.
Elena joins me to speak about her own personal story learning to knit as a way of connecting with her grandmother during the pandemic, and tells the story of how she turned this new passion into Craft Forward.
Craft Forward
Website: https://craftforward.com/
To donate to the Blankets for London campaign (before 10th November 2024): Blankets for London
Instagram: @craft_forward
Mia Hobbs
Find out about our NEW Audio Course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time
Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to know about new episodes: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Christina Socorro Yovovich is a writer, knitter and multi-crafter. Christina speaks about how since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she had struggled to access joy without worrying about whether this was a sign that she was becoming unwell. She explains how returning to knitting has allowed her to access a safe and more grounded form of joy in her daily life.
Christina Socorro Yovovich
website: Christina Socorro Yovovich
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DesertAgaveFiberArts .
Instagram: @cyovovich
Mia Hobbs
Find out about our NEW Audio Course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time
Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to know about new episodes: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Victoria Marchant is an inclusive knitwear designer who puts size inclusivity at the heart of all her designs. Her latest design, the Padstow Cardigan will be released on October 18th.
Victoria Marchant
Website: www.victoriamarchantknits.com
Instagram: @victoriamarchantknits
Mia Hobbs
Find out about our NEW Audio Course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time
Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to know about new episodes: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Samantha Moore is a filmmaker and animator who directed the BAFTA nominated animated film 'Visible Mending' which is about the ways we repair ourselves through knitting.
If you haven't seen Sam's brilliant film, you can watch the film at Sam's Vimeo channel here: Visible Mending
Follow Sam on Instagram: @sammooreanimate
Mia Hobbs
Find out about our NEW Audio Course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time
Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to know about new episodes: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
In this bonus episode Dr Claire Plumbly, Clinical Psychologist and EMDR specialist joins me to discuss what the theory behind EMDR can tell us about why we find the hand movements of knitting so therapeutic.
Claire Plumbly
Buy her book: https://www.drclaireplumbly.com/burnout-book
Instagram: @drclaireplumbly
Mia Hobbs
Find out about our NEW Audio Course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time
Sign up to the newsletter to be the first to know about new episodes: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Thanks so much for your questions for the Q&A episode, it has been so interesting to be asked such great questions.
Mia Hobbs
Find out more at my website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Follow me on Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
For the final episode of series 6 I am joined by Elizabeth Hammond, also known as The Knitchen on Instagram.
Elizabeth describes herself as a knitter, test knitter and dabbling designer. She joins me to speak about turning to knitting to help with her mental health and also during her recovery from a car accident.
Thanks so much for listening to the 6th series of the podcast - we have now reached an incredible 100,000 downloads! To celebrate this milestone I am recording a Q&A episode - if you have a question please get in touch!
Elizabeth
Instagram: @theknitchen
Ravelry: Elizabeth Hammond
Mia Hobbs
Find out more at my website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Follow me on Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Ellen describes herself a tech editor and occasional designer who identifies as queer and neurodivergent.
She speaks about how knitting feeds her inner engineer and allows her to use some skills that she might otherwise have explored in her career. She also talks about the ways in which knitting helps her to connect to family, friends and a new community.
Ellen
Website: www.knithow.com
Instagram: @knithow
Mia Hobbs
Find out more at my website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Follow me on Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Madison Siegel joins me this week to speak about using knitting as a mindful practice to help her to step back from and notice her thoughts rather than be caught up in them.
She speaks about having a diagnosis of ADHD and feeling anxious after the birth of her second child, and how knitting has been part of finding balance and allowing herself to take up space.
Madison doesn't have a public Instagram account.
Mia Hobbs
Find out more at my website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Follow me on Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Susie Bass is a researcher studying a PHD in the relationship between power, identity and mental health through craft. Susie is a knitter and multi-crafter and during our discussion she speaks about how craft has been a common thread which has helped her to process traumatic events in her life, and to reconstruct herself afterwards.
CONTENT WARNING: During our conversation Susie speaks about losing a baby and experiencing a sexual assault. She also speaks about the process of being diagnosed with ADHD and Autism in adulthood.
Susie Bass
Instagram: @susiebass_anyhow for links to Susie's work
Mia Hobbs
Find out more at my website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Follow me on Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Fran is a bear maker and multi-crafter who is originally from the UK but now lives in the Pyrenees mountains of France. Fran speaks about how craft has helped to negotiate living with chronic illness and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Fran
Website: Woollenhearted.com
Instagram: @woollenhearted
Mia Hobbs
Find out more at my website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Follow me on Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Loose Ends
Find out more at their website: www.looseendsproject.org
Follow them on Instagram: @looseendsproject
Mia Hobbs
Find out more at my website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Follow me on Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
The Why I Knit Podcast is back with series 6 starting on 4th January 2024!
Thanks to everyone who has been in touch to ask when the new episodes are coming out - I look forward to sharing 6 more conversations with you from 4th January.
Mia
Website: therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon: patreon.com/therpeuticknitting
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Kathryn Vercillo is a writer and crafter who specialises in the intersection between art and mental health.
I particularly loved Kathryn's focus on her relationship with craft being something that is constantly evolving, and her celebration of every part of the process.
Kathryn speaks about crochet has helped save her life during periods of depression, and also talks about how she used crochet to help her through the grief following her friend's death through suicide.
Kathryn Vercillo
Instagram @createmefree
Substack: https://createmefree.substack.com/
Books: https://www.amazon.com/Kathryn-Vercillo/e/B001JPC6IO
Mia
Mia
Website: therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon: patreon.com/therpeuticknitting
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Jessica Hendrickson is the Creative Design Director at Lion Brand Yarn. As a teenager she had such a strong desire to make and wear her own clothes, that she told her parents she had to attend a school without a uniform.
She continues to use knitting and crochet to express her identity, but over time she has also used them to help find her way through post-natal depression and to help her focus. Jessica speaks about how she manages her desire to knit all the things as quickly as possible, but also how her constant drive for new experiences is a superpower in her role as Design Director which requires her to come up with new designs and use new yarns on a daily basis.
Jessica and Lion Brand Yarn
Webiste: Lion Brand Yarn
Tom Daley's “Made With Love Collection," which will be
available for purchase in September 2023 at Michaels and on LionBrand.com.
Instagram: @lionbrandyarn
Mia
Website: therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon: patreon.com/therpeuticknitting
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Dr Kaman Hansford is a GP who joined us on one of our retreats for healthcare professionals. She has lived experience of using mental health services and knitting is now a crucial part of her wellbeing plan.
Kaman speaks about feeling that she can use knitting as an early warning sign if her mental health is deteriorating, and also that it is one of the tools she uses daily to access some calm.
I also really valued Kaman's perspective on using knitting as a way of becoming more self-compassionate.
Kaman is not on social media, so if you have any comments on this episode I am very happy to pass them on!
Mia
Mia
Website: therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon: patreon.com/therpeuticknitting
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Kesha Evans learned to knit 11 years ago when her son was born prematurely and was in the NICU. She was approached by Carol Caparosa from Project Knitwell who offered to teach her to knit. Despite not considering herself creative at all, Kesha agreed to learn and ended up feeling that the visits from Carol were as important to her as those of the doctors and nurses.
Today Kesha is on the board at Project Knitwell and I interviewed her as part of their Knitathon in March 2023. Project Knitwell's team of volunteers go into hospitals, schools and community settings to offer knitting as a wellness tool to people at challenging times of their lives.
This interview was one of several online sessions recorded during the Knitathon - you can access these recordings by donating online - find out more at Project Knitwell Knitathon
Project Knitwell
Website: projectknitwell.org
Instagram: @projectknitwell
Mia
Website: therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon: patreon.com/therpeuticknitting
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Jude generously joined me to speak about how he found knitting and the knitting community during a difficult time, and how knitting was a crucial part of putting himself back together.
He also speaks about the death of his parents last year, and how he continues to feel connected to them both through the memories held in knitted items, and also in the other new hobbies and skills that Jude has discovered more recently.
Jude also dyes beautiful yarn and by coincidence I realised I was wearing a pair of socks knit in Stranded yarn during our interview, bought 5 years previously at Unravel festival!
Jude
Instagram: @strandeddyeworks
Stranded Podcast on YouTube: Stranded Podcast
Mia
Website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Support the podcast on Patreon
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Dr Shona Mason is a dentist and teacher who encourages her students to develop interests outside of dentistry to prevent burnout and encourage them to have a positive work-life balance. As part of this mission she runs a knitting group for students, one of whom got in touch with me and suggested that she'd make a great interviewee for the podcast!
Shona
Instagram: @shonamasonmakes
Mia
Website: Therapeuticknitting.org
Support the podcast by donating on Patreon
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
I am so sorry that it has taken much longer than planned for Series 5! However I am pleased to announce that episode one will be available this Thursday 15th June.
In the meantime you can listen to all the previous episodes here or on your favourite podcast app.
It was a joy to spend time with Marceline to hear her reflections on her relationship with knitting, how this has changed over time, and how she aims to be more intentional in her making.
Marceline speaks about tuning in to what she needs from her crafts at a given time in her life, and how connecting to 'the old way' of doing things has helped her to navigate the times when something needs to be unravelled.
Marceline
hey BrownBerry YouTube channel: heyBrownBerry
Instagram: @heybrownberry
Etsy: heybrownberry
Ravelry: heybrownberry
Mia
Website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon: WhyIKnit
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Andrea is a physical therapist and passionate knitter who is perfectly placed to provide professional advice on what to do when we suffer pain when knitting, and how to prevent it in future.
Andrea speaks about how she returned to knitting as a new mum, and how it helped her to find a few minutes each day to do something for herself. She also shares her reflections as a physiotherapist on her important role in helping crafters to find ways of accessing their crafts in a sustainable way.
Andrea
Website: Andrea Lui
Instagram: @theknittingpt
Patreon: The Knitting PT
Youtube: The Knitting PT
Mia
Website: Podcast | Why I Knit Podcast (therapeuticknitting.org)
Patreon: Why I Knit Patreon
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Kaleb decided to return to knitting during the pandemic as a way of managing anxiety and to feel connected to his mum who had been a prolific knitter. Kaleb speaks about finding that knitting allowed them to slow down, feel calmer and connected to a different community of people.
Kaleb
Instagram: @all_things_kaleb
Mia
Website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon: Why I Knit
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
I knew I wanted to interview Lisa for the podcast when I heard her speaking about her experience of having ADHD on Irina Shaar's 'Humans of Westknits' series during the recent Westknits mystery knit along.
As someone who isn't great at just sitting and watching TV or listening to something, I feel knitting improves my ability to sit and focus and was interested to hear how Lisa felt about this.
Lisa also speaks about her lifelong love of colour; not always wanting to wear the things she wants to knit; and being someone who always aims to be the best at the things she does.
Ailie hosts the Thoughtful Knitter YouTube channel. She speaks about returning to knitting in recent years as her health problems meant that she wasn't able to connect with friends and family in the same way.
Ailie speaks about her journey from a slightly reluctant knitter to someone who knits every day and focuses more on the process than the end product.
Ailie
YouTube: The Thoughtful Knitter
Instagram: The Thoughtful Knitter
Mia
Website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon: Why I Knit
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
You can tell by the way Irina Shaar interviews knitters and other fibre artists that she loves connecting with people and finding out how they tick, so it was brilliant to hear her story and to get the chance to find out what she has learned from interviewing hundreds of knitters about their craft.
Irina
You can watch Fiberchats on YouTube here: Fiberchats
Instagram: @Fiberchats
Mia
Website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon: Why I Knit
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Ellen is a pretty inspiring 16 year old! She sews and knits and already seems to have figured out how to use these crafts intentionally to manage the times when she is struggling with low mood or anxiety. She also speaks about how craft helps her connect to family members and has been passed down through the generations in her family.
Ellen
Instagram: @sewandinspire
Etsy shop: Sew and inspire
Mia
Website: therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon for healthcare workers: Why I Knit
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Series 4 is coming on 15th December! Sorry for the long wait and thanks for your patience. I am looking forward to sharing these 7 new conversations with you.
If you have guest suggestions, please send me an email at [email protected] or message me on Instagram where I am @knittingistherapeutic
You can also sign up to my mailing list to find out more about my work at www.therapeuticknitting.org
Sylvia Watts-Cherry is a knitwear designer and teacher who is probably best known for her colourful intarsia designs. I love listening to other people talk about knitting, and was really drawn to Sylvia's description of her Paragon sweater design as being a 'happy knit' and the idea that intarsia feels therapeutic for her as she doesn't have time to think....something I relate to!
I also loved hearing Sylvia speak about a different way in which knitting has been therapeutic for her, in allowing her a way of exploring and connecting to her African heritage, by taking inspiration from African jewellery and artefacts for her knitwear designs.
Sylvia Watts-Cherry
Instagram: @withcherriesontoptoo
Ravelry: Sylvia Watts-Cherry
Mia Hobbs
Website: therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon: Why I Knit Podcast
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Dr Jen Unwin is a clinical and health psychologist who after retiring from her NHS role is now working with people with food addictions. She is a lifelong knitter who has herself found that knitting is an important part of her own self-care and because of this has also used knitting to benefit others as part of her work.
You can find out more:
Dr Jen Unwin
Instagram: @Jen_unwin
Twitter: @jen_unwin
Dr Mia Hobbs
website: therapeuticknitting.org
Patreon: Why I Knit Podcast
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Eileen has been a knitter since she was a child, but returned to it recently during a challenging time in her life. She discovered a new love for knitting and has now started to create her own designs. Eileen speaks about how knitting has been a form of self-expression, and how she rarely keeps the things she knits, but she loves planning the perfect gift for someone....even if she has never met them.
Eileen Jack
Instagram: @cniotaillaimhe - follow the link in Eileen's bio to buy her patterns on Ravelry or Payhip
Mia Hobbs
website: therapeuticknitting.org
Join our Patreon community: Why I Knit on Patreon
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Dr Paula Redmond is a clinical psychologist who specialises in working with healthcare professionals who have experienced burnout or workplace trauma. Paula and I met through the world of psychology, and I was delighted to meet another clinical psychologist who knits, and also speaks about creativity, including knitting, in her work. Paula speaks about her personal journey with knitting and how it benefits her mental wellbeing, as well as how she believes it can be helpful to her clients.
Dr Paula Redmond
Website: Paularedmond.com
LinkedIn: Paula Redmond
Facebook: Paula Redmond
Twitter: Paula Redmond
Dr Mia Hobbs
Website: therapeuticknitting.org
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Patreon: Why I Knit Podcast
This week I am joined by Liz McNeil. Liz is a knitting coach who works for Knit Chats where she helps knitters with their knitting dilemmas and teaches classes about different techniques. Liz speaks about how knitting has helped her through the challenges of having small children, when finding tiny pockets of time for herself was particularly difficult. She also speaks about how knitting allowed her to access a community despite her frequent house moves.
Liz speaks about the following patterns:
Turtle knits Picky pants Ravelry: Picky Pants pattern by Theresa Belville
Bee keeper quilt Ravelry:the beekeeper's quilt pattern by tiny owl knits
Liz McNeil
Instagram: @weelittleknitter
Instagram: @KnitChats
Mia Hobbs
Website: therapeuticknitting.org
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Patreon: Why I Knit Podcast is creating A podcast about how knitting benefits our well-being | Patreon
Come to our retreat on 1st October for GPs in London: Creative Restoration
Although Carol Caprosa doesn't consider herself to be an 'expert knitter' she, along with the many volunteers working on behalf of Project Knitwell have brought the gift of knitting to thousands of people during stressful times in their lives.
It was amazing to hear the origin story of Project Knitwell, how returning to knitting when her daughter was very unwell as a newborn baby gave Carol the idea of teaching other people in hospital to knit.
Carol Caparosa
To find out more about Project Knitwell: Welcome! - Project Knitwell
Mia Hobbs
To find out more about therapeutic knitting visit my website: therapeuticknitting.org
Follow me on Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
To find out more about our retreat for GPs on 1st October visit Creative restoration
It was such a pleasure to meet Karie and speak to her about how she learned to knit and dressmake out of necessity as a very young child in rural Denmark. Then many years later, knitting helped her to recover from a serious illness and returning to it eventually lead to her career as a knitwear designer, teacher and writer.
I loved hearing about the importance of storytelling in Karie's designs, and particularly the way she talks about knitting as agency.
Karie mentions her Doggerland collection
Karie Westermann
Instagram: @kariebookish
Mia Hobbs
Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
If you are interested in the Creative Restoration retreat for GPs on 1st October please visit Creative Restoration to find out more information and to book your space.
Series 3 is coming on 23rd June!
I am so looking forward to sharing another series of 6 conversations with knitters, designers and even another psychologist.
You can catch up on all the previous episodes at the website: Podcast | Why I Knit Podcast (therapeuticknitting.org)
CW: discussion of cancer, loss of fertility and depression
Liz O'Riordan is a breast surgeon who has herself experienced cancer, twice. She now works as a speaker, author and podcaster providing high quality and accessible information about cancer from her expertise as both a doctor and a patient.
Liz is also a lifelong knitter and more recently a sewer. Although Liz said that she often thinks that knitting is 'just something I do', throughout our conversation it becomes clear that knitting has accompanied Liz through some difficult times in her life and provided her with a sense of achievement, of comfort and a way of showing affection to her loved ones.
You can find out more about Liz's work at her website
Follow Liz on Twitter or Instagram
Find out more about the podcast and therapeutic knitting at the website where you can also sign up to the newsletter.
Follow Mia on Instagram
Clare is a knitting pattern designer and design mentor. She learned to knit as a teenager and studied knitwear design but after working in the commercial fashion industry has found her niche designing patterns and helping other people learn to make their designs into reality.
It was great to hear the perspective of a pattern designer, as Clare loves being able to turn her ideas into tangible objects.
Find out more about Clare at her website: Sister Mountain
Follow her on Instagram @sistermountain
Find out more about the podcast and therapeutic knitting at my website
Follow Mia on Instagram @knittingistherapeutic
TW: Cancer and bereavement
Susan Yaguda is passionate about knitting as a form self-care. She is an oncology nurse who has used knitting with both staff and patients at the Cancer Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina. These have included setting up a knitting group for people who are receiving chemotherapy and developing a study into whether knitting can help with the symptoms of 'chemobrain' (problems with memory and thinking after chemotherapy).
We also speak about the importance of supporting health care staff particularly since the pandemic, and the potential for offering knitting as a self-care intervention to prevent burnout.
You can find the full transcript for this episode on the blog.
You can follow Susan on Instagram @knitforhealth
Find out more about Project Knitwell
Find out more about the podcast at the website
Follow Mia on Instagram @knittingistherapeutic
It was an absolute pleasure to speak to Milli about her relationship with knitting. Right now she is the owner of Tribe Yarns, a yarn shop in Richmond-upon-Thames in London but she has also circumnavigated the globe on a yacht with her family and worked with Richard Branson as his CFO. Knitting has been a constant through all her adventures.
Milli also has a qualification in Applied Colour Psychology, and I really enjoyed learning about the theory behind how different colours can impact our mood and energy levels. Since experiencing Hurricane Irma, Milli tries not to become attached to material possessions, so she is also the ultimate process knitter! She is not afraid of ripping back to make something exactly the way she wants it, Milli rarely keeps her own knits, and never knits the same thing twice.....this includes socks!
You can see the full transcript for this episode on the blog.
You can follow Milli on Instagram at @tribeyarnslife
Website: Tribe Yarns
Follow Mia on Instagram @knittingistherapeutic
Website: Therapeutic Knitting
This week I was excited to be joined by Casey Bernard, who is one half of the Very Pink Knits podcast. I have listened to this podcast for several years now and particularly enjoy the conversations that Casey and Staci have about the differences between them and their relationship to their knitting and the dilemma of 'process versus project' knitting.
To find the full transcript see the blog post
To follow Casey on Instagram: @kc.knits
Her website is: kcknits.com
Follow Mia: @knittingistherapeutic
Website: www.therapeuticknitting.org
Nasreen (also known as @sewcraftynaz on Instagram) is a multi-crafter and relatively new knitter. She joins me on the podcast to talk about how craft has allowed her to connect to her mother who died when she was very young, and to her children who have inherited her love of making.
Nasreen also speaks about how making time for creativity is a really important part of her own self-care as a doctor and a parent of young children.
View the full transcript for this episode on the blog
You can follow the Nasreen on Instagram here: @sewcraftynaz
Follow the podcast on Instagram here: @knittingistherapeutic
Find out more about the podcast and therapeutic knitting at the website
Series two is starting with another 'pinch me' moment as I am joined by Meghan Fernandes and Lydia Gluck, the founders and creative directors of Pom Pom magazine! As you'll hear, discovering Pom Pom inspired me to become a garment knitter, which has completely changed my relationship with the clothes I wear.
It was such a pleasure to talk to Meghan and Lydia about their love of making and how this benefits their well-being on a daily basis.
View the transcript for this episode on the Captivate player
You can follow Pom Pom on Instagram @pompommag
Follow Dr Mia Hobbs on instagram @knittingistherapeutic
Sign up to the therapeutic knitting newsletter and read the blog on the website here
Patterns mentioned in this episode:
The podcast is back for series two on Thursday 3rd March. I am really excited to share another series of interviews with brilliant guests all of whom believe that knitting plays an important role in their mental wellbeing.
Dana Williams-Johnson, or DWJ is a doctoral student and professor of marketing at Howard University. She is also a passionate knitter of colourful sweaters for humans and very small dogs! She also writes a column for Modern Daily Knitting.
Dana and I speak about how her love of learning brought her to a knitting class and how she keeps on building on that knowledge year after year. She also speaks about how in the past year she has been recovering from multiple serious pulmonary embolisms, and how she has managed periods of not knitting.
View the transcript for this episode on the Captivate Player
You can follow Dana's blog at her website Yards of Happiness – A blog about knitting and things that bring me joy.
Instagram Dana/DWJ (@callmedwj) • Instagram photos and videos
Find out more about Dr Mia Hobbs, the Why I Knit Podcast and read the blog: Home | Therapeutic Knitting
Instagram: Dr Mia Hobbs (@knittingistherapeutic) • Instagram photos and videos
Yarns and Patterns mentioned in this episode:
a_simmetrie pattern by cecilia flori
Angelina pullover Ravelry:
Angelina Pullover pattern by Mary Anne Benedetto
La bien Aimee La Bien
Lauren Brennan is the Managing Director of Project Knitwell, a charity dedicated to using knitting as a wellness tool and bringing this to people in hospital and community settings. Lauren speaks about her own journey in using to knitting to benefit her wellbeing as well as her involvement in project knitwell, bringing the joy and comfort of knitting to people in need.
View the transcript for this episode on the Captivate player
Find out more about Project knitwell at their website
Follow them on Instagram: @projectknitwell
Find out more about Dr Mia Hobbs and the Why I Knit Podcast and read the blog on the website
Follow Dr Mia Hobbs on Instagram @knittingistherapeutic
Yarn, books and patterns discussion in this episode:
TheHand by Frank R. Wilson: 9780679740476 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
Woolly wormhead azula hat azula — Woolly Wormhead
Dude sweater Ravelry: TheKnitter's Dude pattern by Andrea Rangel
Starting Point wrap Ravelry:Starting Point pattern by Joji Locatelli
LJ is the owner of Rusty Ferret Yarn and also speaks openly about how she has used knitting to manage anxiety and low mood. She has brilliantly named her new yarn range after her struggles with low mood. LJ speaks about knowing that she needed to do something with her hands in order to feel better, and how knitting helped her to manage a bereavement.
View the transcript on the captivate player
You can find out more about LJ's yarn at her website
Follow LJ on Instagram @rustyferretyarn
Find out more about Dr Mia Hobbs, the Why I Knit podcast and the blog on the website
Follow Dr Mia Hobbs on Instagram @knittingistherapeutic
Links to yarn and patterns discussed in this episode:
Ravelry: Summerislepattern by Karie Westermann
Lace top Ravelry:Diafanía pattern by Camila Larsen
Betsan Corkhill is internationally recognised as an expert in therapeutic knitting. Hear about how a stack of letters in a filing cabinet let to Betsan's career specialising in the therapeutic benefits of knitting and how she rebranded knitting as a 'rythmical bilateral psychosocial intervention' in order to get knitting taken seriously when discussing her research.
View the transcript for this episode on the captivate player
You can find out more about Betsan's work and reasearch at the Stitchlinks website
Find out more about Dr Mia Hobbs, the Why I Knit Podcast and read the blog here
Follow Dr Mia Hobbs on Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic
Find out more about the topics we discuss in this episode:
Knitting equation KNITTINGEQUATION_June2015.pdf (stitchlinks.com)
EMDR- EMDR:The basics - EMDR Association UK - Overcoming trauma with expert help
Betsan Corkhill's book Knit for Health & Wellness(knitforhealthandwellness.com)
TW: Homophobia, suicide and depression
James McIntosh taught himself to knit with chopsticks and string when he had been so low in mood that he couldn't leave his bed. He now credits knitting with saving his life.
See the transcript for this episode on the captivate player
James is the owner of McIntosh yarn, see their website
Follow James on Instagram: @knitmcintosh
Yarns, patterns and research discussed in this episode:
Erika knight men’s knits Men'sKnits A New Direction by Erika Knight - Yarn etc...
Pussy hat project (including the critique that it is not inclusive for all races and gender identities) Pussyhat - Wikipedia
Information on mindfulness: Mindfulness- NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Evidence on mindfulness for depression: mindfulness depression | Search results page 1 | Evidence search | NICE
Ravelry: Hue Shift Afghan pattern by Kerin Dimeler-Laurence
Betsan Corkhill Stitchlinks.com
Why I Knit Podcast disclaimer
For the purpose of this disclaimer ‘We’ refers to Dr Mia Hobbs and the ‘Why I Knit’ podcast.
The views expressed in this podcast belong solely to the speaker and do not reflect the views of Dr Mia Hobbs.
The aim of the podcast is to explore the opinions and experiences of the interviewees and not to disseminate factual information. We take no responsibility for and do not verify any facts mentioned by interviewees on the podcast and assume no liability for any of the views or statements made by interviewees on the podcast. The podcast is designed for general use and is not designed to constitute professional advice or a professional service.
We assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this podcast. The information contained in this site is provided oan "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.
The links to websites provided in the show notes are for information only and we assume no responsiblity for the websites accessed via these links.
Ros Edwards is a prolific knitter who has had a bed-bound illness for the past 5 years. Ros speaks about how knitting helps her to manage chronic pain and the psychological distress of her illness. Ros also speaks about the importance of the connections she has made in the yarn community, and that she uses her yarn and pattern purchases to demonstrate her values.
View the transcript on the captivate player
Follow Ros on Instagram: @rosem0nde
Find out more about Dr Mia Hobbs, the Why I Knit Podcast and read the blog on the website
Yarns and patterns discussed in this episode:
FindYour Fade Shawl — Drea Renee Knits
Stephen West Vertices Unite PATTERNS - Westknits
Cosy memories Blanket Ravelry: Cozy Memories Blanket pattern by Shelley Dupont
Susan Lin Swoon Sweater Ravelry: SwoonSweater pattern by Susan Lin
Sea Glass Tee Wool & Pine Designs Seaglass Tee | Wool & Pine(woolandpine.com)
Sussurus pullover Issue 32: Spring2020 – Pom Pom Publishing (pompommag.com)
Somerset Yarns SomersetYarns by SomersetYarns on Etsy
Marina Skua yarn Hand-dyedBritish yarn and fibre – Marina Skua
Boskularjumper knitting pattern – Marina Skua
Telja sweater Ravelry: Telja pattern byJennifer Steingass
Myak yarn mYak Tibetan FibermYakTibetan Fibers | Ethically Sourced Yarn from the Tibetan Plateau
Home | GarnStories -hand dyed yarns
Igawa Pattern Ravelry: Igawa pattern byJunko Okamoto
Atia Azmi is a knitter, sewer, blogger and podcaster who is known for her creative use of colour in her makes and her home. Atia speaks about the joy of using knitting as a creative outlet where she can combine colours.
Visit Atia's website: www.thebrightblooms.com
Follow Atia on Instagram @thebrightblooms
The Uncut podcast: Uncut Podcast
Find out more about Dr Mia Hobbs and therapeutic knitting on the website
Follow Dr Mia Hobbs on Instagram @knittingistherapeutic
View the transcript for the podcast on the captivate player
Yarn and patterns discussed in this episode:
Ysolda Ysolda | modernknitting patterns | free tutorials | online workshops
Ravelry Ravelry
Knitty.com Content: Knitty.com - Deep Fall 2021
Penguono sweater by Stephen West Penguono (gumroad.com)
Holiday slipover by petite knit Holiday
Poet sweater Sari Nordlund Ravelry: Poet pattern bySari Nordlund
Dragonflies sweater Joji Locatelli Ravelry:Dragonflies Jumper pattern by Joji Locatelli
The Plumpy Shawl by Andrea Mowry Plumpy — Drea Renee Knits
HHF - Luxury HandDyed Yarns – Hedgehog Fibres
Cartography sweater by Tin Can Kits Cartography pattern |Tin Can Knits
Scout Shawl by Florence Spurling ScoutShawl – Florence Spurling Studio (shopflorencespurling.com)
Knitty.com’s Forecast Sweater Knitty: editorial win05
London Underground sock yarn: TrailingClouds — **pre order** Nimbus sock yarn in MIND THE GAP (bigcartel.com)
Lace shawl: Ravelry: Clothildepattern by Kristen Hanley Cardozo
Brooklyn Tweed Shelter yarn Shelter Yarn | 100% USA-GrownTarghee-Columbia Wool | Brooklyn Tweed
Camarose Snefnug yarn SNOWFLAKE (camarose.dk)
The first episode of Season 1 will be released on 2nd December!
I have some amazing guests and can't wait to share our conversations with you.
You can follow me on Instagram @knittingistherapeutic or contact me via my website www.therapeuticknitting.org
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.