There are many things we can do to keep our mental health, well, healthy. For me, that looks like medication and consistent counseling for maintenance. Those are directly related to my mental health, but did you know there are other ways to give your brain a positive boost? Crafting, and more specifically, fiber art, is my favorite way to do that!

You may be wondering, what is fiber art? According to Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore (FACES), fiber art is a style of fine art which uses textiles such as fabric, yarn, and natural and synthetic fibers. For me, this includes knitting, crocheting, sewing, and hand embroidering.

In my own personal experience, these are the top 3 mental health benefits of fiber art: it’s creative, it’s meditative, and it’s productive.

1. It’s Creative

Fiber art, in and of itself, is creation. You can take ordinary strings and turn them into extraordinary things! Similar to a blank page, unshaped yarn, thread, and fabric hold endless possibilities. And, unless you work in a creative industry (like me), nowadays, we don’t get to flex our creativity muscle much during our daily lives and jobs. Getting creative allows you to express yourself, which can be a release for both your mind and your body.

2. It’s Meditative

If you have ever tried fiber art, you know how meditative it can be! Knitting, in particular, is very rhythmic. If you are doing the same stitch over and over again, you don’t need to think much about it. Your hands get into a rhythm, which allows your mind to take a breather. Try knitting or crocheting a blanket or scarf in just one type of stitch. Moving back and forth on the needles or hook can be very relaxing!

3. It’s Productive

Although, for most of us, the idea of rest may be sitting on the couch and binge watching your favorite show, I want to ask you something: do you really feel rested after doing that? Rest isn’t just the lack of activity; there is such a thing as active rest. Fiber art would be in that category for me!

I love the feeling of making something with my hands. I don’t know about you, but when I make progress on a project, I feel accomplished! And guess what? I can do that whilst simultaneously binging my favorite show and snuggling my dog. The difference, though, is that I have something to show for my time! I’m not saying that every minute of every day needs to be productive. However, the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with making something yourself cannot be ignored. In fact, it can strengthen your mental health (in my personal experience)!

This is the blog post I originally intended to write, before sharing my 3-part personal mental health journey. If you haven’t read those posts, and you think they won’t trigger you (TW: depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation), then go back and read them! It may give you more context on why fiber art is so healing for me.

I want to know: Have you tried fiber art before? If so, what is your favorite type? If not, what is a hobby or skill that contributes to improving and maintaining your mental health? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading! I appreciate you!

Katelyn

Sources: Frequently Asked Questions – Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore