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Why I Knit

Dr Mia Hobbs

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 well-being.
I have an inspiring and diverse range of knitters lined up who have generously shared their stories with me.
Find out more about the therapeutic benefits of knitting at my website and find our webinars, workshops and blogs at www.creativerestoration.org or follow me on Instagram @knittingistherapeutic

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S10 · E2
Yesterday · 1 hr
Knitting as creative collaboration with Kitey The Yarn Whisperer
This week I am delighted to be joined by yarn dyer and yarn shop owner Kitey, who is also known as The Yarn Whisperer. Kitey speaks about his journey from crochet to knitting, and how dying yarn unexpectedly brought together lots of different parts of his heritage. He also reflects on the importance of keeping some craft projects for himself as someone who works in the yarn industry, and the creative collaboration that happens when we combine yarns with a pattern and then add our own interpretation of it. To find out more about his yarns and shop visit The Yarn Whisperer or follow him on Instagram ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S10 · E1
September 9 · 54 min
Knitting for the ups and the downs with Lydia of Weku Yarn
Series 10 returns for a series of interviews exploring why we knit and how knitting benefits our mental health. This week I am joined by Lydia who is the Co-founder of Weku Yarn which she runs alongside her sister Hannah. You may also know Lydia as one of the finalists from the first series of Game of Wool. Lydia joins me to speak about how she learned to knit, how her relationship with knitting has changed and evolved over recent years, including the times that high levels of stress has meant that she didn’t feel able to pick up her knitting needles. It was a pleasure to hear Lydia’s journey from knitting for pleasure into a business, and then her reflections on her time as a contestant on Game of Wool. You can find out more about Lydia’s yarn at @wekuyarn on Instagram or at her website ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle. Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S10 · E1
September 2 · 2 min
An exciting announcement...
Series 10 is on the way, and with it a new and exciting development! We have created a Patreon Community and we'd love you to join us there - the perks for supporting the podcast will include early access to episodes, our behind the scenes weekly videos and you can join us at our monthly online knitting circle. We are really looking forward to growing the community element of Creative Restoration so we really hope to see you there. Find out more here: Join the Community Series 10 of the podcast will return on Thursday 10th September with a series of 7 new interviews. We can't wait to share them with you. ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: How to support the podcast Thank you so much for listening. If you value the podcast and would like to support it, here's how: 1. Sign up to our monthly newsletter here: https://creativerestoration.org/newsletter/ 2. If you've enjoyed the podcast please leave us a rating and a review to help others hear about it. 3. Please consider sharing the podcast on social media or send it to a friend who might enjoy it. Thank you so much for your support, we really appreciate it.
S9 · E12
August 5 · 47 min
Knitting for addiction recovery - Journal club
In this Journal Club episode Dr Paula Redmond joins me to discuss a journal article about using knitting in a center for drug and alcohol rehabilitation. This is a narrative of a knitting group within a rehab center for women living with addiction. The paper is here: Duffy, K. (2007). Knitting through recovery one stitch at a time: Knitting as an experiential teaching method for affect management in group therapy. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, 2(1), 67–83. https://doi.org/10.1300/J384v02n01_04 [1, 2] Unfortunately the full text is not available for free, but anyone in the UK can access it via a local library. ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E11
July 1 · 40 min
Knitting for depression and low mood - a bonus relisten
This week Dr Paula Redmond joins me to discuss how knitting can help with depression and low mood. We've chosen three episodes of the podcast in which my guests have discussed using knitting as a strategy to help with low mood, and we discuss our reflections and themes from these conversations. The episodes we listened to were: Series 4 episode 1 with Ellen of Sew and Inspire Series 1 episode 3 with James McIntosh Series 5 episode 6 with Kathryn Vercillo ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E10
June 17 · 37 min
Journal Club - Knitting and Eating Disorders
This week Paula and I discuss the journal article investigating whether knitting can reduce anxious thoughts in people diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Find the article here: Clave-Brule, M & Mazloum, A & Park, Rebecca & Harbottle, E. (2009). Managing anxiety in eating disorders with knitting. Eating and weight disorders : EWD. 14. e1-5. 10.1007/BF03354620. ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E11
May 20 · 49 min
Book Club - Art Cure and Your Brain on Art
In this bonus book club episode Paula joins me to discuss two great books about art, health and well-being. Both books take a deep dive into the research into how the arts impact on our health, well-being and education. Mia has read the New York Times bestselling book: Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. This is a summary of research across different areas of the arts and how the impact on health, welll-being and learning. Paula has read Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt who has conducted a huge amount of research in the field of arts and health. We share our thoughts on these books and how the relate to knitting and what might be happening in our brains when we knit. ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E9
April 22 · 34 min
Journal Club - Can knitting reduce blood pressure?
For this journal club episode we discuss the commonly made claim that knitting can reduce blood pressure. We discuss the origins of this claim in the research and look at a new paper which examines the impact of a creative handicraft group, which included knitting, on a group of older adults living in a residential home. You can find a link to the abstract and reference here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/psyg.70044?af=R To find out more about Self-Care One Stitch at a Time: an audio course ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E8
February 25 · 48 min
Bonus Episode - Knitting and ADHD
This is our first bonus relisten episode where Paula and I choose 3 episodes on a theme and relisten to them and give our reflections. This month we are listening to 3 episodes with knitters who discuss their experiences of ADHD and how they use knitting to benefit their well-being as an ADHD knitter. If you'd like to listen back, the episodes we discuss are: Una S8E8 Madison Siegel S6E4 Lisa Silver S4E4 If you'd like to see the full list of episodes featuring discussions of ADHD you find them on the blog ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E7
February 18 · 40 min
Journal Club - Can knitting improve attention?
This week Paula and I discuss a research paper about knitting and attention in children. Sonnier F, Lussiana E and Gueraud S (2023) Boosting inhibition control process by knitting at school. Front. Psychol. 14:1062001. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1062001 This study is specifically focussed on whether knitting can affect our executive function skills, and found that primary school children had significant better scores on a test of inhibition after 20 minutes of knitting compared to spending 20 minutes at recess. They also found that knitting reduced the impact of emotion on response times. You can read the full text here ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E6
February 11 · 42 min
Knitting to focus on the present moment with Simon of Veteran Knitter
For the final episode of series 9 I am joined by Simon, also known as Veteran Knitter and one of the contestants from Game of Wool, the knitting and crochet based TV show in the UK. Simon speaks about how he first came to pick up some knitting needles and his journey from a secret knitter who handed out hand knit gifts to his surprised friends and family, to going public on Instagram and then taking his knitting onto our TV screens. We speak about his experience of telling his work colleagues on a building site that he is a knitter, and how he uses knitting to help him bring his focus into the present. Connect with Simon on Instagram and TikTok ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E5
February 4 · 54 min
Knitting to feel like myself again with Annah of Needle and Feather
This week I am delighted to be joined by Annah of Needle and Feather. Annah is a designer of colourwork knitting designs often inspired by nature and if you follow me on Instagram you'll have seen that I am enjoying knitting her Year by Piece blanket which is made up of a square inspired by each month of the year. Annah speaks about turning to knitting during a period of anxiety when she needed a small achievable creative project to keep her brain busy and to give her a sense of acheivement. Connect with Annah: @needleandfeather on Instagram Needle and feather on Ravelry ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E4
January 28 · 57 min
Knitting for Self-Reflection with Nicole Nehrig
Clinical Psychologist and author Nicole Nehrig joins me this week to discuss her own relationship with knitting and how this lead to writing the book 'With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Stories' in which she explores the meaningful role that textile work has played in so many women’s lives. Find out about Nicole Nehrig ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E3
January 21 · 54 min
ADHD, dopamine and flow with Theodora Burrow
Joining me this week on the podcast is designer Theodora Burrow. Theodora is a knit and crochet designer who taught herself to knit and crochet from books, way before there was an internet. After her ADHD diagnosis at the age of 50 she realized just how important knitting and crochet had been in her life, and how it both soothes and sparks creativity in equal measure. She creates knitting and crochet patterns with a playful and whimsical twist, with colour as a source of dopamine. Instagram: @theodora_goes_wild Website: www.theodoragoeswild.com ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E2
January 14 · 35 min
Knitting to find pause with Maya from Knit With Attitude
Maya is the owner of Knit With Attitude, one of the longest running yarn shops in London. She speaks about using knitting as a strategy to manage her own health difficulties, and about the sudden change that lead her to speak about knitting and mental health on a daily basis in her shop. Maya is also running the Knit Calm Retreat on Sunday 22nd February where both she and Mia are speaking. For information on how you can join us click the link. Find out about Knit With Attitude Shop ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S9 · E1
January 7 · 1 hr
Knitting to channel anxiety with Lauren Aston
Series 9 kicks of with a conversation with Lauren Aston, the founder of Lauren Aston Designs. I first came across Lauren when looking up some of Claudia Winkleman's excellent knitwear on the second series of The Traitors UK. I was delighted to find Lauren's knitting pattern behind one of them! Lauren speaks about the phenomenon that is 'The Claudia Sweater' and the challenge of continuing to get well-being benefits from knitting once it becomes your job. She also speaks about really realising how much she gained from knitting when a hand injury meant that she couldn't knit for several weeks. You can find out more about Lauren's designs here ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S8 · E12
Dec 17, 2025 · 48 min
Bonus episode - Knitting and Creative Restoration in 2025
For our last episode of 2025, Paula and Mia reflect on their own knitting and craft projects over the past year, and the ways in which they have used knitting as part of their self-care. They also look back at the new developments in Creative Restoration over the past year, and share their thoughts on the TV show Game of Wool. They share their plans for their own knitting and for Creative Restoration for the coming year including news on the next season of the Why I Knit Podcast which returns in January, and they announce their next webinar on knitting for focus and attention. Thanks to everyone for listening and supporting the podcast this year. ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S8 · E11
Nov 12, 2025 · 38 min
Book Club Episode - Wintering by Katherine May
For this bonus book club episode we have read the brilliant bestselling book 'Wintering' by Katherine May and speak about how it links to burnout. Wintering takes us through living through personal and seasonal winters and how knitting can be a brilliant activity to accompany us through both types of winter. ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S8 · E10
Oct 29, 2025 · 27 min
Bonus episode - Knitting for burnout prevention with Dr Paula Redmond
For this bonus episode I am joined by Dr Paula Redmond who specialises in working with health professionals experiencing burnout. Paula speaks about her own journey into this work during Covid, and how creativity in her personal life has encouraged her to bring this into her work. We talk about what burnout is, and who might be more likely to experience it, and why knitting is a great tool to prevent burnout. We'll be going into this in much more detail in our webinar, Unravelling Burnout If you'd like to find out about Paula's clinical work in the area of burnout, or download her free Burnout Toolkit you can visit her website here: Dr Paula Redmond ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.
S8 · E10
Oct 1, 2025 · 48 min
Journal Club - Knitting for anxiety and compassion fatigue in nurses
Join Clinical Psychologists Dr Mia Hobbs and Dr Paula Redmond as we discuss two research papers about knitting and mental health. These papers both relate to nurses and supporting them with the challenges of their role. Paper 1 relates to using knitting to reduce compassion fatigue in nurses Paper 2 relates to using knitting to reduce anxiety in nursing students ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about knitting, creativity and wellbeing. 🧶 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. 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Knitting for Attention and Focus. We explore how knitting and crochet can support concentration, attention and mindful awareness, particularly for people who struggle with restlessness, distractibility or overwhelm. Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond Mentioned in this episode: Join our community on Patreon! We'd love you to join us on Patreon - you can support the podcast while accessing perks such as early access to new episodes, our weekly behind the scenes videos and join our monthly online knitting circle.

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