Grandma Hobbies as Self Care

Making has always been something I have done for as long as I can remember, but 36-plus years ago, my future mother-in-law taught me how to knit, and that has never faded. Something about passing the yarn through the loops on one needle and moving them to the next has become my therapy, meditation practice, and has given me some amazing sweaters and heirloom gifts.

Different crafts have come and gone, but for me, knitting has never really gone away. So I am thrilled that more people are wanting to learn!

Sewing, embroidery, needlepoint, crochet, knitting, gardening, weaving, and spinning were once considered things only grandmas did, but now more and more people are realizing how great these hobbies are!

I think most people try these activities for the first time because of the finished project. That is wonderful, but the secret and magical part of doing these things is something we don’t see!

In our modern everyday lives, we spend so much of our time scrolling, watching, clicking, and looking at screens. When we do these “grandma hobbies,” our brains work differently, and we get so much benefit from that.

We are planning, measuring, counting, making color decisions, using spatial reasoning, remembering techniques, solving problems, and learning new skills. All of these provide cognitive stimulation and help build new neural pathways. They can also help keep our minds active as we age. Just think, you can embroider a pillow and keep your mind young at the same time!

These hobbies can also be very meditative, especially when they are repetitive. The movements we make with our hands can help quiet the body’s stress response. From personal experience, I know knitting has helped me get through many difficult times in my life, including the loss of my spouse.

In today’s world, we are not always connected to each other, but with these hobbies, community can be a very important piece. There are groups popping up everywhere, in people’s homes, coffee shops, on Zoom, or in the park, where people can gather together, share their progress, get advice, and genuinely connect.

In a world where so much of our day happens on a screen, perhaps part of the appeal of these so-called grandma hobbies is remarkably simple: they give us something real to touch.

So if you haven’t tried one of the “grandma hobbies,” maybe it is time to give one a try. And if you are already a grandma hobbyist, maybe it is time to gather a few friends, bring out your projects, and start a crafting night of your own. Because maybe what we need right now is a little less screen time, a little more making, and a little more time together.

If you want to learn to knit I can help!  The Knitting Tudor Beginning Knitting Course