Knitting Therapy

Well, I’m fed up at the moment. My tendonitis/bursitis/what-the-heckitis is back in my shoulder with a vengeance (I mentioned the hay wrestling last time, didn’t I?) and the steroids I’m taking make me feel sick so grumble, grump, moan. I can’t do all the things I should be doing. And after all men, I’m the next worst patient on the planet. Plus it’s January which is always the most miserable month weather-wise in Creuse.

Anyway, I did some therapeutic knitting last night, which was slightly painful but the need for sanity outweighed the discomfort, and I made a Berkshire Pig loo roll cover for Chris. (We have a breeding trio of Berkshires.) I’m not entirely sure why but I felt the need to do something. It cheered me up – perhaps it will you too.

Knitting is known to be therapeutic, but how? Well, first up, it gives you something to do so stops you moping (as I was) and that helps keep the blues at bay. Focusing on one task stops you thinking about the niggly things that are bugging you. Next up, knitting is a bit like meditation and mindfulness. It helps you relax which slows your thought processes. It’s also meant to help chronic pain so maybe if I keep knitting I’ll get through my own pain barrier. The rhythmic nature of knitting is very soothing and good for the soul so this often ridiculed pastime really is quite a wonderful activity.

I adapted my pig pattern from the first dead tree (i.e. printed as opposed to electronic) book I have bought in a long time, Toilet Roll Covers by Pat Ashforth and Steve Plummer. There are thirty fun patterns to choose from – such as a polar bear, a sheep, Humpty Dumpty, a bobble hat – and you can knit them up easily within an hour or so. I currently lack the patience to work on a big project but I haven’t knitted for so long, I had to get on with something. So, all you knitters out there, I highly recommend this book.