Crocheting: Coolest way to unwind in 2020

The hobbies we pursue are not just a pastime, they’re therapeutic as well. For example, the repetitive nature of crocheting is said to be relaxing and stress-busting, even by psychotherapists. Many find it as an alternative therapy, like yoga and meditation, for its ability to focus the mind — which could explain why it’s become so popular in the pandemic.



A perfect stress buster

Insert, wrap and pull — these are the three steps crocheters keep chanting in their minds while creating handmade woollens. And they love it. “It’s therapeutic and addictive. After a hard day’s work, all I need is my yarn and hook, along with some good music, to calm myself down,” said Nayan Pinto, a Mangalore-based general surgeon, who has been crocheting for a little more than a year. Elaborating on his ‘new-found love’, he said, “It’s true that not many men crochet, but I realised this art is not limited to our grannies anymore. About a year ago, I was ill and couldn’t move around for a while. I watched videos of Jonah’s Hand (a Wisconsin-based wonder crochet kid) and realised I would love to do something similar. He was my inspiration,” said the doctor.



Nayan is not the only one. Shruti Kumar, a Chennai-based former marketing professional, also found comfort in crochet. “In 2016, I was going through a rough patch. During that time, I saw a friend posting crochet photos on social media. I reached out to her for help. What started as a hobby, to distract myself from stress, soon became a passion,” said Shruti, who now focuses on Amigurumi — a Japanese technique of making crochet stuffed toys.

A healthy distraction for kids

Since schools are yet to reopen, this intricate hobby is keeping the youngster hooked as well. Ten-year-old Avipsha Sanyal surprised her mother, Anwesha, on her birthday in October. “My daughter crocheted an owl for me. She demanded crochet hooks and yarn during the lockdown as she started watching tutorial videos. We live in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and we do not have many yarn shops here. I told my mother, an avid crocheter in Kolkata, and she got her a pack of yarn and crochet hooks. My daughter is crocheting new things ever since,” said the proud mother.

‘Crocheting is both therapeutic and rewarding’

The process of crocheting is a repetitive act and hence, it is like you are meditating. When in stress, it slows down your racing thoughts. In crochet, we already know what we are going to do next — yarn over, pull up a loop and pull through. That helps you calm down. Besides, one tends to love the finished product. The action itself is rewarding and hence makes people happy.

—Saoni Banerjee, art psychotherapist

Five fancy yarns



Vicuna wool

Vicuna is a relative of the llama found in high Alpine areas of the Andes

Alpaca hair

Alpaca, an animal living in South America, produces some of the finest wool available

Angora wool

Angora comes from the undercoat of the Angora rabbit

Cashmere

It comes from Australian cashmere goat, Changthangi (Kashmir Pashmina) and several other breeds

Merino

Comes from merino sheep