Does crafting help you in the current situation?

Dear users, dear authors,
do you find crafting helpful right now, or do you not have enough peace and quiet for it?

It helps me. It takes my mind off things, and I feel better. Unfortunately, it doesn’t change the situation. But if I weren’t knitting and writing here with you all, that wouldn’t change this difficult time either. So I sit on the sofa and count stitches. Right now, I’m still knitting for our preschool. After that, I thought I’d make winter hats and scarves. They’ll definitely be needed by the end of the year. 

My hobby helps me in various situations, whether it’s as a distraction from my pain or, as it has been for the past two years, from all the misery (the pandemic, war, etc.). It takes my mind off things, and I have to concentrate, so I don’t dwell too much on the issues mentioned above—otherwise, I’d just be crying all the time.

Best regards, Inge

Yes, definitely! In my sewing room, I have peace and quiet and no internet. And when a project demands my attention, it’s good—then I don’t think too much about other things.

In the first week, I didn’t even have the peace and quiet to sew, but now it’s working out.

Best regards,
Sonja

Oh yes, it helps me immensely. I actually only really got back into it during the first lockdown so I wouldn’t feel cooped up. Before that, we were always on the go—going out, meeting friends and family, traveling—the more, the better—so it was quite an adjustment. Then my husband got sick, and it worked out perfectly that we’d already gotten used to staying indoors.
And now I just need it as an outlet for my nerves; whatever doesn’t fit in my head can find its way out through my hands… somehow.

It helps me a lot, too, because then I’m fully focused on being creative, and that feels good. I also spend less time online and focus on beautiful things. Walks outside are lovely right now, too, with everything in bloom. I’m already looking forward to gardening season. Of course, I’ll be knitting out there, too.

Crocheting definitely helps me. Even when my cats come to cuddle, it really helps me.

I’m still new here at CP, so I’d like to introduce myself briefly. I’m Isabel, I’ll be turning 50 this year, and I have a husband, two kids who are still teenagers, and a dog named Bailey. And I knit every single day, usually in the evenings. When I have time, I also enjoy knitting in the mornings and at lunchtime :-). 
Right now, knitting helps me find some peace and unwind a little. “Staying home” during the pandemic didn’t bother me much, but this war is weighing heavily on me...

Best regards,
Isabel

Hi Isabel,
welcome here. It’s great to have you here.

Hi Isabel, welcome to the group. Yes, at first I thought the same thing: the pandemic is bad, but things can only get better—just wait it out. And now this. 

Looking back, I can say that crafting has always helped me during difficult times in my life. It’s been a constant in my life—something I could always return to. It has always comforted me when I needed to get through tough times. It’s like a little balm for a troubled soul.

Turning off for a few hours, immersing myself in a project, and letting my senses wander to beautiful things. Simply tuning out the world and its problems for a while and giving myself over completely to a creative idea, losing myself in it.

The world is still out there, and I’m not ignoring the problems. But these creative breaks give me relaxation and renewed energy. That’s important so that we can actually live our lives with joy—despite the adversities. After all, we all live in our own little circles together with the people we love. There, we can give each other support, comfort, and strength. And to be able to do that, we have to take care of ourselves and do what’s good for us. And for me, crafts play a part in that.

Warm regards to everyone—Ina