Why do you crochet, knit, sew, or do crafts?

Dear users, dear authors, over in the other thread, the (health) benefits of crafting — specifically crocheting and knitting — are described.
My question for you is: Why have you stuck with crafting after learning it as a child or even as an adult? What keeps drawing you back to crafting?

Because it’s fun to make your own things. Just think about all the amazing things you can create from a simple, very long piece of yarn... Learning new techniques and then holding a (hopefully) beautiful garment or a cute stuffed animal in your hands is a wonderful feeling. Plus, it’s relaxing, and I can do it while watching TV. I can’t read and watch TV at the same time, though....

I think you might as well ask me: Why do you breathe…? I’ve been doing crafts my whole life (well, as far back as I can remember). I really need to be creative just as much as I need air to breathe or food and drink. When there are times when I can’t do it (for example, when I’m mostly just working on the computer), I become unbearable and I don’t feel well at all. For me, it’s truly the thread that runs through my life, the one that always helps pull me back up. But there mustn’t be any pressure involved.

Ich bin nicht direkt beim Häkeln geblieben, sondern nach einer langen Pause wieder dazu gekommen.

Die Pause hatte ich vermutlich nur, weil es mir keiner beibringen konnte und weil ich als Kind nichts anderes als Reihenhäkeln und feste Maschen konnte.
Schon damals habe ich es geliebt, Dinge "aus dem Nichts" zu erschaffen. Wie Nadeleule sagt - Es ist faszinierend, was man aus einem Faden herstellen kann.
Schon als Kind habe ich (Ohne Anleitung!) Stofftiere, Stirnbänder und eine Tasche gemacht, ich war fasziniert.

Aus dem gleichen Grund hab ich wohl wieder angefangen. Jedes Werk (Egal, ob Halstuch, Mütze, Schal, Amigurumi, ...) begeistert mich aufs neue, alles liegt mir am Herzen und ich bin jedes mal stolz, wenn was fertig ist.

Außerdem faszinieren mich verschiedene Techniken. Diese Woche habe ich zum Beispiel zum ersten mal was im C2C-Muster ausprobiert.

Ich werde wohl noch beim Häkeln bleiben, bis ich alles ausprobiert habe, was auf meiner imaginären To-Do-Liste steht. Und dafür müsste ich 10000 Jahre alt werden :)

@Tina: I just took a quick look at the C2C—it looks pretty complicated... but definitely interesting! Maybe you could post a picture in the gallery once it’s finished? 

Es klingt etwas hochtrabend, aber es ist echt so, dass ich mich bei jedem fertigen Modell ein bisschen wie der Schöpfer fühle und mir so etwas wie "und es wurde Geschenkverpackung" denke :-). Handarbeit bringt mich dazu immer weiter zu lernen, nach Lösungen zu suchen, sorgt für ständige Erfolgserlebnisse und auch sonstige positive Emotionen.

@Mel: If it ever gets finished, I’ll show it here ;-) I actually just wanted to “give it a try...” to see how it’s done... Then it turned into more and more rows...
I totally underestimated the pattern, just started crocheting away and thought it would be a tiny little square... This here: https://twoheartscrochet.com/2016/10/07/the-dino-cal-velociraptor/
Now I’m on row 16 and the piece is already huge, and I’d run out of yarn ;-)
(Just to give you an idea, my leg is under the piece.... There are still a lot more rows to come! :D)

Okay... the picture isn’t working... Anyway, it’s already as long as my thigh and it’s getting even bigger...

I’ve only been crocheting for about three years, and it brings me so much joy to keep coming up with new figures, make my own accessories, and keep crocheting new ones.

And it’s fascinating to see all the possibilities for creating such a wide variety of beautiful things from yarn—and the joy of having made it all myself.

Then you can share that joy with others—what could be better?

I read the question yesterday afternoon and then consciously asked myself the same thing that evening when I sat down in front of the TV with my crochet supplies.
I was tired and worn out, but reaching for them is automatic.

I mean, it’s automatic. I sit down, and before I know it, I have something to work on in my hands. But that’s not the only reason (otherwise it would have passed quickly). I’m tired but wound up. Crocheting calms me down. It soothes me and helps me relax. My friend once said it saves me a trip to the psychiatrist—or a sedative—when the kids are acting out again during pre-puberty.

Of course, there are other reasons, too. My kids come to me every day with a new request, and I try to make it happen.
These days, it’s not just my kids anymore. Friends and family are already coming to me with special requests because they’d like something they can’t get anywhere else. Right now, it’s a hat with a big flower—one that actually fits, too.
And I also prefer to wear clothes I’ve made myself; they fit best.

I had already read the thread yesterday, and it’s hard to put into words, Josefa.

Annette summed it up beautifully—it’s simply part of life, just like eating, drinking, and sleeping. As a child, my mother taught me that creating something yourself is also a joy that you share with others—either by working on it together or by giving it as a gift.

I attended a Catholic girls’ high school, and knitting, sewing, and mending were part of the basic curriculum. We never went to school without our knitting supplies, and in high school, some teachers even let us knit during class. Our studies never suffered as a result.

When the children were small, I turned to crafting with them, and our craft supplies grew to match my current stash of yarn. Drawing from such abundance sparks the imagination—and not just mine. The Advent window we started back then in the village was one of the most beautiful ways of sharing....

In between, we completely renovated an old half-timbered house—another wonderful form of “handwork”—and here, too, sharing with friends and family was a key factor.

Now that my children are grown and no longer want to do crafts with me, I’ve returned to knitting and am giving my imagination free rein here. It brings me great joy to share my ideas here with fellow members and interested readers, and I wouldn’t want to miss out on that anymore.

The answer is actually quite simple:

I love watching a ball of yarn turn into a great accessory or piece of clothing.
I like imagining what this or that yarn will look like as a crocheted or knitted shawl, scarf, hat, etc. I love the feel of yarn running through my fingers, and I love the sound of knitting needles (yes, that very clatter—that’s why I really like using metal needles).
But what I love most is coming up with new designs and watching how the stitches sometimes take on a life of their own. I can let my creativity run wild with yarn and needles—what could be better? ;-)
I can’t even imagine life without needles and yarn anymore. ☺

I started crocheting and knitting when I was in a clinic for anorexia. Another patient was crocheting a shawl and taught me how to crochet. I taught myself to knit, and ever since then, both crafts have been my way to peace and balance. After a long day with my son (I’m a single parent) or when my illness flares up again, there’s nothing more relaxing than a hot cup of coffee and a crochet or knitting project. Plus, it’s great to create figures and give them their own unique touch. And seeing the joy of the people receiving them is always wonderful too! I just couldn’t do without it... 

Ausserdem ist es das, was mich nach vielen Jahren wirklich sehr mit meiner Mutter verbindet und letztlich wieder zusammengeführt hat

@Wolllustiger, eine berührende Geschichte, schön das Dir die Handarbeit hilft bei Deiner Krankheit und das sie Dich auch Deiner Mutter wieder näher gebracht ist einfach nur schön.:-)

Ich handarbeite und bastle nun auch schon seit meiner Kindheit und kann mir mein Leben ohne ohne Wolle, Nadeln, Papier, Holz, Klebestoff etc. gar nicht vorstellen. Es gehört zu meinen Leben genauso wie essen & trinken und wenn ich Hunger oder Durst habe, werde ich grummelig und genauso ist es, wenn ich keine Zeit habe zum Handarbeiten oder Basteln.      

Hi, actually, it’s a way to unwind from everyday life. That was my original motivation for taking up crafts.

Now, it’s to supplement the household budget and have flexibility in my work schedule.

I’ve been crocheting, weaving, and doing crafts for ages…… it’s just something you can keep coming back to without ever getting bored :)

I’ve always done needlework. There have always been breaks in between—sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. Crocheting, knitting, embroidering, sewing, crafting—everything had its time. Now, thanks to my first grandchild, I’m back at it with my needles. I’ve never been as immersed in it as I am now. Partly because I really enjoy knitting or crocheting for others, but also because I’ve found it to be a great balance to my job. You have to be fully present when you’re crafting. When my needles are clacking away, I feel good. 

Was für eine Frage: ganz einfach, weil es Spass macht! Zudem entspannt mich der Umgang mit Nadel und Garn. Und seit ich Crazy Patterns entdeckt habe, müsste mein Tag 48 Stunden haben, um all die verlockenden Modelle zu realisieren. Es gibt viele neue Geschenkideen und irgendwann werden es auch meine Woll- und Stoffvorräte danken!

Does anyone else want to add anything?

As a teenager, I used to crochet with my mom. I still own and use a blanket she made out of many squares (they weren’t called “granny squares” back then). I was always making something on the side.

Over time, I’ve accumulated a stash of yarn that, unfortunately, just keeps growing. Knitting and crocheting are fun and calming for me—unless I get frustrated when something doesn’t turn out the way I imagined :-).

  For some time now, I’ve been a member of a craft group. There, I’ve not only met some nice women, but I’ve also picked up quite a bit.

My day only has 24 hours, and I have to work during that time, too. It’s a shame, but yarn and needles have to be paid for.