How Crochet Became My Favorite Digital Detox
Hello, Dear Friends! It has been a month since my last blog post, and I have missed posting. I spent half of last month sick, and then my daughter was sick. Take this as a gentle reminder that it is always appropriate to take time off to take care of yourself and your family. We are better now, and I am excited to continue with this fiber art journey! Last month, I did a digital detox because I was simply too sick to keep up with social media much. Although I did post a few updates to my Instagram account. I also worked on a few crochet patterns and made progress on my WIP, or work in progress, which is an orange sweater that was supposed to be finished back in October as a Halloween costume. It happens!
Crochet is a slow living art form. It matters that even through sickness, I was still grounded in my fiber craft, even if it was just for personal reasons. So here we go, my newest blog post on how crochet became my favorite digital detox. Enjoy the read!
How I Started Crochet As My Favorite Digital Detox
Crochet has always been my go-to hobby when I wanted time to relax. I first learned how to crochet over 30 years ago when I was a young girl. My mom taught me a few of the basic stitches. Then, when I was in Girl Scouts, we did a blanket project for babies in the hospital. We worked on crochet blankets after school in the cafeteria. I don’t remember much from my short-lived Girl Scout days, but I do remember carefully working on the crochet stitches while sitting on the cafeteria lunch benches.
I grew up using crochet as a way to handle stress and anxiety. Even after my dad died, I turned to crochet, referring to the craft as my therapy. Back then, I made crochet beanies and booties for babies and premature babies.
Screen Fatigue
We all have heard the term “screen fatigue” over and over again. The term has been everywhere lately to describe the constant eye strain of looking at digital screens all day. It can be very easy to build up to screen fatigue throughout our daily lives, and symptoms can vary greatly. We have access to cell phones, computers, televisions, tablets, and smart watches. The wonderful thing about crochet is that you don’t need to be near screens to do it. You can sit back and crochet by following a written pattern, or by playing a crochet tutorial video and pausing it as needed. Crochet is a good option when you are experiencing a bit of screen fatigue and want to get away from screens for a while.
Why Hands-On Hobbies Help Reset The Brain
The act of creation is a very powerful one that gives people hope and joy. The repetitive motion involved with crochet increases memory and focus while also managing anxiety and depression. Creating anything that you can feel proud of helps to balance hormones by increasing serotonin (helps with mood, sleep, digestion, cognition, and other health issues) while decreasing cortisol (your body’s main stress hormone). This can improve your mood and can be meditative. Crochet is a good option for those who want to use it to improve their mental health.
Crochet As A Slow Living Practice
Slow living is another term that has been floating in the air lately. Slow living is the intentional act of pursuing mindful focus and enjoyment. It is prioritizing your self-care and slowing down your day-to-day life. Digital detox and slow living often go hand in hand. As such, crochet fits in perfectly with slow living practices.
Simple Beginner Crochet Projects
If you have been wanting to try crochet for the first time, or if you are looking for fun and easy projects to get started with, then I have some ideas for you! Here are some simple projects to get started with.
Headband- A headband, like the tutorial I have available here. I will have the full pattern available for purchase soon, so be on the lookout for that! The purchased pattern will have more detailed descriptions and instructions compared to the tutorial I have in a previous blog post.
Beanie- Another idea for beginners is a simple beanie. Beanies are relatively quick to make, and a bonus is that they are practical as well as stylish.
Granny Square- Hear me out about this one. A granny square can look intimidating, but really, you only need to know a few stitches, and then the pattern repeats itself. When granny squares are sewn together, you can make just about anything from scarves, blankets, tote bags, sweaters, and so much more. Try a granny square, you might be surprised how much you end up enjoying it.
Slow Down With Moonlight Fibers
I get it, it’s hard to give up our devices sometimes. But when you find yourself in need of digital detox, you are always welcome to join me and create something. I like to quite literally do my crochet at night, under the moonlight. I find that by doing crochet at nighttime, when everything in the home is calm and quiet, my daughter is asleep, my dog is asleep, and the tv is on low, that is my crochet time. So here I am, still practicing crochet after over 30 years and using it as a way of calmness and structure. I love learning new techniques, and I also love watching other crocheters make their own art.
I will always practice the art of crochet as both a way to express my creativity and as a way to manage my mental health. Crochet has always been and will always be my favorite digital detox.
The cool thing about crochet is that there is always a new technique to try, a new stitch to learn, a new yarn fiber to work with, new patterns, and new colorways. This is an open invitation to all of you, my dear friends, to slow down and pick up a crochet hook or two, and a skein of yarn, and be a maker of creativity and joy.
