As colder, darker nights roll in, I, for one, have been feeling a little lost; with my usual routine gone, and my summertime sports on the shelf for now (oops), the winter blues have been knocking at my door.

Thankfully, though, it’s also the season for immense cosiness. I’ve begun crafting to my heart’s content – just in time to knock together some Christmas gifts while blasting Game Of Wool in the background.

For some reason, I’ve always found knitting and crochet really meditative and relaxing, even during the dreariest of weather. In fact, I think it’s been a big part of keeping my mental health in check.

Is that just me? I asked Dr Ritz Birah, Consultant Counselling Psychologist and Sleep Expert for Panda London, and BACP-certified therapist Jen Mak, about whether knitting and other crafts have benefits beyond beautiful scarves and a sense of satisfaction.

Recent crochet projects

Knitting and crocheting have been linked to multiple brain benefits

A 2020 study based on an online survey found that crochet appeared to be associated with “positive benefits for personal wellbeing with many respondents actively using crochet to manage mental health conditions and........

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