Crafting Calmness: How My Crochet Temperature Blanket Has Boosted My Mental Health
Painting the picture of how my creative outlet has become an amazing mental health tool this year
How & Why I Started Crocheting
My introduction to the crochet club began with the desire to find a new hobby, especially as an escape from the repetitive routine of studying. I was curious about whether I too could make the cute “ugly” sweaters, cosy hats and pretty scarves. A positive challenge is what I needed. And what’s better than having a mother who can teach you?
I find it exciting to produce a tangible thing that you can hold and say that you made with your hands. You made it. The thrilling shock that your hands produced it. The end product is like a trophy which enables me to feel a sense of achievement. It also keeps my hands busy while watching a show or movie which gives me a productive buzz.
The community aspect is such a positive part of engaging in this hobby as I have the opportunity to bond with a variety of creative people both in person and online of all ages. Picking from a stunning array of yarn colours feels so close to a hyper kid browsing a candy store to me — maybe it’s even a path to healing my inner child?
What Is a Crochet Temperature Blanket?
A crochet temperature blanket is a fun, interesting crochet project where you crochet a row every day that corresponds to the temperature of that day, usually of the area or city you’re in. For example, if you’re in London and it was 15 degrees on a particular day, you would crochet a row in a colour that corresponds to that particular temperature. To do this, you set a key with particular colours of yarn that correspond to a temperature range. For example, 15 degrees to 19 degrees = orange, 20 degrees to 24 degrees = brown and so on. Some people choose to use the daily average and others may choose to select the daily high or low for each day. This is a long-term project which lasts for a year.
My Crochet Temperature Blanket
I decided to embark on the journey of doing my temperature blanket this year after stumbling upon the concept on TikTok. I liked the idea of having the challenge of working on something consistently every day for a year. I was intrigued by the idea and loved the wholesome crochet community feel of sharing progress videos and pictures.
Photo Credit: Me (Tasnim Tayo)
I picked some autumn colours including orange and a range of beautiful browns to include in my project because I love that season and love to incorporate in some way into many creative projects that I do. I also added some pink with cooler neutral tones that I like so I could remain interested in the project and enjoy the overall aesthetic.
I added a different twist to my project where I chose to do a city I would love to visit in the future, New York City instead of my local city of London. I felt like it would be more motivating and exciting to do as opposed to somewhere I’m already familiar with. I used the daily high temperature for my project.
Aside from the creative fun of keeping myself engaged with this project, I feel that the process of crocheting my blanket has taught me a few things and has been positively benefitting my mental health in a few ways:
1. Patience & Delayed Gratification
When I sit down each day to crochet my blanket I find that it encourages me to slow down and be present in the moment as I commit to doing my daily row. As I’m doing the temperature relating to each day, I can’t rush ahead and crochet more rows ahead of their time. Therefore, I find that it’s teaching me to hone my patience skills as I have to execute things one beautiful step at a time.
I also see my daily crochet process as a way of practising delayed gratification, especially in a society which tries to push us to move fast, do more and quickly reward ourselves in the ‘now’. I get the opportunity to practice a sense of slowness daily and to savour each and every moment. It shows me both symbolically and even visually how small steps each day can accumulate over time which signifies progress. Going forward I don’t think I can continue to underestimate the power of daily habits and the compounding effect of incremental steps daily.
2. Relaxation
I find the process of crocheting very therapeutic and relaxing. Unwinding with a crochet project, some snacks, a hot drink and my favourite shows has become one of my favourite pastimes. I find that it helps positively boost my mood and soothes me as I immerse myself in the activity, as my hand and my crochet needle dance elegantly together, loop by loop forming a gorgeous handmade creation.
Results of research have demonstrated mental health benefits of engaging in crochet such as increased feelings of calmness (Burns & Van Der Meer, 2021). In addition, there have been examples in research suggesting that even pain could be regulated by engaging in crochet and also knitting (Corkhill & Davidson, 2009).
3. Hope & Something To Look Forward To
As I chose to do the temperatures relating to the weather of New York, a city I’m deeply yearning to visit in the future, I find that the blanket is a symbolic reminder of exciting things that the future holds. It gives me a glowing sense of hope. It’s like a symbolic manifestation tool and personal reminder that there is more to look forward to and many cool travel experiences/adventures to go on. In terms of the blanket and crochet process itself, I also get to anticipate the final result. I get to enjoy the present moment each day as I do my daily row.
There is beauty in the unknown because I cannot predict how the blanket will look by the end and what combination of colours will be used at any time. This fascinating analogy can be seen in the context of life, specifically in the idea that we should enjoy the steps, cherish each moment to the fullest and although we also may be looking forward to getting to the end of the journey and meeting the future, there’s so much beauty to be discovered and beauty which lies within the uncertainty.
In summary
I say all of that to say, I absolutely love the crochet process, my temperature blanket project and the valuable benefits I feel crochet is having on my mental health and well-being. It has helped me to enjoy creativity while simultaneously experiencing a soothing calmness.
In the same way, the common phrase says: ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’, perhaps the new rhetoric could be:
‘Do some crochet today, to keep the doctor away’ …
References:
- Burns, P., & Van Der Meer, R. (2021). Happy Hookers: findings from an international study exploring the effects of crochet on wellbeing. Perspectives in public health, 141(3), 149–157.
- Corkhill, B., & Davidson, C. (2009). Exploring the effects of knitting on the experience of chronic pain–a qualitative study. Retreived April, 1, 2020.
