BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Knitting Does knitting reduce or increase your stress?

I'm just kind of curious, I had to give a presentation yesterday for my day job, and I was a bit nervous. So, after my presentation I pulled out my knitting and was calmed down by it.

What is your experience?

I find that knitting reduces my stress if it isn't too tiny or too complicated. I recently made a mini sweater without a pattern, just kind of winged it on dpns. I was a little testy by the end!

I was knitting at the meeting I mentioned, but today when I picked up that project I see a dropped stitch...stress level back up

I think knitting reduces stress in that it gives you a creative outlet and, for a while, you are focusing on your project and not on your troubles or other things. I like making simple things that are repetitious tho. I tried a more complicated pattern for a baby blanket and THAT wasn't very soothing.

Its funny.... for me, knitting is a stress reliever, regardless of the difficulty of the pattern. Its almost Zen-like for me. If the pattern is difficult, I have to focus on it, so I'm not thinking about everything else in my life (which is pretty stressful lately!). I call it my Cheap Therapy, lol.

For now, my knitting is a stress reducer, but that may change as I learn more and begin complicated patterns.

We were recently at a party and I was talking with a couple about the time they spend on Facebook. This is the way they relax in the evening. When asked, I replied I relax with my knitting needles, but didn't include that I actually have something to show for my relaxation in the morning. That's really the important part for me. Even when a project isn't going well and causes frustration, the feeling of accomplishment upon completion makes up for the frustration.

I agree with Sioux, it is Cheap Therapy. But I'm not certain my husband would agree when I'm buying yarn:-)

I know what you mean about the stress of buying yarn! My stash keeps growing and growing.

Maybe because I work on the computer but I don't see surfing the net or Facebook as very relaxing. You can waste a lot of time doing it but, as you say, you have nothing to show for it when you're done.

It depends on what I am knitting. If it is a simple I can do this easily then the stress level is low.

I don't use patterns so I make up my own. That is when the stress level increases. Once I have it figured out then there is less stress.

I'm starting an altering job, stress level is high, but hopefully satisfaction will be high also.

Definitely. I consider it on-par with meditation.