crafting for calm

Member Shaun Levi sent me this article to share on knitting for calm in our current time of stress.  It reminded me of a book I borrowed years ago from the library called Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting by Ann Hood. Both speak about how knitting (and crafting in general) can help us through times of stress and grief, whether it is the death of a loved one or a global pandemic. 

For me, weaving is my 'escape time' - I listen to an audiobook and weave and don't think about the world outside.   Knitting keeps me calm while moving about in the world - when I am knitting out in public people often say something like 'you must have so much patience to be able to do that' and I tell them that the knitting GIVES me patience (especially when waiting at the eye dr. for over an hour). 

How does your crafting help you manage your stress? 

Laura