> [!NOTE]+ Meta > Reference:: Brooks, L., Ta, K. N., Townsend, A. F., & Backman, C. L. (2019). “I just love it”: Avid knitters describe health and well-being through occupation. _Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy_, _86_(2), 114–124. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008417419831401 > URL:: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0008417419831401 > Date:: 2019 > Tags:: #warp > WeftLinks:: [[Health value of craft]] > Claim:: [[Claim - Repetitive craft activity facilitates a mindfulness which improves well-being]] > [!SUMMARY] Summary > Knitting was found to have therapeutic value. ### Highlights This study aimed to understand the role of knitting in the lives of passionate knitters and their experience of how knitting contributes to health, well-being, and occupational identity. Five main themes capture how knitting: 1. “makes me happy,” 2. is “the mental challenge I need,” 3. is “a hobby that joins” through social connections and skill development, 4. sustains identity such that “I can’t imagine life without knitting,” 5. is a creative outlet “reflecting my personality.” >This study highlighted how knitting is a valued occupation offering therapeutic value on a very personal level, illustrated by compelling descriptions of how and why it was valued. The five main themes offer important evidence for the benefits afforded by creative occupations, offering practical insights for occupational therapists. Knitting was valued as productive, therapeutic, and a creative outlet: It was perceived as beneficial to mental, emotional, and cognitive health and a means to connect socially with others. For most participants, knitting was a prominent element of their occupational identity, contributing structure and purpose to daily life. In-depth study of specific leisure occupations, in this case, knitting, illustrates and substantiates the association between occupation and well-being. >Key Messages >Among passionate knitters, knitting is described as therapeutic, a form of self-nurturing that is soothing, restorative, and mediates the stresses of daily life. Knitting offers opportunities for learning skills, expanding social connections, and giving back to others, promoting a sense of purpose and efficacy. Knitting is a creative process that allows for self-expression, ultimately informing a positive occupational identity