> [!NOTE]+ Meta > Author:: Päivi Kankaro > Reference:: https://lainepublishing.com/blogs/journal/knitters-united-building-connections-through-crafting > Date:: 2021 > Tags:: #warp/article #knitting > WeftLinks:: [[Social value of craft]] > Claim:: [[Claim - Craft is a collective activity that forges trust and belonging]] > [!SUMMARY] Summary > Knitting can bring social well-being into our lives, connecting us with others both online and offline. ### Highlights > Knitting has been seen as a domestic hobby: a pastime done in the privacy of our homes in our free time. But knitting can also be a sociable activity that can bring meaningful connections into our lives, either online or offline. What is it about crafts such as knitting that makes them so fitting for social bonding? > As explored in her study, Groupwork in occupational therapy (1993), Linda Finlay depicts knitting groups as presenting a non-threatening communication space where participation in a parallel activity creates private space within a social group. The set-up, which enables you to "be" with another person without eye contact as you engage with your knitting project, can provide an opportunity to speak as well as – because of that lack of eye contact – avoid feeling judged by the facial and non-verbal reactions of others. > Interaction with others who share the same interests can have a beneficial impact on our well-being, enhancing the sense of meaning and purpose in our lives. In addition to this, learning from others' experiences accelerates our own learning as supportive social groups enable communication, mutual learning and discovery. > Giving knitted goods as gifts, or donating them to charity, can be important in maintaining and strengthening community connections.