As tomorrow marks National Stress Awareness Day – a day to reflect on what is making us feel anxious and try to chose positive thoughts over negative – it’s important to spend time doing things that helps stress ebb away. In light of this, the UK’s leading crafts supplier, LoveCrafts, would love to discuss why so many of us turn to crafts to help us alleviate our mental health problems and use them as tools for relaxation.

Brother Sewing reported that 1 in 5 Brits took up sewing or embroidering over lockdown – making it the most popular creative hobby – with more men taking this up rather than fitness. Perhaps the reason a spike in crafting has occurred over one of the most stressful periods of time is that it has been proven that crafting can help ease mental health issues and stimulate dopamine, with three-quarters of the nation stating that it has helped them deal with stress, anxiety and depression. As such, crafting has evolved from a pastime for some to mindfulness for many.

At LoveCrafts making and mindfulness go hand-in-hand. Whether we’re stitching away stress, combating nerves with needlecraft or baking to banish bothersome thoughts – making helps us find pockets of calm, and quiet the buzz in our brains.

These three simple, repetitive crochet cuties are a fun way to spend an evening indulging in a quick, satisfying project – just for you!

Crochet hearts
Crochet jellyfish
Crochet toastie toes slippers
Knitting is also super therapeutic, the rhythmic hand movements lets your mind drift into a singular focus and all your worries melt away.
Leaves fingerless gloves
Opposite attract hats
Dimples socks
Looking for a simple tutorial to take you from step one all the way through to the final project? We’ve got lots of mindful makes to inspire you, from punch needle patterns, to calming coffee mug embroidery or simple sewing projects.
DIY scrunchie
Calming coffee mug embroidery
Geometric punch needle

Edward Griffith, CEO and Founder, LoveCrafts comments:

“We really believe crafting makes the world a better place to be. Science has proven the positive impact crafting has on both our physical and mental wellbeing, and there are hidden benefits too! Being part of a global community and making new friends through a shared passion. Altruistic opportunities, using your craft for good by knitting or crochet for charity. And of course, there’s the joy of keeping age-old traditions alive, passing skills down through the generations.

With such a huge variety of patterns and craft inspiration to choose from at LoveCrafts, I hope we can inspire many more to unleash their inner maker!”