"Knitting heals from the inside out." I pause when I read this sentence. Yes, that's true, I think. Knitting heals me again and again. Sitting on the floor between moving boxes, I spontaneously flick through the book "Mit Stricken gesund und glücklich werden. The way to more happiness, wellness and health" by Betsan Corkhill (unfortunately not available in stores at the moment). A book that I received as a gift years ago and which - although the title piqued my curiosity at the time - had been sitting on my shelf unread until now. Now it came into my hands.
Because a completely unexpected cancellation of my own tenancy had pulled the rug from under my feet shortly before. Three months is really not a long time to find a new home for our family. The uncertain future and the impending stress were getting to me. I had hoped so much that calm and normality would finally return after the stressful coronavirus years with a baby and toddler. And now this. One thing is certain for me: without knitting, I wouldn't have been able to cope so well with some of the difficult times in my life.
During the stressful final phase of my studies, I discovered knitting as a helpful tool on my way out of burnout and through depressive episodes. While knitting, I was able to forget many worries, escape the carousel of thoughts and experience a new zest for life. I also learnt to appreciate knitting in community during my time in Portugal, where it was very healing and enriching for me.
Now, as a mum, knitting is once again supporting me in many ways. It relaxes and calms me after stressful days, is a creative balance in everyday life at home and, above all, gives me the satisfying certainty of being able to create something beautiful. If I can then make my fellow human beings happy with it, it also gives me a fulfilling feeling. Even when everything seems to be falling apart at the seams, I have the ability to create something positive. Knitting always gives my life meaning and the feeling that I can make a difference - it's my personal therapy.
So it's no surprise to me that I feel the need to knit a lot in the weeks following my redundancy. Although common sense tells me that there is so much to take care of right now, I make time every evening to knit a jumper for my husband. To stay calm and look optimistically to the future in an existentially threatening situation. There are many things in life that are out of my hands and I have to accept changes and new challenges. But what I can control are my knitting needles, and I can make a big difference with them. Knitting clears my head, my thoughts become more organised. And so the process of creating this jumper was accompanied by our conversations about what's next for us.
I knitted and we talked. It became clearer and clearer in my head. With a lot of confidence and new energy, I was able to tackle things with confidence. And suddenly, luck found us. Just a few weeks after giving notice, we bought a little house - it was almost a miracle - and I was also able to give my husband a personalised gift to thank him for his loving support during the difficult times. This jumper will forever be knitted proof that seemingly hopeless situations can turn into something positive. And how good it was to regularly make time for knitting - even when I had so much else to do.
This is my personal story. You have yours. Maybe everything is going really well for you right now. Maybe you have similar or completely different, even bigger challenges to overcome. Everyone has their own individual life to master.
The quote "Knitting heals from the inside out" mentioned at the beginning is one of countless quotes in this book. They come from letters to Stitchlinks, a global support network that author Betsan Corkhill has created for anyone who "enjoys the therapeutic benefits of needlework - especially knitting", as she says. I find myself, my feelings and experiences about knitting in most of the quotes. And you will know what it means to you personally.
I wish you all the best and much joy in knitting, or - to use Corkhill's words - on your "individual journey to recovery".
