Sarah’s Health Notes: Have a very craft-y Christmas!

Fact: making things is good for you. Whether it’s knitting, crochet or stitching a tapestry (my thing), painting flowerpots or old cupboards, filling in colouring books, making jewellery or the myriad of other crafting activities on offer, we feel better when we’re immersed in creating something. According to research from The Crafts Council, crafting reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression and loneliness and boosts wellbeing generally.

In May this year, results of the BBC Arts Great British Creativity Test, which surveyed almost 50,000 people, found that over 75 per cent said being creative made them happier, helping to block out stress and anxiety. Almost a quarter identified their chosen crafting as their favourite activity.

Knitting appeals to all sorts. Model and actress Cara Delevingne has been photographed plying big needles and thick orange wool. Olympian Lizzy Yarnold, who competes in the skeleton (a sled raced headfirst on ice at 80mph), finds knitting ‘very calming’ before a race. ‘I always have needles and wool in my bag.’ Sarah Jessica Parker and Ryan Gosling are into purl one knit one.

Knitting is now recognised by neuroscientists and mental health experts as having a positive effect on the brain. In 2008, I first visited a therapeutic knitting group run by the Pain Clinic at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. ‘Knitting can help patients where nothing else does,’ says clinical psychologist Dr Mike Osborn. ‘The gentle meditative repetitive action is ultimately soothing for patients whose bodies are distorted by pain. It can be very difficult for them to feel relaxed; if you can achieve that – which our patients do through knitting – it is gold dust. It helps patients manage the burden that pain puts on the brain and over time has the potential to improve mobility and reduce the need for medication.’

The group was started by former NHS physiotherapist Betsan Corkhill, who founded the website stitchlinks.com to provide support and friendship. In Betsan’s book Knit for Health & Wellness (£11.99 from betsan.org), she explains how neuroscience is beginning to show how knitting – and other crafts – weave their spell:

• The repetitive movement promotes the release of calming serotonin, which also lifts mood and dulls pain.

• Making things with our hands activates different brain circuits to, say, office work.

ª Two-handed movement across the midline of our bodies is recognised as using a lot of brain capacity, leaving less room for other issues.

• However chaotic our lives, knitting – and crafting of all kinds - is under our control. It’s a great activity for winter evenings; newbies could take a leaf from Cara’s book and start with thick, bright wool and huge needles.

Of course, you don't have to be in physical or mental pain to benefit from crafting as booming sales at Hobbycraft, the nation’s favourite crafting retailer, attest. Crocheting seems to be the new textile craft trend, with sales of crochet patterns jumping by nearly 200 per cent this year so far.

Many forms of crafting bring people together. Knit-and-natter groups, which are probably the best known, are mushrooming countrywide (Jo goes to one in her home town of Hastings). Community crafting groups and free workshops now take place in over 75 Hobbycraft stores nationwide (hobbycraft.co.uk.)

It’s perfect for this time of year. Hobbycraft’s special ‘12 makes of Christmas’ workshops cover wreath making (which I’m about to embark on), decorating an advent calendar, crocheting a stocking, making fillable baubles to hang on the tree and masses more, including Kids’ Crafts.

PS There’s a nifty blog on Card Making I’ve just spotted. And a few others that look tempting…