Knitting or crochet for adolescents with disordered eating
· Portable
· Way to be productive while doing something else- waiting, watching TV, etc
· Tactile engagement connection to tradition, sense of accomplishment, giving to others, a vehicle for social activity.
· Depressive thoughts and inertia don’t have a chance to take hold
· Cope with mood, may feel calmer as well
· In a group- more perceived happiness, improved social contact, and communication with others, belonging
· Higher cognitive functioning, calm and happy
· Create a product –build mastery, and confidence
· One stitch at a time: a bit like life: make it through.
· Both process and product: bottom of ETC, and top
· Problem solving, complexity can grow with person, (FLOW state) rhythmic free up thinking and promote reflection concentration
· Texture more important than color- sensory
· Rhythmic, kinesthetic, BILATERAL
· Sequencing, representation of time in an often linear way
While reading the 2013 article by Riley et al., I was affirmed that my uses for knitting and crochet were quite similar to others. I was surprised that material color mattered less than the tactile quality for changing mood. That leads me to think that knitting and crochet is not a predominantly visually stimulating activity, rather that our haptic senses are stimulated by the process and material. Also interesting is the connection between learning knitting in a group and learning other new skills as well. I imagine that in that case, the new knitters may be able to impart knowledge about other areas to the skilled knitters, and vice versa. That mutual growth and sense of expertise are powerful.
The tactile focus of knitting and crochet, combined with the bilateral and rhythmic activity prompted my intervention with adolescents with disordered eating behaviors. This process of knitting or crochet can ease anxiety (Riley et al., 2013). Unfortunately for those contending with disordered eating, anxiety plays a large role (Berman, 2020). The process of learning how to knit or crochet will need to be approached with a light touch, to avoid raising concerns about perfection. This may be alleviated by having a practice piece that lots of people have worked on in the art therapy studio. A practice piece can be a visual metaphor for the struggle of learning something new. Their project will be self-directed, however, I will ensure that they are picking a project that is appropriate for their skill level to avoid intense frustration. Most important may be their choice of material. I will encourage them to pick based on the texture that they are drawn to, rather than the color. All the materials will be easy to knit or crochet with no excessively textured or thin yarns. The work will be portable, and as such, they will be encouraged to bring it around with them, so that they can practice sitting with their emotions. Learning that their emotions are not themselves dangerous or even constant will be the goal of this task.
References
Berman, R. (April 15, 2020) Creating sustainable change: A transdiagnostic approach to the treatment of eating disorders [Webinar]. The Renfrew Center Foundation. https://renfrewcenter.com/events/professional-webinar-re-broadcast-creating-sustainable-change-%E2%80%93-transdiagnostic-approach-trea
Riley, J., Corkhill, B., & Morris, C. (2013). The benefits of knitting for personal and social wellbeing in adulthood: Findings from an international survey. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(2), 50-57.
NOTE: These images show a crochet project, but crochet doesn't rhyme with 'sitting' so. . .
