Knitting Curiosities | Benefits of Knitting | We Are Knitters

[@courag1]

There are a few other things to add to your beneficial and informative video: my experience. Many people as they age, experience arthritis and stop knitting because they think the knitting is making their fingers sore and then find as I did, that knitting held back the pain better than causing the arthritis. My stiff fingers was due to change of life, so I was able to switch to Soy milk instead of cow's milk and benefitted from the photo-estrogen in soy and avoided the protein in milk my body could not digest. After being off of cow's milk for a month, my hands were well on their way to rehabilitation. To let you know how serious my pain was, when we moved into our new home 9 year ago, one of the first things my husband did was to change the doorknobs to lever-style as I could not grasp a round knob with enough pressure to open the door. Now I can do it with ease as I have been knitting daily the past 7 years. My fingers are stronger and even my doctor was amazed that my hands show little signs of arthritis. I only now have one large joint, the pinky on my right hand, whereas it was the other 9 digits. Knitting helps with maintaining and restoring grip strength. I am now rarely troubled with jar lids, though I still have a can/jar opener when even my husband isn't able to open a jar. Knitting is good at maintaining the blood circulation in the hands. I used to be plagued with ice cold hands and still get that in my feet, but I dare say, I don't think I'll be knitting with my feet. I have learned the mechanism whereby knitting helps the brain besides in evoking pleasant neurotransmitters, you mentioned, but in the part of the brain which is devoted to working with our hands. This is the surface or outer portion of the brain. In order for this to be used, the brain brings in more blood and thereby oxygen and nutrients to the brain, which also carries away waste products. So it keeps the brain healthy and a healthy brain helps memory to improve and to restore memories you could not retrieve before. At the point I went back to knitting (I had knit from age 8) outside of a calculator, adding figures had become tedious to me. Now I can add, multiply and divide without the calculator or writing the figures down. My piano playing has greatly improved as has my playing of my recorder (a Renaissance version of a wooden flute). The only bad thing is the cost of the yarn but it is far less expensive to buy yarn and to knit than to take medication or to sit and complain about life to a psychiatrist. In the meanwhile, I make things my whole family appreciates and looking forward to how they will react, is a great sense of satisfaction. Knitters are generally very nice people, willing to share information, and are helpful beyond words. Cat Bordhi who teaches knitting and is on KZbin, has commented that knitting is taught in schools in Europe and all children, both boys and girls learn to knit. European schools out pace American schools for academic achievement and IQ. Knitting is good for the developing brain also so instead of worrying that this skill is too difficult, it is a way to help children to calm down their anxieties and makes it easier for them to concentrate. It also helps self-esteem, in that they are themselves able to give of themselves to their family and friends. I also crochet, but prefer to knit and I love difficult patterns and learning other knitting style. Varying my style of knitting was key in rehabilitating my arthritic fingers. I also took extra calcium and Move Free my Schaffer and sometimes take Move Free if I feel any stiffness. Otherwise, I don't. BTW, my father died of Alzheimer's disease as well as my maternal grandmother. So doing whatever may be able to keep me free of AD, is worth doing.

[@teresaohalloran9297]

courag1 Thank you for posting this it is very interesting. I wish you good health, and happy knitting.

[@ruthbravoquinteros2195]

You are very nice. Be careful. I'm chilean, excuse my english. Thanks for your words. I agree them

[@jamndunk]

This is the best comment that I've seen on YT - I salute you. You are inspiring me. Very best wishes!

[@indesrpringles5356]

Agree with everything you said, would keep knitting all the days of my life. Greetings from Mussoorie, India

[@tizzas1232]

I only just started knitting in my late 30's. I've learnt a lot and it brings me such joy, I regret not starting it sooner in life.

[@2138red]

and bonus, the needles can be used as a weapon

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

It has been...cop said the perp followed a pattern! 😆

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

Takes me to my Zen zone...serenknity. 🧘

[@RythmnStitches]

Very interesting. I am so glad I have taken up knitting again and recently taught myself to crochet

[@dannabittner5567]

Love knitting! Just ordered my first kit from WAK. The Romy Cardi for my daughter's birthday March 1st

[@marinad6228]

Iam new to knitting and I made 3 scarfs with tesells and they gorgeous -and iam on my 4th one and I love it -its so relaxing I want to learn how to make other stuf too !!!!

[@imalikconnor]

Knitting keeps me off the FBI's Most Wanted List.

[@michellelawrence2574]

Ingrid Malik-Connor-ROTFL and you’re probably more serious than I could ever imagine, lol

[@Sophia-zk3tw]

Funny

[@annewright8184]

Thanks for the wonderful, very informative video!!!

[@skeingamepodcast5993]

I've been knitting for years. But after a stroke in 2016, I learned that knitting is used as physical/mental therapy. It kept me from losing my fine motor skills despite some other permanent damage I sustained. The muscle memory, I guess, kept my hands nimble and my brain sharp.

[@chronicstitcher7933]

Lets not forget crochet. You get the same therapeutic benefits as knitting. So does cross stitch, embroidery, etc...

[@mrsmarciad]

Crochet is also a great way of relaxing and helps with cognitive issues. Thanks for sharing. London.

[@TeacupAndRoses]

yes :) I am crochet fan

[@nataliebartlett3457]

Just started crochet this weekend and it's helped with my anxiety so much

[@kathyderouchey8221]

I'm sure the same could be said of all us crocheters.

[@victoriadathan2675]

I didn't know Russell Crow, Kate Middleton, and the cast of Sex and the City knit. Awesome! We have something in common. Did u know that Ariana Grande knits too?

[@minayeaye15]

That's why I love to knit !!!

[@kattsforeveryone]

my nephew sheepishly ask me to teach him knitting. now he completed his first sweater.

[@TeacupAndRoses]

Yes! :) and CROCHET TO! :)

[@kittyknitter411]

You’ve given some valuable information, believe me I appreciate every bit of it. Thank you for taking the time to make this video. I appreciate it very much. God bless you and family. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍁🍽

[@queenalajas1522]

hope to meet fellow knitters

[@moniquelemay4963]

Why??? do you put the picture of the Dutchess of Cambridge for your presentation???

[@covid-19inthistogether96]

Great video, thanks!

[@meenamalhotra1092]

👍

[@kaleighmarchand2047]

I can knit and crochet

[@calvinrufus458]

HELLO MY NAME IS CLAVIN DWAYNE RUFUS AND I AM A KNITER AND PROUD OF IT !!!!!!

[@armidalicorne]

great video very interesting updates about knitting. . But how about make crochet ?

[@linettelow]

Brilliant :) Thank you ♡

[@calvindwaynerufus2406]

hello i am calvin dwayne rufus and i knit ! i am from vancouver island british columbia canada

[@SuperMathsBeaver]

I need to start matching my nail varnish to my wool XD

[@TomaPrus]

super

[@angixm]

You mentioned a kit... Where would we find this kit? Thank you. :)

[@amoribieta]

Hi Angela, you can find them at www.weareknitters.com. Enjoy!

[@hagitsayir8283]

Good to know👍

[@pamelamckenzie2685]

I LOVE KNITTING, I HAVE FOUND A LADY THAT HAS TAUGHT ME HOW TO KIT DOLLS AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO KNIT MANY PATTERNS , I STARTED KNITTING AT THE AGE OF 12.

[@bcnonken]

Tom Stevens

[@crystalwong9839]

Yeah!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@calvindwaynerufus2406]

I AM A KNITTER ! GET GOT IT GOOD GET OVER IT ! HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!!

[@courag1]

A great thing I learned is what part of the brain is devoted to the use of the hands, turns out, it is the part of the brain next to the skull, so the part furthest from the blood flow is for the use of the hands and fingers. That does not sound like a marvelous pump system. The body is designed to put the most blood where the brain is working and this then draws more blood to that area. Blood flow comes up through the neck and enters the skull at the foramen magnum and then branches out in the brain. What this does is then to use the hands the blood has to go through the rest of the brain too. And if you are using your hands for a long period of time, that blood flow is getting all the nourishment to every brain cell then as well as oxygen and the carrying away of waste products. How the body heals and why anything we injure swells or develops inflammation has to do with a similar principle: the body engorges the injury with blood in order to keep the area immobile to protect from further damage but also to get as much nourishment, oxygen and healing cells into the injury and to carry away the waste. This is how we heal. Though our brains is not swelling, our Designer made our internal brain to be constantly self-healing. It is meant to last a lifetime. But we are not supposed to sit as we age and do nothing. We are to continue to do. People who sit and do nothing get depressed. Knitting is stimulating enough to also help one recover from depression. Knitting isn't magic, the use of the hands while typing or playing an instrument where both hands are active, would have a similar benefit. Many people knit and listen or talk to others while knitting as well, so our brain is multi-tasking and that is good for the brain. Now this is for an aging brain but as much can be said for developing a great brain in childhood. Many European countries teach knitting in the classroom to both boys and girls because of the benefits to the brain in teaching the brain the skills of using the pencil to doing math. Pianists, who obviously are using their hands, are generally good at math. European countries rank higher than the USA in GPA and is taking part of the day for students to knit depriving them of time better spent? No, the students actually are able to better remember the other information because of the positive effects that knitting has on the brain. Since knitting promotes the release of "feel-good" hormones, students who have a harder time to sit still to learn, function better, so it improves their academic performance without drugging them. I did not learn knitting at school but learned when I was 7 or 8 years old. Knitting has been a part of my life ever since. My father died of Alzheimer's as did most of his family. At the age I am now, he was well into the disease. I had stopped knitting in my 50s however due to terrible arthritis pain and it wasn't just my fingers but my back. I'd be in a wheelchair up to a month at a time 3 to 4 times per year. Who wants that? I seriously looked at what I was eating and started an elimination diet to see if I was allergic to or very sensitive to certain foods. I started with giving up all dairy, inside of a month, my hands stopped hurting and my back was much improved. This interested me so I've learned much about what foods heal since then. And... I went back to knitting. Why knitting and not crochet? Knitting is gentler on the joints and so it is great therapy for those who want to try to knit with arthritis. For me it was finger therapy and focused on learning different styles of knitting so that if my joints were not happy with some movements, that I could use others and keep on knitting. I do not show any swollen joints or physical signs of arthritis in my fingers now. Before, all my joints were swollen. I did this without any medications. Just yarn and knitting needles and KZbin to learn other knitting styles and also how to do things like socks or Entrelac or lace knitting, how to knit cables better, etc. We can make knitting as complex as we want, to designing our own patterns and calculating how much yarn we need to how we assemble and use circular knitting needles in a interchangeable kit. All of this is good for the brain and the hands. In the end it is good for the emotions as you have made wonderful things you can give as gifts to family and friends or to donate to the poor or to hospitals for babies who can go home with hats handmade by a caring knitter. These things make knitting good for everyone who will try it which is why more men are knitting as they need brains that last a lifetime as well as fingers that can LOL manage to zip a zipper!!!! I used to need a jar opener which was electric as I could not open a jar. Most of the time I can open jars without help. But I still have that machine when I need it. So it isn't only that the fingers are more nimble, my hands are stronger. I can use the fingers to tighten screws down or to pry up a nail with a screw driver. I can hammer, so my joints can hold up to repeated shocks. I can lift my grand children! And my fingers which felt also numb have a better sense of touch, I can feel what I touch. If all these things are not a benefit, I don't know what is better! Solving our own problems saves each one of us money, if we can live our live without medications, that is so much better for us. My blood pressure is normal, my cholesterol is normal, I do not have diabetes and take NO MEDICATIONS except for a multiple vitamin, a D3 an a B12 daily. I am also vegan now. I feel great. I can ride a bicycle, go hiking, work in the garden and I do not need my wheelchair except I will move a heavy box from one room to another with it but sit in it? NO WAY!

[@healthynoodle9258]

who else here cuz of lighty LOL

[@courag1]

Knitting is taught in European countries and this crosses country boundaries. It is important to notice that the test scores of knitters vs. non-knitters or the children in the USA, shows that knitters out flank the non-knitters. Clearly taking class time out for knitting is a benefit for all students. But non-knitters egos cannot admit this is the problem, the way the USA tries to make our test scores seem as good, is to make the tests, easier. Let me tell you if you can knit lace, you are not stupid. Give that to students to knit and maybe they'd be calm enough to stop baking brownies with added cannabis.

[@donnaridenhour-mchenry240]

All this works, IMHO, IF.....and it's a big IF; LOL!.....one doesn't make errors requiring tinking or frogging.....and then there's that skein or ball of yarn with knots in them.....really testing ones mettle! LOL!! Oh, here kitty, kitty! LOL!!