Why I Knit

3d ago

For our last episode of 2025, Paula and Mia reflect on their own knitting and craft projects over the past year, and the ways in which they have used knitting as part of their self-care. They also look back at the new developments in Creative Restoration over the past year, and share their thoughts on the TV show Game of Wool. They share their plans for their own knitting and for Creative Restoration for the coming year including news on the next season of the Why I Knit Podcast which returns in January, and they announce their next webinar on knitting for focus and attention. Thanks to everyone for listening and supporting the podcast this year. ------------- 🧶 If you'd like to learn more about how to use knitting for your self-care, check out our course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time . 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond

Nov 13

For this bonus book club episode we have read the brilliant bestselling book 'Wintering' by Katherine May and speak about how it links to burnout. Wintering takes us through living through personal and seasonal winters and how knitting can be a brilliant activity to accompany us through both types of winter. ------------- 🧶 If you'd like to learn more about how to use knitting for your self-care, check out our course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time . 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond

Oct 30

For this bonus episode I am joined by Dr Paula Redmond who specialises in working with health professionals experiencing burnout. Paula speaks about her own journey into this work during Covid, and how creativity in her personal life has encouraged her to bring this into her work. We talk about what burnout is, and who might be more likely to experience it, and why knitting is a great tool to prevent burnout. We'll be going into this in much more detail in our webinar, Unravelling Burnout If you'd like to find out about Paula's clinical work in the area of burnout, or download her free Burnout Toolkit you can visit her website here: Dr Paula Redmond ------------- 🧶 If you'd like to learn more about how to use knitting for your self-care, check out our course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time . 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond

Oct 2

Join Clinical Psychologists Dr Mia Hobbs and Dr Paula Redmond as we discuss two research papers about knitting and mental health. These papers both relate to nurses and supporting them with the challenges of their role. Paper 1 relates to using knitting to reduce compassion fatigue in nurses Paper 2 relates to using knitting to reduce anxiety in nursing students ------------- 🧶 If you'd like to learn more about how to use knitting for your self-care, check out our course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time . 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond

Jul 31

For the final episode of series 8 I am delighted to be joined by Dr Katya Miles of The Working Well Doctor. Katya works as a Coach and Trainer for health professionals and people in high stress professions. She speaks about turning to knitting during the Covid pandemic when she was self-isolating with covid and how she now associates knitting with healing and soothing, and it is part of her own toolkit for managing stress or high demand situations. We talk about recovering from perfectionism and give our views on why so many health professionals are attracted to knitting and needlecrafts. Connect with Katya Website: Working Well Doctor Instagram: @theworkingwelldoctor Facebook: @theworkingwelldoctor ------------- 🧶 If you'd like to learn more about how to use knitting for your self-care, check out our course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time . 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond

Jul 24

I was delighted to be joined by Una, also known as @TheNeurodivergentCraftClub on Instagram. Una speaks about how knitting has been helpful in recovering from burnout, but has also been a really useful way to find out what her brain really needs - both to find some moments of focus and to feel settled and satisfied. It was so interesting to talk to Una about her experience of being a neurodivergent knitter and the reasons she believes that many neurodivergent people are attracted to knitting. Connect with Una Instagram: @theneurodivergentcraftclub Substack: neurodivergentcraftclub ------------- 🧶 If you'd like to learn more about how to use knitting for your self-care, check out our course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time . 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond

Jul 17

Elizabeth is a knitting teacher based in Nigeria, and she has made it her personal mission to teach 20,000 children to knit and 'think with their hands'. It was a pleasure to speak to Elizabeth about her own journey to becoming a knitting teacher, and how she has personally used knitting to help her to cope with grief and loss. Elizabeth also speaks about her experiences of teaching children to knit and why she believes this is a valuable addition to their education. Connect with Elizabeth Instagram: @tunniz ze Facebook: @tunnizzecreations ------------- 🧶 If you'd like to learn more about how to use knitting for your self-care, check out our course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time . 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond

Jul 10

Allison Thistlewood is a creator of community in the knitting world. She has had various roles in and around the yarn industry, and the common thread in all of these roles is that she brings knitters together: at yarn festivals, for yarn crawls and on retreats and trips. Allison joins me to talk about her experience of moving to the UK from Canada, and how knitting was instrumental in helping her to make connections with new friends, and how she has continued to want to bring this opportunity to other knitters. Allison's yarn event Make Joy is returning to Woolwich Works on 8th November - you can find more info on her website and sign up to her newsletter to be informed when tickets go on sale: https://champagneandqiviut.com/about-make-joy Connect with Allison Website: Champage & Qiviut Instagram: @champagneandqiviut ------------- 🧶 If you'd like to learn more about how to use knitting for your self-care, check out our course Self-Care One Stitch at a Time . 🧶Catch up on our on-demand webinars: The Healing Power of Knitting where we take a deep dive into the mental health benefits of knitting Unravelling Burnout where we look at how we can use knitting as a tool to prevent burnout Here's how to stay in touch: 💌 Sign up to the Creative Restoration newsletter 📲 Follow us on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic and @drpaularedmond