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Blog Post 4: A Healthy Addiction
I would say that 90% of the customers that come into the shop will say something like this within the first 2 minutes “Oh, I really don’t need any more yarn” or “I already have so many projects on the go” or “I really shouldn’t buy yarn”.
Here’s the thing. Good yarn isn’t cheap. And nobody knits anymore to save money on clothes. But that’s the beauty of it. We don’t knit because we have to. We knit because we want to. And the benefits of knitting are priceless.
Seriously, name another “addiction” in your life that has so many amazing benefits and almost no negative side-effects at all. Can you?
I’m sure you’ve read it all before – it’s been so well tested and documented. The benefits of knitting include:
- Self-esteem
- Relieve anxiety and depression
- Social outlet
- Improved cognitive function
- Reduce/postpone dementia
- Stress reduction
- Lessen risk of stress-induced diseases
- Sense of purpose
- Portability
- Reduce insomnia
- Build community
- Process grief
- Improve concentration and focus
- Colour therapy
In fact, one of the biggest contributors to just about every health and mental malady that is on the rise today is to do with being over-adrenalised. Information overload, fast living, stress. We live in a constant state of fight or flight, and don’t give our systems time to relax and repair.
Knitting helps you live longer and happier. In fact, these days, the only negative associated with knitting (and by knitting, I mean knitting & crochet), is the effect on your bank balance.
But let’s look at this properly.
A very expensive, top-notch splurge on a ball of cashmere might set you back £25. Add the pattern and pair of good needles, and you might have just spent £35 on a project to make a lacey cowl, or a pair of luxury mitts.
That project will take you anywhere from 10 hours to 40 hours to complete. That equates to 88p - £3.50 per hour that you might be spending on improving your entire body, mind and soul! 88p on living a much MUCH happier life, and really doing something you love.
Isn’t that worth it? Otherwise what else are we here for?
And yes, it’s a little predictable, I guess, for a Yarn Shop owner to tell you it’s ok for you to go spend some more money, but what I’m trying to say is stop feeling guilty for buying nice yarn. Don’t do that! There is almost nothing better that you could spend it on.
Seriously, once you’ve paid for food and shelter and security, why not spend some of your hard earned moolah on stuff you actually enjoy. That coffee you buy every morning costs you £24/hour in enjoyment factor. That’s 2700% more expensive than the cashmere scarf project.
AND you’re also making your own stuff instead of supporting a sweat-shop. You’re using natural fibers instead of polluting yourself and the planet with more plastic-synthetic-cancer-causing materials, and you’re supporting farmers, indie dyers and independent businesses.
Plus with knitting & crochet you have a hobby you can do almost anywhere, anytime (unlike baking, or playing piano or gardening). And you are constantly learning & improving, and can be social at the same time. And you can do it forever (use really great notions that don’t knacker your wrists!).
Oh, and if that’s not enough, apparently it’s cool again!
So stop with the guilt and self-bashing shit. You do deserve really nice yarn. You don’t need to settle for cheap crap. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy your yarn and pattern shopping. In fact – you should be dancing the happy dance of someone who has discovered the secret to good living!!
Do what makes you happy. Everyone wins.
21 Responses
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March 20, 2024
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