Adam is behind the successful Instagram account @CleevelyKnits where he shares his funny and creative adventures in yarn. Most recently these have included videos on wine-pairings for yarn, and attempting to knit a usable QR code! There is a very strong theme of Adam being someone who thinks outside the box, which is illustrated by the fact that he hasn't knitted from a pattern for several years. Despite only starting knitting in 2022, something about it hooked Adam in and he has progressed from...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 8Ep. 5
In the second of two episodes, this week I speak to Dr Zoe, a GP specialising in menopause. Zoe's colleagues joined me last week to speak about knitting a blanket for her following her recent cancer diagnosis. Zoe speaks about her long history of using knitting to benefit her mental well-being, how she is using it now during her cancer treatment and how knitting has allowed her to find spaces where being an introvert is celebrated. We also talk about Zoe's views that knitting is a particularly h...
Jun 25, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 8Ep. 4
This week I am joined by Sharon Hartmann, Dr Sarah Ball and Dr Carys Sonnenberg who are all health professionals working in the field of menopause. They have come together to create a shared knitting project in support of two of their colleagues who are going through treatment for cancer. This is the first of two episodes featuring menopause specialists and their colleague Dr Zoe, who is one of the receipients of these special blankets joins me next week. While Sharon is a returning knitter, Sar...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 8Ep. 3
This week I am delighted to be joined by Martyn, host of the Knit365 YouTube channel. I loved speaking to Martyn about his journey from beginning as an accidental knitter, having made an off-the-cuff promise to his grandmother, to a daily knitter with a successful YouTube Channel about his adventures in yarn. It was great to hear how Martyn has discovered the therapeutic benefits of knitting along the way, how he loves the satisfaction of making progress and completing things, and how he now has...
Jun 11, 2025•57 min•Season 8Ep. 2
To kick off series 8 I am deligted to be joined by Beth Gorishek who is also known the Adaptive Knitter. Beth was born with a limb difference and through teaching, speaking and workshops helps knitters to learn how to make adaptations to their knitting practice so that it works for their body. Beth believes that makers are well placed to be adaptive as this is part of the creative process of making and that adaptation is creativity. I also particularly loved Beth's approach to using knitting to ...
Jun 04, 2025•52 min•Season 8Ep. 1
This month we are discussing a paper published in Scientific Reports (part of the prestigious Nature group of peer-reviewed scientific journals) about the impact of crochet on attention. You can read the full paper here . This is a study by neurologists into how crochet impacts on attentional networks. It combines brain imaging with an interesting experimental design. It is a complex read, involving a lot of neuro-speak but we've tried to summarise it in a way that hopefully makes it easy to und...
May 28, 2025•38 min•Season 7Ep. 13
I am delighted to announce that Series 8 will be live next month! I have had some really interesting conversations with my guests this series and I can't wait to share them with you. In the meantime, if you'd like to be kept up to date on all the latest news you can sign up to the Creative Restoration Newsletter which is a montly round up of all our events, workshops, podcasts and blogs, along with an update on our own knitting projects! You can sign up here: creative restoration Mentioned in th...
May 05, 2025•2 min•Season 7Ep. 11
In our first book club episode, Paula and Mia each discuss a book they have read on the subject of the psychology of craft. Paula has read 'Craftfulness' by Arzu Tahsin and Rosemary Davidson Mia has read 'Craft Psychology' by Dr Anne Kirketerp 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 . ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The Healing Power of Knitting : unravelling the science behind knitting and me...
Apr 23, 2025•50 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Join Paula and I as we answer your questions about the field of knitting and mental health. Apologies that the audio quality isn't as good as usual for this episode, we tried out a new method of recording and had a few technical issues. We'll be back at the end of the month with a Book Club episode! 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 . ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The Healing Power of ...
Apr 09, 2025•53 min•Season 7Ep. 10
This month Dr Paula Redmond and I discuss another research paper into knitting and mental health. The paper we discuss is: Joanna Nordstrand, A. Birgitta Gunnarsson & Greta HäggblomKronlöf (2024) Promoting health through yarncraft: Experiences of an online knitting group living with mental illness, Journal of Occupational Science, 31:3, 504-515, The full text of this article is available here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14427591.2023.2292281#abstract If you'd like to learn ...
Mar 26, 2025•46 min•Season 7Ep. 9
This is our second bonus episode for anyone wanting to know or read more about the research into how knitting can benefit our mental well-being. Fellow clinical psychologist and knitter, Dr Paula Redmond and I will be reading one research paper a month and discussing it in our journal club podcast. We are also planning a Question an Answer episode, so if you have any questions about the research into knitting and mental health or how we use knitting in our work please do email me on mia@therapeu...
Feb 26, 2025•46 min•Season 7Ep. 9
This is a bonus episode for anyone wanting to know or read more about the research into how knitting can benefit our mental well-being. Fellow clinical psychologist and knitter, Dr Paula Redmond and I will be reading one research paper a month and discussing it in our journal club podcast. This month we are discussing Healing Stitches: a scoping review of the impact of needlcraft on mental health and well-being. The full-text of this article is available here: Healing Stitches I refer to the int...
Jan 26, 2025•37 min•Season 7Ep. 9
Have you ever stressed yourself our by overcommitting to gift knitting? Do you end up being exhausted by the festive season? Then we have a bonus episode for you! Subscribe to the Creative Restoration newletter here to receive our bonus episode as soon as it is released on 14th November to help you keep your self-care on track during Christmas, and continue to use knitting to benefit your mental wellbeing. This is the final episode in series 7 - thank you so much for listening! Joining me this w...
Oct 23, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 7Ep. 8
Carole Wyatt is a cancer doctor who has been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. She speaks about using knitting to cope with the difficult days, and also to create a handknitted legacy to pass down to her future grandchildren. ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The Healing Power of Knitting : unravelling the science behind knitting and mental health on Tuesday 15th July at 7pm BST to find out all about how and why knitting benefits our mental health. 🧶 If you'd like to learn ...
Oct 16, 2024•32 min•Season 7Ep. 7
Tamanna is a nurse practioner and multi-crafter who works in the field of mental health. Tamanna joins me to speak about her own journey to knitting, sewing and embroidery, how this connects her to family traditions and her values of sustainability and ethical production of clothing. She also speaks about she uses fibre arts to benefit the mental health of herself and others. Tamanna Rahman Instagram: @slow.work.sewing Website: slow.work.sewing ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar T...
Oct 09, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 7Ep. 6
Whitney is a plus size knitter and YouTuber who is passionate about taking back the power to create clothes she loves in colours she enjoys. She speaks about how knitting has helped her to love the body she has, rather than feel that she to change her body to fit the clothes she can buy. Whitney Swinimer Whitney's website: knittedbywhitney YouTube: Knitted by Whitney Whitney's article on how knitting helped her to fall in love with her body Instagram: @knittedbywhitney ------------- 🧶Join us at...
Oct 02, 2024•51 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Elena Lo Presti is the founder and director of Craft Forward, which is a not-for-profit organisation that provides accessible, creative, experiences suitable for everyone, regardless of their skills and background. Their aim is to disrupt the current elitism within the arts and crafts world and open creativity to all through workshops with a clear social impact. Elena joins me to speak about her own personal story learning to knit as a way of connecting with her grandmother during the pandemic, ...
Sep 25, 2024•52 min•Season 7Ep. 4
Christina Socorro Yovovich is a writer, knitter and multi-crafter. Christina speaks about how since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she had struggled to access joy without worrying about whether this was a sign that she was becoming unwell. She explains how returning to knitting has allowed her to access a safe and more grounded form of joy in her daily life. Christina Socorro Yovovich website: Christina Socorro Yovovich YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DesertAgaveFiberArts . Instagram: ...
Sep 18, 2024•54 min•Season 7Ep. 3
Victoria Marchant is an inclusive knitwear designer who puts size inclusivity at the heart of all her designs. Her latest design, the Padstow Cardigan will be released on October 18th. Victoria Marchant Website: www.victoriamarchantknits.com Instagram: @victoriamarchantknits ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The Healing Power of Knitting : unravelling the science behind knitting and mental health on Tuesday 15th July at 7pm BST to find out all about how and why knitting benefits ...
Sep 11, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 7Ep. 2
Samantha Moore is a filmmaker and animator who directed the BAFTA nominated animated film 'Visible Mending' which is about the ways we repair ourselves through knitting. If you haven't seen Sam's brilliant film, you can watch the film at Sam's Vimeo channel here: Visible Mending Follow Sam on Instagram: @sammooreanimate ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The Healing Power of Knitting : unravelling the science behind knitting and mental health on Tuesday 15th July at 7pm BST to fin...
Sep 04, 2024•57 min•Season 7Ep. 1
In this bonus episode Dr Claire Plumbly, Clinical Psychologist and EMDR specialist joins me to discuss what the theory behind EMDR can tell us about why we find the hand movements of knitting so therapeutic. Claire Plumbly Buy her book: https://www.drclaireplumbly.com/burnout-book www.drclaireplumbly.com Instagram: @drclaireplumbly ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The Healing Power of Knitting : unravelling the science behind knitting and mental health on Tuesday 15th July at 7p...
Jul 10, 2024•45 min
Thanks so much for your questions for the Q&A episode, it has been so interesting to be asked such great questions. ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The Healing Power of Knitting : unravelling the science behind knitting and mental health on Tuesday 15th July at 7pm BST to find out all about how and why knitting benefits our mental health. 🧶 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 . Here's...
Feb 21, 2024•25 min•Season 6Ep. 7
For the final episode of series 6 I am joined by Elizabeth Hammond, also known as The Knitchen on Instagram. Elizabeth describes herself as a knitter, test knitter and dabbling designer. She joins me to speak about turning to knitting to help with her mental health and also during her recovery from a car accident. Thanks so much for listening to the 6th series of the podcast - we have now reached an incredible 100,000 downloads! To celebrate this milestone I am recording a Q&A episode - if y...
Feb 07, 2024•55 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Ellen describes herself a tech editor and occasional designer who identifies as queer and neurodivergent. She speaks about how knitting feeds her inner engineer and allows her to use some skills that she might otherwise have explored in her career. She also talks about the ways in which knitting helps her to connect to family, friends and a new community. Ellen Website: www.knithow.com Instagram: @knithow ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The Healing Power of Knitting : unravelli...
Jan 31, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Madison Siegel joins me this week to speak about using knitting as a mindful practice to help her to step back from and notice her thoughts rather than be caught up in them. She speaks about having a diagnosis of ADHD and feeling anxious after the birth of her second child, and how knitting has been part of finding balance and allowing herself to take up space. Madison doesn't have a public Instagram account. ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The Healing Power of Knitting : unrav...
Jan 24, 2024•57 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Susie Bass is a researcher studying a PHD in the relationship between power, identity and mental health through craft. Susie is a knitter and multi-crafter and during our discussion she speaks about how craft has been a common thread which has helped her to process traumatic events in her life, and to reconstruct herself afterwards. CONTENT WARNING: During our conversation Susie speaks about losing a baby and experiencing a sexual assault. She also speaks about the process of being diagnosed wit...
Jan 17, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Fran is a bear maker and multi-crafter who is originally from the UK but now lives in the Pyrenees mountains of France. Fran speaks about how craft has helped to negotiate living with chronic illness and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Fran Website: Woollenhearted.com Instagram: @woollenhearted ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The Healing Power of Knitting : unravelling the science behind knitting and mental health on Tuesday 15th July at 7pm BST to find out all about how and w...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 7Ep. 2
The Loose Ends Project aims to ease grief, create community, and inspire generosity by matching volunteer handwork finishers with projects people have left unfinished due to death or disability. The founders, Masey and Jen join me to discuss their own personal relationships with knitting and the story of how they created the Loose Ends Project. Loose Ends Find out more at their website: www.looseendsproject.org Follow them on Instagram: @looseendsproject ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live...
Jan 03, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 6Ep. 1
The Why I Knit Podcast is back with series 6 starting on 4th January 2024! Thanks to everyone who has been in touch to ask when the new episodes are coming out - I look forward to sharing 6 more conversations with you from 4th January. Mia Website: therapeuticknitting.org Patreon: patreon.com/therpeuticknitting Instagram: @knittingistherapeutic Mentioned in this episode: Join us at our Live Webinar: The Healing Power of Knitting Join us on Tuesday 15th July at 7pm BST for our first Live Webinar:...
Dec 08, 2023•2 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Kathryn Vercillo is a writer and crafter who specialises in the intersection between art and mental health. I particularly loved Kathryn's focus on her relationship with craft being something that is constantly evolving, and her celebration of every part of the process. Kathryn speaks about crochet has helped save her life during periods of depression, and also talks about how she used crochet to help her through the grief following her friend's death through suicide. Kathryn Vercillo Instagram ...
Jul 19, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 6
