Why I Knit

Welcome to the Why I Knit podcast! My name is Dr Mia Hobbs and I am a Clinical Psychologist who is passionate about the mental health benefits of knitting. Each episode of the podcast I interview a different knitter about why they knit and the (k)nitty gritty of how it impacts their mental wellbeing. I have an inspiring and diverse range of knitters lined up who have generously shared their stories with me. You can follow me on Instagram @knittingistherapeutic and get more information on the therapeutic benefits of knitting at my website www.therapeuticknitting.org

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Episodes

Knitting for creative expression with Dana Williams-Johnson

Dana Williams-Johnson, or DWJ is a doctoral student and professor of marketing at Howard University. She is also a passionate knitter of colourful sweaters for humans and very small dogs! She also writes a column for Modern Daily Knitting. Dana and I speak about how her love of learning brought her to a knitting class and how she keeps on building on that knowledge year after year. She also speaks about how in the past year she has been recovering from multiple serious pulmonary embolisms, and h...

Jan 05, 2022•59 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Knitting as a wellness tool with Lauren Brennan of Project Knitwell

Lauren Brennan is the Managing Director of Project Knitwell, a charity dedicated to using knitting as a wellness tool and bringing this to people in hospital and community settings. Lauren speaks about her own journey in using to knitting to benefit her wellbeing as well as her involvement in project knitwell, bringing the joy and comfort of knitting to people in need. View the transcript for this episode on the Captivate player Find out more about Project knitwell at their website Follow them o...

Dec 29, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Knitting as a security blanket with LJ of Rusty Ferret Yarn

LJ is the owner of Rusty Ferret Yarn and also speaks openly about how she has used knitting to manage anxiety and low mood. She has brilliantly named her new yarn range after her struggles with low mood. LJ speaks about knowing that she needed to do something with her hands in order to feel better, and how knitting helped her to manage a bereavement. View the transcript on the captivate player You can find out more about LJ's yarn at her website Follow LJ on Instagram @rustyferretyarn ----------...

Dec 22, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Therapeutic Knitting with Betsan Corkhill

Betsan Corkhill is internationally recognised as an expert in therapeutic knitting. Hear about how a stack of letters in a filing cabinet let to Betsan's career specialising in the therapeutic benefits of knitting and how she rebranded knitting as a 'rythmical bilateral psychosocial intervention' in order to get knitting taken seriously when discussing her research. View the transcript for this episode on the captivate player You can find out more about Betsan's work and reasearch at the Stitchl...

Dec 15, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Knitting saved my life with James McIntosh

TW: Homophobia, suicide and depression James McIntosh taught himself to knit with chopsticks and string when he had been so low in mood that he couldn't leave his bed. He now credits knitting with saving his life. See the transcript for this episode on the captivate player James is the owner of McIntosh yarn, see their website Follow James on Instagram: @knitmcintosh Yarns, patterns and research discussed in this episode: Erika knight men’s knits Men'sKnits A New Direction by Erika Knight - Yarn...

Dec 08, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Knitting for meaning and community with Ros Edwards

Ros Edwards is a prolific knitter who has had a bed-bound illness for the past 5 years. Ros speaks about how knitting helps her to manage chronic pain and the psychological distress of her illness. Ros also speaks about the importance of the connections she has made in the yarn community, and that she uses her yarn and pattern purchases to demonstrate her values. View the transcript on the captivate player Follow Ros on Instagram: @rosem0nde ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The ...

Dec 01, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Knitting for Colour and Challenge with Atia Azmi

Atia Azmi is a knitter, sewer, blogger and podcaster who is known for her creative use of colour in her makes and her home. Atia speaks about the joy of using knitting as a creative outlet where she can combine colours. Visit Atia's website: www.thebrightblooms.com Follow Atia on Instagram @thebrightblooms The Uncut podcast: Uncut Podcast ------------- 🧶Join us at our first Live Webinar The Healing Power of Knitting : unravelling the science behind knitting and mental health on Tuesday 15th Jul...

Dec 01, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Trailer Season one - Why I Knit

The first episode of Season 1 will be released on 2nd December! I have some amazing guests and can't wait to share our conversations with you. You can follow me on Instagram @knittingistherapeutic or contact me via my website www.therapeuticknitting.org 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: The Healing Power of Knitting: unravelling the science behind knitting and mental health. Th...

Nov 09, 2021•2 min

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