Posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 20, 2006, at 3:31:24
In reply to Re: Its national depression week in the UK, posted by cecilia on April 20, 2006, at 0:36:35
Taken from the website -- and there's free knitting kits too! Why hadn't I thought of it sooner?! I'm getting my needles out....LOL!
Knitting
I started knitting about one year ago at the age of 24, it was under the advice of my doctor, he told me to find something I like doing to help combact my depression, I was also self harming on a regular basis and it was getting very bad, something which started at 17. Unfortunately I have plenty of scars to remind me.A friend said they knew someone who did crochet but that didn't really appeal to me, but I remember that as a little girl like most my nan taught me to knit a square.
On my way home from this meeting I stopped in a book shop and looked in the craft section, after a little thought I decided this stich and bitch book looked the best value for money and had a lot of info and patterns in it. I bought it then headed to a wool shop and bought a ball of bright yellow DK yarn and a ball of DK bright pink yarn and a pair of 4mm needles after telling the sales assistant I wanted to knit a nice easy scarf as a beginner. I went home and started reading, I then cast 40 stiches and started in garter stitch, after 20 rows I made a stripe. A few days later I had a scarf and haven't looked back.
Since I started to knit I have have had very few thoughts of self harm and haven't even attempted to hurt myself, which after seven years of doing so is quite a miracle, and it always helps to lift my mood when I am feeling down. I wish there was someone to thank for this, but that is the best thing about knitting, you do it yourself so it is all up to you. I guess what I am trying to say is I think knitting is fantastic, it helped me overcome a very dark period in my life and I hope it does the same for a lot of people.
I am glad that so many people spread the word that it is indeed a great form of therapy. Keep knitting, keep happy.
50 FREE KNITTING STARTER KITS
In co-operation with Stitchlinks the British Handknitting Confederation have kindly offered to donate free learn to knit packs to the first 50 people who contact them. The pack will include instructions, needles, one ball of wool and an easy to follow pattern. To be one of the lucky fifty people please click here and email your name and address to have a free starter kit sent out to you. Everyone who emails will also receive a free electronic information pack.
poster:Meri-Tuuli
thread:634778
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060417/msgs/635137.html