Crochet

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Can Crochet Save Your Life? Your Health?

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I’m turning over the crochet reigns today to Kathryn Vercillo so she can give us good information about her latest survey.  Please feel free to respond to her here and to go to her site (linked below) to participate in the survey.

Now, Kathryn writes:

How Has Crochet Helped You?

This is a guest post by Kathryn Vercillo, author of Crochet Saved My Life and blogger at Crochet Concupiscence. You’ve read about her on this blog before.

She has created a new survey to explore the healing aspects of crochet. How has crochet helped you? Has it helped relieve depression, anxiety or other mental health symptoms for you? Has it distracted you from difficulties in life including grief or chronic pain? Has it provided you with a creative outlet, improved your sense of self-esteem or been your saving grace during bouts with insomnia?

Crocheters cite these benefits as well as others in their stories about why they crochet. However, the details of how crochet helps people have yet to be studied in depth … until now.

We have seen studies that look at whether or not crochet helps people, and those studies have added a lot to our understanding of the craft. They have taught us that crochet is likely to help reduce depression and may prevent age- related memory loss. But those studies have typically looked at crochet as one of several crafts, and they’ve been asking if crochet helps people rather than exploring how crochet helps people.

I have created a new survey to expand upon this existing material and study the many different ways that people are healing through crochet. I’ve based the survey questions on existing research including the research I’ve done myself in the writing of my crochet health books and articles. The survey is designed to examine the benefits people are currently getting from the craft. I will be analyzing and publishing the results.

It is my hope that the published results can help people in a variety of settings. If we can prove the ways in which crochet heals, we can get more support for the craft in hospitals, recovery centers, therapy groups, prisons, schools and more. And all of us
can have a better understanding of how this craft that we love is helping us in more ways than we even know.

Please consider helping by taking the survey now. Or you can learn more about it from this press release.

Thanks, Kathryn!  Your hard work in this area is going to pay off.  Many crocheters are already aware of the benefits of crochet to their health and well-being.  Now, more will have this information.  Please keep spreading the word!

Comments

  1. I started crocheting when I was pregnant and stressed. It completely eased my mind by slowing my breathing and focusing my mind on one project (which of course made me think of a million other projects u couldn’t wait to dive into lol)

  3. when I’m crochet in front of the TV I’m not eating stuff like chips so that’s good for my health!

Have you read?

How to Crochet the Suzette Stitch: An Easy Textured Crochet Stitch for Beginners

Learning a crochet stitch is much more satisfying when you have an actual project waiting at the end of it. The Suzette stitch is especially versatile because its dense, softly textured fabric works for everything from practical cotton washcloths to cosy scarves, hats and blankets.

Here are some Suzette stitch crochet patterns worth adding to your project list.

Suzette Stitch Baby Blanket

The free Suzette Stitch Baby Blanket pattern from Premier Yarns uses the stitch to create a softly textured crochet blanket with a subtle tweed-like appearance.

This would make a lovely handmade baby shower gift, particularly when worked in a washable baby yarn. The stitch creates more visual interest than plain single crochet without introducing large holes that may catch tiny fingers.

Easy Suzette Stitch Blanket

The Suzette Stitch Blanket pattern by Stitching Together is another approachable blanket project for crocheters who enjoy a relaxing stitch repeat.

This is the sort of project you can keep beside the sofa and work on a few rows at a time. Just keep an eye on those skipped stitches—television crochet is wonderful until an extra stitch quietly sneaks in three episodes earlier.

Casey Suzette Stitch Scarf

The free Casey Scarf crochet pattern uses the Suzette stitch through most of the design, producing a cosy scarf with a softly scalloped, zigzag-like texture.

It is a good first wearable project for beginners because scarves do not require complicated shaping. You can also adjust the length fairly easily or use a self-striping yarn and let the colour changes do the decorative work for you.

Quick Suzette Crochet Scarf

For another scarf option, try this free Suzette Stitch Scarf pattern from Hooked by Robin.

The designer includes written instructions and a video tutorial, making it helpful for visual learners who prefer watching the stitch placement before beginning. It is designed as a quick project and would make a practical last-minute handmade gift.

Suzette Colour Block Scarf

The free Suzette Colour Block Scarf pattern is a cheerful option for using several coordinating yarn colours.

Colour blocking also makes this a handy stash-busting crochet project. You can use leftover yarn from other makes, although it is worth choosing yarns of the same weight and similar fibre content so the sections behave themselves after washing.

Chunky Suzette Stitch Beanie

The free Chunky Suzette Stitch Beanie crochet pattern turns the textured stitch into a warm winter hat.

Chunky yarn helps the pattern work up quickly and makes the raised texture especially noticeable. This would be a useful project for craft stalls, charity donations or quick handmade Christmas gifts.

Hazel Textured Crochet Beanie

The free Hazel Beanie crochet pattern combines simple ribbing with the Suzette stitch.

The ribbed brim gives the hat a neat, finished appearance while the Suzette stitch adds texture to the main body. It looks more complicated than a basic crochet beanie but is still built from familiar beginner stitches.

Suzette Stitch Washcloth

For a small practice project, try the free Suzette Stitch Wash Cloth pattern from The Purple Poncho.

A washcloth is one of the best ways to practise a new crochet stitch because it is small, useful and not terribly demanding. Even if the first one is slightly wonky, it will still wash perfectly well.

Use a smooth cotton yarn so the cloth is absorbent and the stitch texture remains clearly visible.

Suzette Ridge Crochet Washcloth

The free Suzette Ridge Crochet Washcloth pattern adds another layer of texture to this familiar stitch combination.

Make several in coordinating colours and pair them with handmade soap for an easy spa-style gift. They are also useful little projects for testing unfamiliar cotton yarn before committing to a larger set.

Corner-to-Corner Suzette Stitch Washcloth

The free C2C Suzette Stitch Washcloth pattern gives the stitch a slightly different construction by working it from corner to corner.

This is a good next project after you have mastered ordinary flat rows. It lets you explore increasing and decreasing while still using the familiar Suzette stitch combination.

Suzette Stitch Afghan Square

The Suzette Stitch Afghan Square pattern turns the textured stitch into a smaller crochet block.

Afghan squares are useful for charity blankets, sampler blankets and portable crochet projects. You can make the squares individually, use up leftover yarn and join everything together once you have enough—although “enough” has been known to become a surprisingly flexible number in my craft room.

More Suzette Stitch Crochet Pattern Ideas

Once you are comfortable with the basic stitch, you can also use it to make:

  • Crochet mug cosies
  • Ear warmers and headbands
  • Fingerless gloves
  • Cushion covers
  • Tote bags
  • Baby rompers
  • Crochet cardigans
  • Lap blankets
  • Double-thick potholders

You can browse additional Suzette stitch crochet patterns on Etsy, including sweaters, baby blankets, beanies, mug cosies and accessories from independent crochet designers.

When choosing a pattern, check whether it uses US or UK crochet terminology. Also check whether it uses the traditional Suzette stitch—one single crochet and one double crochet worked into the same stitch—or a designer’s variation of it. That quick check can prevent a great deal of confused unraveling later.