“My favourite places to knit have always been with other people” – How a need for community has us turning to crafts

Whether it’s knitting, sewing, papercrafting or painting, crafting brings all kinds of benefits. But crafting in company can be even better for your wellbeing.

As a dedicated crafter, I know that making things is my happy space. I love to immerse myself in knitting, crochet, cross stitch and the occasional bit of papercraft. Whether it’s the soothing round-and-round of a plain ribbed sock or juggling multiple bobbins for an intricate cushion cover, crafting is soothing for the mind and soul – a way to leave behind the stresses of everyday life and instead think about placing the next stitch just right, or creating the perfect finish on a greetings card.

Many people craft on their sofa or at the dining table, or even have a dedicated craft room. But my favourite places to knit have always been with other people. Knitting is great – but knitting in company, with a chat and a smile (and maybe a glass of wine), is even better. I’ve been a member of several ‘knit and natter’ groups over the years, each with their own unique personality.

One met in a local pub once a month. I was new to the city, and mostly only knew people connected with my job. At the knit night, I was introduced to a variety of people I would never otherwise have come across, all welcoming an escape from everyday life even as we chatted about our lives. We each brought our own projects, working independently as we got to know one another – though when one woman got married a few years in, we all worked together one evening to knit flowers for her wedding, a lovely group project.

Getty ImagesAnother group, some years later, met on a Thursday evening in a local yarn shop. The owner, Sharon, would bake cakes for us to eat as we knitted, and we could also browse and buy the yarn while we were there, and benefit from her expertise. By this point I had a young son, and home life and parenting could be intense, but for a few hours each week I could escape and enjoy my craft in the company of others. We were an eclectic group. But, brought together by our shared love of yarn crafts, we could relate to each other, and enjoyed chatting to people outside our usual day-to-day lives.

Getty ImagesThat’s also the experience of Helen Cooke, a crafter and parent who enjoys cross stitch, embroidery and sewing. Helen used to attend a regular crafty meet-up at the local Carer’s Centre (a charity that supports those with caring responsibilities).

“I loved meeting with them every other week for a good natter and some crafting,” she says. “This was a great time for everyone to just switch off. We were all there for different reasons, different responsibilities, but at craft club we were ourselves in those couple of hours. It was our creative break. It was a good opportunity to see what other crafts people did and even share skills.”

Helen also enjoys a variety of workshops, which are a great way to try out new crafts in a social situation. “Some crafts require a lot of supplies to start, so going to a workshop lets me give it a go and then I can decide if I invest further into that craft or not,” she explains.

“What I love about the workshops is meeting new people. Even though they’re strangers to start off with, you end up feeling like you’ve known them longer once it’s finished. Every workshop I’ve ever attended, we’ve always helped each other out and complimented each other’s designs. No one is ever made to feel they aren’t good at that craft, because it’s art at the end of the day, and you can’t go wrong with art!”

Crafting isn’t just great for flexing that creative muscle – it’s also good for your brain

It’s not just anecdotal evidence, either – the psychological benefits of crafting are well known, and ‘social prescribing’ of this and other activities is becoming more common. Stitchlinks is an organisation that promotes research into the wellbeing benefits of creative activities, especially knitting.

When it comes to crafting in company, Stitchlinks endorses this too. “Our work has shown that the common activity makes it easier to join and makes the group work,” says their website. “It’s much easier to talk to ‘strangers’ when you have something in common. Being an activity-based group creates a relaxed environment where there is no pressure to contribute. It’s somewhere you can ‘just be’ yourself and ‘just be’ silently content in the presence of others. This type of social contact is restorative and nurturing.”

Getty ImagesOf course, it’s not just about the connections, but the crafts themselves. It’s wonderful to chat with other people who just ‘get it’ about a craft that means so much to you – they can sympathise when something hasn’t worked out and share your joy at a finished project. Fellow crafters are also great sources of information and expertise, able to help out with a tricky cast-off, or suggest a book or blog that might have just the right technique you need.

Kirstie McLeod, editor of Simply Knitting and The Knitter magazines, agrees: “Knitting groups are a wonderful way to meet other knitters, learn new knitting skills and share your knitting knowledge.” she says.

So whether you’re looking to learn a whole new craft, revive a previous passion that’s fallen by the wayside, or simply fancy having some company while working on your latest project, a group or workshop is the perfect setting. Now where’s my project bag? I’m off to the cafe…

Where to find your very own crafting community

In-Press PhotographyLook local

Kirstie McLeod at Simply Knitting advises checking out library notice boards for flyers advertising local craft groups – these might be held at the library itself or elsewhere. And craft shops often run groups of their own within the store, so ask anywhere you buy your supplies. Even if they don’t host a group, they’re likely to know of any nearby.

Getty ImagesSearch online

Facebook and Instagram are both great ways to connect with your local community, and the crafting community is no exception! And now, of course, there’s the brand new Boundless Crafting Group, a creative community for anyone who enjoys making, creating and trying something new. Whether you're an experienced crafter or just looking for a fun new hobby, you'll find plenty of inspiration, support and ideas to help you get started.

Follow makers you admire to be the first to hear about any workshops they’re holding, or groups they may be setting up. Businesses will also shout about groups that use them as a base. Two of my locals have recently set up groups of their own – a monthly knit and natter at a family pub, while a craft beer taproom runs a regular ‘scrap & sip’ night where all crafts are welcome – both of which I heard about on Instagram.

Set up your own

If there’s nothing quite right near you, why not embrace a crafty attitude and make it yourself? Think about what you want from a group (craft type, time of day, weekly or monthly) then use the tips here to advertise for like-minded crafters – put a notice in your library or local craft store, and post in local Facebook groups. Ask around for a suitable venue. Pubs or cafes will often be happy to let you book a few tables at a quiet time with the promise of custom from your members, while community centres and libraries often have rooms that can be booked for just this sort of thing.