Looking to take up a new hobby? Why not start crocheting? Like other fiber arts, crochet has tons of benefits, from stress reduction to building community and more. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun!
Let’s dive in and take a look at 19 benefits of learning how to crochet. And once you’ve decided to start, you can check out our stitch tutorials, the Foolproof Guide to Crocheting Amigurumi, and our many amigurumi tutorials!
Table of Contents
1. Crochet helps with stress
Feeling a bit stressed? Crochet can help with that! I know that whenever I pick up some yarn and a crochet hook, I can concentrate on crafting instead of day-to-day stressors.
2. Crochet reduces anxiety
Crochet is a great way to cope with anxiety, too. One 2021 study found that almost 90% of participants felt calmer after crocheting!
3. Crochet helps with depression
The same study found that 82% of participants were happier after crocheting, and the researchers calculated a statistically significant improvement in mood after participants crocheted. This shows that crochet could be an important mood-regulating tool for those with depression.
4. Crochet provides a creative outlet
Crochet is a great way to express your creativity! Whether you’re following a pattern or designing your own project, there are so many ways to make each project your own: from what color of yarn you choose to what notions you add, and more!
5. You can crochet gifts
Need a gift for a friend’s birthday or for Christmas? Once you know how to crochet, you can make customized gifts for all your loved ones!
6. You can crochet clothes
And you can crochet clothing, too! The great thing about crafting your own clothes is that you can ensure they fit perfectly and reflect your personal style.
7. You can crochet home goods
Once you learn how to crochet, your house is sure to be filled with home goods and decor. From wall hangings to dish towels to pillows, blankets, and more, you can decorate your whole home with just a hook and some yarn!
8. Crochet can protect against memory loss
Crochet can also help you avoid memory loss, including from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. A 2011 study found that crafts like knitting and quilting protect against mild cognitive impairment. Crochet, since it’s similar to those crafts, should be helpful, too.
9. Crochet can help with insomnia
If you struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep, yarn arts might just be the answer! Professor and medical doctor Herbert Benson found that all the insomnia patients in his study had improved sleep after going through a program that included knitting.
10. You can build community
Crochet is also a great way to build community and reduce loneliness! Whether you join an in-person crafting group—my mom always enjoyed meeting her friends for a monthly “Knit or Knots” knitting and crochet gathering—or find friends online through platforms like Instagram, crochet is a great way to make new friends. One study found that participants who crocheted as part of a group found it easier to make friends, created intergenerational connections, and were able to relax.
11. You get the satisfaction of crafting
There’s hardly anything as satisfying as finishing a crochet project and realizing you made it yourself! If you’ve been looking for a way to feel productive, crochet is a great option!
12. Crochet provides a sense of purpose
A study by Jeannine L.M. Liddle, Lynne Parkinson, and David W. Sibbritt explored how crafting is perceived by women in late life. They found that crafting provides purpose and meaning, which improves overall well-being. And you don’t have to wait till your eighties to get these benefits—you can find a sense of purpose from crocheting at any age!
13. Crochet can be a source of income
Some crocheters treat their craft as a hobby, but others use it to generate income. Once you’ve learned to crochet, you can design and sell patterns, or sell finished products.
14. Repetitive movements help your brain
One of the most important features of crochet is that it uses repetitive bilateral hand motions. These motions help distract the brain, which in turn reduces anxiety and stress!
15. Crochet is an on-the-go hobby
And don’t forget that crochet is a very portable hobby. If you’ve got a hook and some yarn, you can crochet just about anywhere! Got a long road trip, or a flight coming up? Pass the time by crafting!
16. Crochet improves brain function
Crocheting can also improve your brain function! One study found that skilled crafters had improved reaction times and alertness compared to a non-crocheter control group.
17. You can multitask while crocheting
Crochet is an easy hobby to do even while listening to audiobooks or watching TV. If you’ve ever thought you don’t have time for multiple hobbies, think again!
18. It’s inexpensive to get started
If all these reasons have convinced you to learn how to crochet, but you’re worried about the cost, don’t be! It’s pretty cheap to start crocheting. You can get a set of hooks for under ten dollars online or at your local craft store, and basic acrylic worsted-weight yarn is often under five dollars a skein.
19. It’s fun!
And I’ve saved the simplest reason to learn crochet for last: it’s fun! Once you start crocheting, there’s no end to what you can create. So will you be diving in and learning this craft? Or maybe you already know how and are even more inspired to keep crocheting now. Let us know in the comments!
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