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  • 13 minutes ago
Developing skills in a craft like knitting or crochet could be helping your brain in ways you aren't aware of. The mix of challenge and repetition is just one of the benefits craft activities can offer. They also help with social connection, which is important for mental wellbeing and combating loneliness.

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00:02Will Seeger knits every day.
00:05It's really nice to be able to let go of any other worries
00:08or things that I need to be thinking about
00:09and focus entirely on my knitting.
00:11So I do it also because it's very intellectually stimulating for me.
00:17I like to choose patterns which are technically quite demanding.
00:21They're not simply just kind of a little cosy craft
00:24that you're just doing with your hands that are mindless.
00:27Studies have shown crafts like knitting and crochet
00:30can have several benefits for brain health.
00:33They can train us to pay attention to one task for a significant period
00:38and hit a sweet spot between challenge and repetition.
00:42Once we've mastered the fine motor skill, it is repetitive
00:47and in many ways our brains quite like that because it's predictable.
00:51Craft can also bring people together.
00:53For these women, sessions with needles, hooks and yarn
00:56are an important part of their week.
00:59It's awesome.
01:00I mean, I met all these amazing ladies with interesting stories
01:05but the fact that we're actually making things to give to people
01:08in the community who are in need, that's really important to me.
01:12It's my lifeline for the week because I'm on my own.
01:16So this is it. This is my social.
01:20And I get pretty lonely so I can't wait to get here.
01:24Keeping the brain active and making connections with others one stitch at a time.
01:30We'll see you next time.
01:31We'll see you next time.
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