
The fiber arts of knitting and crochet were once seen as the domain of old women and spinsters. Today, men and women of all ages engage in these activities, supporting an industry dedicated to all-things yarn.
Yarn enthusiasts, which I consider myself to be, often gather in groups to ply their trade, and this week I was remembering the stories I grew up hearing from my grandmothers and great-grandmothers about the quilting bees that they participated in regularly.
These events in the rural area of my origin families were likely the primary social engagement aside from church for women who worked harder than most of us today could imagine. Women came from across the county to help hand stitch the quilt tops to batting and backing, using great-grandma's large, wooden frame.
Those quilts weren't made with fancy machine stitches or designer fabric. They were pieces of work shirts and aprons; Sunday dresses and men's dress shirts. They were utilitarian first, social vehicles second and only in later years did people begin to make quilts to hang as decorations - at least in this corner of the country.
This week after attending one of my fiber arts social group events, I thought back to the quilting bee stories. Those gatherings served as a way to share stories, local news and even gossip. The quilting bee gatherings shared the news about new babies, engaged couples, job changes and more. Information, joys and struggles were shared around that quilting frame and knowing my great-grandma Lena, I'm sure there was also a lot of laughter.
I believe that these gatherings were also touch points that reminded these rural housewives of the early to mid-20th century that their struggles were not unique, and they weren't alone in the world. It was therapy at a time when few even knew what therapy was, or considered that they might benefit from something like it.
It's not much different today in groups that gather to knit and crochet. People share their stories, accomplishments, updates on kids and grandkids, and comment on local or regional newsworthy happenings. They also admire each other's creations and share tips, tricks and patterns. Most importantly, I believe that these are gatherings where people can be seen, heard and understood. Acceptance as we are, for who we are, happens in these gatherings through the common language and context of knitting and crocheting.
Today, we read reports of a mental health crisis in our kids, and among senior citizens. If we're being truly honest with ourselves, we are ALL struggling on some level. A survey of Americans by Mental Health America shows the challenging state of our collective psychology, and also lays out the difficulty MANY people have in accessing the mental healthcare that they need. In the most recent data set, Mental Health America reported that "... there are an estimated 350 individuals for every one mental health provider." They go on to caveat this statistic by noting that the reality of things may actually be worse due to the fact that the data counts licensed mental health professionals who may no longer be active in practice. My great-grandmothers and their friends and neighbors knew something we have largely forgotten in this technology-rich world: life is often quite hard, and struggling is part of the path - no matter WHO we are, or WHERE we live. There will be degrees of struggle, and everyone's story is unique. What we share is a basic human understanding that life isn't fair, and is often difficult and painful. The quilting bees served as therapeutic support for the women of my great-grandmother's era. They would not have called it therapy, but through the lens of the 21st century awareness of mental health, that's exactly what it was for their community. We're not that much different today, but we have so many more options to distract us, so we often overlook the deep healing and sense of community that are found in the local knitting or crochet circle. We may find one where our close friends attend, or we may be new to a group. We may be acquainted with some of the folks who attend and we may see different people each time. None of that matters, as research I cited in a previous post noted. Even brief social interactions are supportive of our mental (& physical) health and well-being. Knitting and crocheting are wonderful meditative activities. I encourage ALL fiber artists to engage in this creative and healing work as often as they can. Still, we should not remain exclusively in our yarn stashes. It's good for us to get out and get with other knitters and crocheters. It's also a way for us to give back. Sometimes we're the one receiving the care and support; at other times we're the ones holding that space of care and support for others. That's the way life works. Regardless of how your life is going right now, consider finding (or starting!) a knitting/crocheting circle in your area. Once you do, make a commitment to attend regularly - as often as that might work for you. I predict that you will find yourself looking forward to these sessions. Give yourself the gift of community and the boost to your overall health and well-being - wrapped in yarn!
(C) 2023 Stitch 'n Dish
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