When I was but a kid and rock music was a never-ending stream of talent, Supertramp released the song featured in the video above. I can still sing it from memory. I was driving, pondering life and yarn (a typical daydream for me) and this song came on my Sirius radio station. It made me think about a recent project I discovered that beautifully combines fiber arts and giving back.
I've been thrilled to find the many research studies on the health benefits of knitting and crocheting, and have shared in at least one previous blog post. Imagine my excitement when I learned about research findings on the benefits of GIVING!
According to Chicago-based RUSH University Medical Center, experts have produced "...a growing body of research that links different types of giving to greater quality of life." Here's a brief summary of the facts on how/why GIVING benefits the giver.
Giving can lead to greater self-esteem, life satisfaction and sense of purpose.
Giving may decrease the risk of depression and depressive symptoms such as sadness or lack of energy.
Volunteering can lead to both better mental AND physical health.
Researchers have linked giving to decreased mortality, or risk of death.
While there are a number of specifics in the research, the over-arching theme is that giving of ourselves provides a sense of purpose.
Working toward a goal and feeling like you are making a contribution to society likely increases your sense of purpose in life, which ... contributes to both psychological and physical health. (RUSH Health System)
I cannot think of better news for fiber arts enthusiasts than the double-dose of good that can come from a) engaging in knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, needlework, etc. and b) giving to others.
How many of us make a blanket when we learn of a coming new baby, or donate items to a fundraiser, or simply make something small to give to someone who needs a reminder that they matter?
It is my belief that crafters are, by nature, GIVING people, so I was not surprised when I encountered a wonderful organization at the recent Creative Arts Festival here in Pittsburgh: Soap Sacks.

Soap Sacks began "...as a grassroots effort to connect people from all over the world while crocheting/knitting soap sacks and then donating them (with a bar of soap in each one) to homeless shelters, food pantries, veteran clinics, relief efforts and social service agencies."
Founder Stacy Weiner discovered, while volunteering at local food banks, that SNAP/food stamp benefits for the needy do not cover toiletries - not even soap! She created SOAP (Supporting A Community with Kindness) to help meet that need. The Soap Sacks website includes more information, and reports that more than 450,000 soap sacks have been distributed to under-served populations across the globe!
Stacy hosts patterns on the Soap Sacks site, and on Ravelry, where there are abundant variations on the theme by other fiber artists. Here's my favorite Knitted Soap Sack pattern; here's my favorite Crochet Soap Sack pattern. The Soap Sacks website ALSO features a pattern for those that sew. This is a quick and easy washcloth version that looks straightforward and simple, although I've not moved on from crocheting these, so I have no examples to share.
The good news is that we will benefit regardless of how we choose to give back. The BETTER news is that we can do some good AND spend time with yarn, and that's what I'd call a win-win!
Go Grab Some Yarn and Keep on stitchin' !!!
(C) 2024 Stitch 'n Dish
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