As we’ve reported before, knitting has many benefits. Quite apart from a magnificent homemade garment or accessory, plus a sense of achievement (or sometimes relief!) when you finish a pattern, you will be benefiting from many additional therapeutic properties...

Research is underway on this topic and you can help by taking part in the Stitchlinks Survey. The survey, which is being run by Cardiff University, is looking at the impact of knitting on physical, mental and social wellbeing. We would very much like it if you could take the survey – it will only take 15 minutes.
 
Betsan Corkhill, who runs Stitchlinks, is one of the people heading up this survey. Betsan used to be a community physiotherapist, but left the profession and came to concentrate on the specific area of rehabilitation through knitting. Stitchlinks, which has been running for five years, aims to promote knitting and craft as aids to improve wellbeing and a positive outlook.
 
Betsan is working with five UK universities on studies that are looking into the effect of knitting on pain, memory, depression and post traumatic stress. In the future, Betsan also hopes to raise money for a brain imaging study at Reading University.
 
Betsan also runs a knitting workshop at the Pain Management Clinic at the RUH in Bath. For further information visit Stitchlinks.

Take part in the survey.