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Welcome to Therapeutic Knitting

This week on the podcast I am joined by Dr Zoe, a GP and menopause specialist who is receiving treatment for cancer. Zoe is one of the recipients of the knitted blankets that we discussed on the podcast last week with her colleagues - and she is delighted that they have finally given knitting a try!

Zoe speaks about how she has used knitting to cope with work-stress, anxiety and insomnia and how she has found the knitting community to be a supportive and inclusive place to be an introvert.

It was also really interesting to hear Zoe’s views on menopause as a transition and why we might have an even greater need for creative and mindful activities like knitting at this time of life.

I was so grateful to Zoe for sharing her thoughts at this really difficult time.

You can listen at the link in bio or on your favourite podcast app.

#knittinginthemenopause #menopause #knittingpodcast #WhyIKnit

Has knitting played a really important part in your own mental health journey?

Would you like to understand more about how a ball of yarn and two needles can be powerful tools in managing stress, anxiety and low mood?

Perhaps you’d like to use knitting to help others?

Want to find out more about how knitting can help us manage stress, anxiety and low mood?

🎦 Join our next Live Webinar: The Healing Power of Knitting: Unravelling the science behind knitting and mental health

🗓️ Tuesday 15th July at 7pm BST

🔗 Find out more at the link in bio

Please let me know in the comments! What’s the part of your knitting project that gives you a he biggest dopamine boost?

Buying yarn? Finding the pattern? Casting on? Finishing? Knitting a swatch (just kidding!)

Please comment below and I’ll add a question box in my stories for your own answers!

#knittingpoll #dopamineknitting #knittershigh

Hands up if you use knitting to calm your busy mind? 🙋‍♀️
#whyiknitpodcast #knittingquotes #knittingforcalm

This week on the podcast I am joined by three specialists in the field of menopause @drcaryssonnenberg, @drsarahmollyball and @hartmann_sharon.

While they may be experts in their field of work, both Sarah and Carys were new to knitting. They learned to knit in order to knit two blankets of support for their colleagues.

Zoe of @manchestermenopausehive nominated them to speak on the podcast about their experiences, and she joins me next week to share her side of the story, and to speak more about knitting and the menopause.

Listen to hear three self-proclaimed perfectionsists have approached this, and to hear whether they've found some benefits for their own well-being along the way.

Listen at the link in my bio or on your favourite podcast app.

#knittingpodcast #WhyIKnitPodcast #knittinginmenopause

Knitting in the garden with my daughter feels very special ❤️🧶☀️
#craftyfamily #intergenerationalknitting #knittingalfresco #knittingwithkids

My first time knitting a ‘welt’ and it’s pink and I started it in the garden. Perfect Sunday knitting🩷🪴☀️
#adventuresinknitting #nexxuscardigan #mosaicknitting

Thanks for hosting such a warm and friendly World Wide Stitch in Public Day event today @woolwichworks @champagneandqiviut.

And thanks to everyone who attended our talk for being such an engaged and interesting audience!
@drpaularedmond and I had a great day 🧶☀️

#wwkipday #woolwichworks #knittinginpublicday

When we value the process it can help us to take the sting out of making mistakes in knitting.

Thanks to @adaptiveknitter for this purl(!) of wisdom
#howtofail #knittingquotes #whyiknitpodcast #adaptiveknitter

Inspired by my conversation with @drtaraquinncirillo I've written a blog about how knitting is the perfect illustration of the power of microgains.

Read the blog at the link in my bio, and the podcast episode is linked in the blog so you can listen too!

#knittingblog #microgains #theadversitypsychologistpodcast #mentalhealthmicrogains

It was such a pleasure to be joined on the podcast by Martyn @welsh_tenor and to hear how he has gone from starting to knit by complete accident to having knitting projects dotted all over his home!

You can listen at the link in my bio or on your favourite podcast app.

#knit365 #knittingpodcast #whyiknitpodcast

Tickets are now available for our first Live Webinar! Come and join us- see the link in bio for more details
#psychologywebinar #knittingismytherapy #knittingformentalhealth

My adventures in knitting over the past two weeks.
1. Connemara beach knitting
2. Aeroplane knitting my #nexxuscardigan
3. Teaching a friend to make her first knitted items!
4. Lakeside knitting
5. Frogging in the air
6. Reknitting the same thing again (Beach edition)
7. Breakfast knitting while reading
8. Alllll the ends!

Where was your favourite place to knit this week? #knittingonthego #knittingonthebeach

I am delighted to begin Series 8 of the podcast with my interview with Beth Gorishek, also known as @adaptiveknitter.

As well as talking about her own experiences of learning to knit as someone with a limb difference, Beth speaks about her drive to help others to make adaptations so that they can learn to or continue to knit.

There were so many wonderful pearls of wisdom in this conversation - I'd love to know which ones stood out to you?

I have particularly held on to Beth's brilliant attitude to mistakes: 'I'm not attached to the stitches, I'm attached to the stitching'

You can listen on your favourite podcast app or at the link in my bio.
#adaptiveknitter #knittingpodcast #whyiknitpodcast

Did you join in with Me Made May? I’d love to know how you found it. I’ve put my reflections in a blog post- find the link in my bio

#memademay2025 #knittingblog #memademayblog

A finished object to finish off Me Made May!
This is the yarn that has been knitted and unraveled the most in my recent knitting past. It was at various points a La Prairie cardigan (I realised I didn’t have enough yarn) and a So Faded sweater (I didn’t feel it faded well) then I added a solid and made this inspired by the #seaglasssweater but not exactly the same as my yarn was the wrong weight.

It’s has less ease than I had hoped probably due to the all over colour-work but I am hoping some aggressive blocking might help a bit.

#memademay2025 #colourworkknitting

Me Made layers keeping me warm today.

#sewingfreyatop made sometime in the last two years

#fairylightssocks in a @westyorkshirespinners yarn I think! Finished in 2025

#memademay2025 #handknitsocks #handmadewardobe #sewistsofinstagram

A recent study shows that crochet is linked to improved attention - find out more about this in our latest Journal Club episode which is released today.

@drpaularedmond and I do our best to understand and explain a complex piece of neurological research and consider what this might mean for the use of crochet as a tool to help attention

Search ‘Why I Knit’ on your favourite podcast app or listen at the link in my bio

#whyiknitpodcast #crochetpodcast #knittingpodcast #crochetimprovesfocus

Swipe to see why I am particularly happy to be warm and cosy in my knitwear now …going for a morning run in the West of Ireland is not for the faint hearted!!

I couldn’t hear my podcast or feel my face!

#arcticlightsweater by @kutovakika finished in 2025

#memademay2025 #galway #runninginastorm #knittersofinstagram

Missed a few days of Me Made May so here are 3 knits in one to catch up!

My daughter and I are in our #spotsweater and #spotsweaterjunior by @anneventzel made in 2023 and 2024 and in the distance my husband is in his #boatyardsweater made in 2018 and still going strong

#memademay2025 #connemara #knitsinthewild

Finished Tanita top by @fibremood in a @libertyfabrics remnant I bought a few years ago.

My first attempt at making a bias binding too.

#memademay2025 #tanitatop

Rediscovering my sew-jo!
Love this fabric which I bought on sale as a remnant and haven��’t quite known what to do with.

Also made my first bias binding today! 🙌
#memademay2025 #sewjo #libertyfabric

Sometimes my makes are so basic they never make it to Instagram, so I have no way of knowing how long ago I made them! Today’s is a basic white top- possibly made using the #sewingfreyatop pattern from @tillybuttons

Second pic is me trying to figure out how much longer I need to make my Sea Glass inspired sweater before I can start the ribbing
#memademay2025

One of the sweaters I ever made back in 2017, it has been mended slightly haphazardly. It’s the Flax Light which is one of the first sweater patterns I recommend to new knitters. Almost everyone in my family has one!

The trousers are a full length version of the Emerson pants in wool which I made in 2024. I love them and wear them all the time for work.

Jumper: #flaxlightsweater by @tincanknits
Trousers: #emersonpants

My #elibelindesweater made in 2018 still going strong
#memademay2025 #handmadewardrobe

I didn’t make it past work-out clothes today (and the only workout I did was to jog back from the dog groomer’s to make it to my meeting on time!)

However my pjs are homemade so that counts, doesn’t it?

#memademay2025 #sewingmargotpyjamas

Me Made May Day 20
Just about managed to take a picture today- my #wrendress by @colettepatterns which I made in 2020 in an attempt to recreate a dress I used to own

cardigan: #eventidecardi made in 2018

#memademay2025

Me Made May Day 19!
My #sussurussweater designed by @jojilocat in @pompommag - a pattern i discussed with @rosem0nde on the first episode ever recorded of my podcast, although I didn’t knit my version until 2024

Second photo is a finished crochet octopus which is a gift
#memademay2025

Made i

I remember knitting this on the beach in Mallorca ❤️☀️
#shiftysweater by @dreareneeknits made with scrap yarns for the contrast colours in 2019
#memademay2025

Trying to crochet an octopus but the dog has other ideas…
#sewingtabitha t shirt again
memademay2025
#spruttegruppen #crochet

Something fun and frivolous for a Friday #crochet #spruttegruppen #crochetoctopus

I have never managed to get a decent photo of this cardigan- dark colours, mohair and lace aren’t made for photography! However they do make for a light and lovely cardigan.

Cardigan: #sparklecardigan by @jojilocat made in 2019

Dress: knee length #sewinglotta by @tillybuttons made 2021

#memademay2025 #handmadewardrobe #sewistofinstagram #imakemyownclothes

Me Made May Day 15

This is one of the first things I sewed back in 2018 a #clemenceskirt by @tillybuttons

I particularly love the sleeves on my #bindweedcardigan by @life_is_cozy which I finished in 2022

#memademay2025

If you’ve been thinking about buying our audio course now is the perfect time- the introductory offer comes to an end on Monday 17th May.

Find out more at the link in bio
#knittingforselfcare #knittingismytherapy #knittingformentalhealth

Me Made May Day 14
I am in my #emersonpants (the dog walking version) and #eventidecardi again

But this time with birdsong and sunshine ☀️

#memademay2025 #isewmyownclothes #handmadewarderobe #knittersofinstagram

I never used to wear yellow- but now I do! 💛

Cardigan: #amarelocardigan by @polkaknits made in 2020

T shirt: #sewingtabitha by @tillybuttons made in 2023

Trousers: #emersonpants cropped version in cotton- made in 2023. Sadly I ripped these while climbing over a fence to stroke a horse so they are relegated to dog walking trousers 🐴

#memademay2025 #imakemyownclothes #sewingismyhappyplace #sewistsofinstagram

Working from home today in another
#sewingtabitha t shirt - made in 2024 with leftovers from my jumpsuit and my #eventidecardi made in 2018
#memademay2025

Does anyone else admire the ‘wrong side’ of their colourwork?

Any guesses on what I am making?

#colourworkknitting #wrongsideofmyknitting #knittingappreciation

My second #sewinglotta dress by @tillybuttons made in 2022

See second picture for a better view of the dress as my bench-balanced dog walk selfie isn’t the best!

#memademay2025 #handmadewardrobe #imakemyownclothes

Sunny again ☀️
My Sirocco jumpsuit made in 2022
#memeademay2025 #ddsirocco

I didn’t spent billions of hours making my own sweaters to wear them only once a month so I make no apology for repeat appearances! I have however added a dog who is also quite woolly

#midcoastsweater #memademay2025

Me Made May Day 8!
My #stonecroppullover by @dreareneeknits which I finished in 2024
#memademay2025

My #midcoastsweater by @knit.love.wool made in 2020- I am trying to document when I made things as I think one of the amazing things about making my own clothes is that I am much more motivated to wear them for longer and to take good care of them!

#memeademay2025

Well #memademay2025 in London has definitely allowed me to wear clothes for every season. It’s freezing today and I wish I had warm a warmer jumper to work, but here we are!

Jumper: #elibelindesweater by @_woolwitch_ in @pompommag made in 2018

Shawl: #startingpointshawl by @jojilocat made 2018

My top and trousers are also me made!

Me Made May Day 5
Love my Spot Sweater- I bought no new yarn for this project, and some of the scraps are over 15 years old - and I absolutely love the colours.
#spotsweater by @anneventzel #memademay made in 2023

Me Made May Day 4 - the return of winter

I’m never sad to wear my Paragon Sweater designed by @withcherriesontoptoo for #pompommag made in 2023

#paragonsweater #memademay2025

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About Me

Dr Mia Hobbs, Clinical Psychologist

I am a Clinical Psychologist with a passion for knitting and spreading the word about the therapeutic benefits of knitting. I am based in London,UK.

I work with children, young people and their families who have mental health difficulties, and often bring craft, and creativity into my work.

I offer workshops, courses, training and supervision to individuals and organisations about the therapeutic benefits of knitting.

My podcast - Why I Knit- explores how knitting can benefit our mental health. In each episode I interview a different knitter about why they knit and how it benefits their mental well-being.

Blue and Pink Illustrative Arts & Culture Podcast Cover (2).png

What I offer

I offer workshops, courses, training and supervision to individuals and organisations about the therapeutic benefits of knitting. To find out more click the button below

My podcast - Why I Knit- explores how knitting can benefit our mental health. In each episode I interview a different knitter about why they knit and how it benefits their mental well-being

I offer therapy for children, young people and their families who are struggling with anxiety and low mood, and sometimes incorporate knitting and other creative approaches in therapy

Services

Therapy

Contact Me

mia@therapeuticknitting.org