How to Bring More Intention and Healing into Your Yarn/Thread/Fabric Craft

Crafting With Awareness: Slow Down, Connect, and Create With Purpose

There was a time when crafting was just something I did. I picked up my hook and my yarn and I made things because I liked making things. But I wasn’t always present in the process. My mind would race with to-do lists, self-doubt, or any number of other ruminations. I rushed through projects just to get to some perceived finish line. And then sometimes, I didn’t make at all, stuck in a creative fog that left me feeling disconnected from the craft I loved.

But then, something shifted.

During one of the hardest periods of my life, I realized that crafting was more than a hobby - it was a lifeline. The simple, repetitive motion of my hands working with fiber gave me a place to land when everything else felt uncertain. I started to approach my craft differently - not just as a pastime, but as a practice of presence, healing, and self-discovery.

Now, I bring intention to my creativity. I don’t just create for the sake of finishing a project. In fact, I often don’t care if I finish my WIPs (although generally I do finish them.) I create to slow down, to process emotions, to connect with myself in ways that words sometimes fail. And the deeper I go into this, the more I see how powerful it is - not just for me, but for so many others who turn to fiber arts as a way to find peace in a chaotic world.

That’s why ten years ago I created the exercises in my book Hook to Heal and why I’ve updated and adapted them into the Craft to Heal workshop this year. Because when we approach creativity with awareness, it transforms. It becomes something that nourishes us, that heals us, that reconnects us to ourselves.

And if you’ve ever felt like your creativity has lost its spark, or that you’re just going through the motions, I want to invite you to explore a new way of making—one that’s rooted in presence, meaning, and care.

Why Crafting Feels Different When You Bring Intention to It

Crafting can be purely practical, of course - we knit socks, sew clothes, quilt blankets for warmth and comfort and gift giving. But when we approach it with awareness, it becomes something else entirely:

🧶 A grounding practice in a chaotic world
🧶 A tool for processing emotions and stress
🧶 A way to reconnect with creativity and self-expression
🧶 A reminder to slow down and be present

The problem is, we don’t always craft this way. We rush through projects, criticize our mistakes, or let perfectionism dictate what we make. We focus so much on the outcome that we forget to enjoy the process.

That’s why in Craft to Heal, we focus on how we create, not just what we create. Because when we shift our approach, the act of making becomes transformative.

Craft to Heal: A Creative Journey, Not Just a Workshop

I knew when I started Craft to Heal that I didn’t want it to be just another class where you learn a new skill or technique. In fact, I don’t teach techniques at all. I wanted it to be a space for real creative exploration—one that helps us reconnect with ourselves through making.

This workshop isn’t about producing perfect projects. Sometimes it’s even about intentionally creating imperfectly. It’s also about:

🧶 Using craft as a mindfulness tool to slow down and be present
🧶 Exploring how creativity supports emotional well-being
🧶 Letting go of perfectionism and embracing the process
🧶 Finding deeper meaning in what we make and why we make it

In our first session, on March 18th 2025, we’ll set the foundation for this journey. We’ll talk about why crafting is such a powerful tool for well-being, how to bring more intention into your creative practice, and what happens when we stop focusing on the outcome and start embracing the process.

If this resonates with you, I hope you’ll join me. Because crafting doesn’t just make things - it makes space for healing, connection, and self-discovery. It makes connections. And I would love to connect with you.

The Science Behind Crafting to Heal

I know about the benefits of crafting to heal from my own lived experience and from the hundreds of interviews I’ve conducted with other fiber crafters. And really, that’s enough “proof” for me. But there is also science behind this.

🧶 Repetitive hand movements calm the nervous system, similar to meditation.
🧶 The act of creating releases dopamine, a chemical that fosters joy and accomplishment.
🧶 The tactile experience of materials—yarn, fabric, thread—can be incredibly grounding, bringing us back to the present moment.
🧶 Crafting engages multiple areas of the brain, improving focus and reducing stress.

I cover a bit of this in the first workshop because the science is fascinating. But it’s the personal stories that truly show how powerful this act of creating is. So I’ll share some of those as well, starting with my own journey.

3 Ways to Make Your Crafting Practice More Intentional

If you want to bring more meaning, presence, and purpose into your creative practice, here are a few simple ways to start:

1. Treat Crafting as a Ritual, Not Just a Task

Instead of just picking up your project whenever you have time, turn crafting into a small ritual:

🧶 Take a deep breath before you begin.
🧶 Set a simple intention: “I am crafting for calm,” “I am making with joy,” or “I am here in this moment.”
🧶 Pay attention to the rhythm of your stitches, the feeling of the materials in your hands.

In the workshop, I’ll introduce some basic mindfulness exercises, utilizing the act of crafting, that help bring more awareness into your craft.

2. Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome

How often do we get caught up in finishing a project rather than experiencing it?

🧶 Slow down and savor where you are.
🧶 Let go of perfectionism—your stitches don’t have to be even, your seams don’t have to be flawless.
🧶 Instead of rushing, notice how crafting makes you feel in the moment.

In the workshop, I’ll invite you to do a 60-second observation exercise to help you fully experience the present moment while crafting.

3. Use Crafting as a Mirror for Self-Discovery

Craft isn’t just about what we create—it’s a reflection of who we are, what we need, and how we’re feeling.

🧶 Have you ever noticed that the colors you choose match your mood?
🧶 Do you find comfort in repetitive stitches, or do you crave new challenges?
🧶 What does your creative process say about your personality?

In the workshop, I’ll introduce journaling and reflection exercises to help you uncover what your creativity reveals about you. I call these “Yarn For Thought.”

Want to Explore This Deeper? Join Craft to Heal

If you’re ready to explore a more intentional, healing approach to creativity, I invite you to join Craft to Heal.

🧶 Mindfulness & Crafting Exercises to bring more presence to your practice
🧶 Creative Reflection & Journaling Prompts to help you connect with your craft in a deeper way
🧶 A Supportive Community of makers who believe in the power of creativity for healing

The first class is only $5 and you receive the Zoom video after it whether or not you attend the Zoom as long you’ve signed up in advance.