After sharing a vlog about knitting and neuroscience, I expected a conversation about dopamine, memory, attention, and stress reduction. Instead, the comments became something much more human. Knitters shared stories of grief, illness, burnout, uncertainty, and recovery, with knitting quietly present through it all. This post reflects on whether knitting can be considered therapy, and why the steady rhythm of stitches, yarn, and making can offer comfort when life feels difficult to hold.

Explore why knitting feels calming, rewarding, and deeply regulating, from neuroscience and mindfulness to neurodivergence, creativity, and the wellbeing benefits of making by hand.

Across centuries and cultures, knitting has rarely been viewed as simply a practical skill. From early knitted textiles and nålbinding to the Knitting Madonnas, the Sweater Curse and protective black wool, fibre craft has carried stories of devotion, superstition, protection and meaning.

What makes these traditions so compelling is not whether every legend is true. It is that people have always seen something larger in yarn and needles. A handmade garment can be warm, useful and beautifully constructed, but it can also hold memory, care and connection in every stitch.

Bamboo yarn is often praised for its silky feel, cool touch, and beautiful drape, but it only truly showed its personality after blocking.

For the Arlino Top, Wolhobby’s Merino Breeze brought exactly what the design needed: bamboo for movement and softness, merino wool for memory and structure, and nylon for quiet durability.

A thoughtful fibre blend for an elegant summer knitting pattern.

A knitwear designer’s visit to Handwerkbeurs Houten, filled with yarn festival inspiration, fibre discoveries, and new ideas for upcoming Arly Knits patterns.

Discover whether merino silk yarn is worth it, how this elegant fibre blend behaves, and why it suits drapey shawls, cardigans, and refined knitwear designs.

Mohair and other halo yarns can transform a knitted fabric, adding softness, haze, drape, and depth. This post explores how mohair, suri alpaca, angora, and other halo fibres really behave in knitwear, from gauge changes and pilling to care, comfort, and choosing the right yarn for your next knitting pattern.

Discover the story behind the Typewriter Cardigan, a modern knitting pattern born from experimentation and a fresh approach to fabric construction. Learn how this unique method creates a soft, drapey texture using multiple yarns, and explore ideas for colourwork, stash busting, and adaptable knitwear design.

Not all alpaca yarn behaves the same, and understanding why can completely change how you approach a knitting pattern. From the fluffy loft of Huacaya fibre to the silky drape of Suri alpaca, the structure of the fibre plays a major role in how alpaca knitwear feels, stretches, and performs over time. This article explores the science behind alpaca yarn, explains what “baby alpaca” actually means, and looks at why fibre blends are often used in modern knitwear design.