Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

5-MINUTE EXPERT:

Purls of wisdom: These textile arts can do wonders for your mood

Crochet

Eraldo Peres / Associated Press

Pedro Henrique wears a face mask as he crochets, which he learned in a weaving workshop at the Solidary Hands shelter for the homeless, in the poor neighborhood of Ceilandia, in Brasilia, Brazil.

It’s been a long year cooped up indoors. Why not learn a new hobby that doesn’t involve burning your retinas with blue light? These textile arts have a low barrier to entry—just some basic supplies and a little patience—and you’ll end up with something useful and beautiful. Also, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that working with your hands and making something is good for your mental health. Just ask any knitter who swears by the therapeutic benefits of the craft. And the best part? Once you get past the learning curve, you can practice one of these arts while guiltlessly binge-watching Netflix.

Knitting

Few things are as satisfying and soothing as the rhythmic clacking of knitting needles. Depending on who teaches you or which videos you watch on YouTube, you can learn to knit in one of two styles: English or continental. Both produce the same stitches; the difference is whether you hold the yarn on your left or right hand. From there, there are really only two basic stitches to learn—knit and purl, which are basically reverse images of each other. Every stitch pattern, from stockinette, garter and lace to cables and ribbing, is just a combination of purls and knits. Master those two stitches and you can make something as simple as a scarf or a dishcloth, or more complex articles of clothing like cabled socks and sweaters.

• Basic tools: Knitting needles (size varies depending on yarn weight), a ball of yarn

• Further reading: Stitch ’n Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook by Debbie Stoller

Crocheting

Is there anything more homey than a crocheted blanket thrown over the sofa or the foot of the bed? No wonder the most iconic motif in crochet is the granny square. These squares—which come in an endless variety of colors and styles—are crocheted individually and put together like patchwork to form a large blanket. If you were lucky enough to have been given one by your mom or grandma, you know how comforting they are. Crocheting has more stitch patterns to learn than knitting, but only uses one hook—and thus requires less hand coordination—so some find it easier to pick up. Regardless, learning how to crochet can provide a lifetime of enjoyment for yourself and the happy recipients of that blanket (or sweater, or dishcloth, or just about anything else you can think of).

• Basic tools: A crochet hook (size varies depending on yarn weight), yarn

• Further reading: Stitch ’n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller

Macramé

You probably did macramé as a kid but didn’t realize it. Remember those friendship bracelets you made in grade school? That’s a variation of this textile art, which uses knotting techniques to create geometric and free-form patterns. Macramé came into vogue in American pop culture during the 1970s, lending fringes to crop tops and jeans, wall hangings and necklaces, but the art form actually dates back centuries, to the time of the Babylonians. Millennials, never afraid to dip into the well of historical fads, have wholeheartedly revived macramé as an essential element of their boho-chic aesthetic.

• Basic tools: Mounting cords and rings, pins, cotton twine, jute, hemp or yarn

• Further reading:Year of Knots: Modern Projects, Inspiration, and Creative Reinvention by Windy Chien

Embroidery

Watch any period drama adapted from a Jane Austen novel and someone is bound to be embroidering in the background. This art form goes back centuries and was confined to the realm of female domesticity. But pulling needle and thread through a hoop is actually very nuanced, according to Rozsika Parker, author of The Subversive Stitch: Embroidery and the Making of the Feminine. Embroidery, seen as a symbol of female subservience, was also a source of creativity and bonding between women in centuries past. Today, the craft has been widely embraced by hipsters of all genders.

• Basic tools:Embroidery hoop, embroidery floss in a variety of colors, needle

• Further reading: Sublime Stitching: Hundreds of Hip Embroidery Patterns and How-To by Jenny Hart and Alexandra Grablewski

Sashiko

Here’s a craft that serves double duty. Sashiko is a Japanese mending technique that uses basic geometric stitches and a running stitch to fix holes and tears in clothing, creating a beautiful and entirely unique patch of fabric. It’s the most free-form of all textile arts—there’s no pattern to follow; just let self-expression be your muse. And sashiko is the antidote to fast fashion: Instead of tossing your clothing after a handful of uses when it shows a little wear, give it new life with just a few stitches. Check out #sashiko on Instagram for inspiration, and you’ll begin looking at what’s in your closet in a whole new light.

• Basic tools:Needle and sashiko thread, a 100% matte cotton thread that comes in many colors

• Further reading: Make and Mend: Sashiko-Inspired Embroidery Projects to Customize and Repair Textiles and Decorate Your Home by Jessica Marquez

This story appeared in Las Vegas Weekly.