Podcast · Leisure & Travel

Why I Knit

by Dr Mia Hobbs · English · Leisure & Travel

Welcome to the Why I Knit podcast! My name is Dr Mia Hobbs and I am a Clinical Psychologist who is passionate about the mental health benefits of knitting. Each episode of the podcast I interview a different knitter about why they knit and the (k)nitty gritty of how it impacts their mental well-bei

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 49 min
Latest: 14 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026 · 42 minNew

Knitting for burnout recovery with Dr Hannah Barham-Brown

Dr Hannah Barham-Brown is a GP and lecturer living in rural Scotland. Hannah speaks about learning to knit during lockdown around the same time she was diagnosed with ADHD, and found that this was something productive she could do with her hands. Hannah speaks about bringing knitting to board meetings and as a lecturer, and advocates for this as a reasonable adjustment to help with focus. She talks about using knitting to access ‘active rest’ which has been particularly important during recovery from burnout, and how wearing handknits has helped her to avoid the small-talk that she hates!…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S10 · E5 · 7 Oct 2026 · 38 min
Knitting for safety and stillness with Nessa Hubbard
Knitting coach Nessa Hubbard joins me to discuss her own journey with knitting and crochet, going from being taught to knit as a very young child to help her to sit still to teaching other people to knit and crochet, and helping them to boost their skills and crucially also their confidence. As someone with ADHD, Nessa speaks about feeling that knitting helps to hold her brain in a way that nothing else does and allows her to access immediate calm She also speaks about the sense of community that she has found through knitting. To find out more about Nessa visit her website nessahubbard.com…
S10 · E4 · 30 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Knitting to manage overwhelm with Thomas of Tommy Gurumi
Tommy gurumi on instagram This week on the podcast I am delighted to be joined by Thomas, who is known online as Tommygurumi. Thomas talks about learning to knit accidentally on a long car journey to impress someone, and then finding his own particular love for creating knitted models of characters. Probably unlike most knitters, Thomas usually knits things that don’t have an existing pattern, which means that he has to do a lot of trial and error and figuring things out himself, which is a big part of the process that he enjoys. It was a pleasure to hear Thomas’s enthusiasm for knitting and…
S10 · E3 · 23 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
The human stories of knitting with Salina Jane
Salina Jane is an artist and knitter who brilliantly captures the feelings many of us have about our knitting in her art work. It was a pleasure to speak to Salina about her experience of using knitting throughout her recovery from a recent period of illness, and how she uses both knitting and visual art to tell human stories. You can find out all about Salina's work at her website Salina Jane Art or on Instagram or Ravelry . ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon ! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting…
S10 · E2 · 16 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Knitting as creative collaboration with Kitey The Yarn Whisperer
This week I am delighted to be joined by yarn dyer and yarn shop owner Kitey, who is also known as The Yarn Whisperer. Kitey speaks about his journey from crochet to knitting, and how dying yarn unexpectedly brought together lots of different parts of his heritage. He also reflects on the importance of keeping some craft projects for himself as someone who works in the yarn industry, and the creative collaboration that happens when we combine yarns with a pattern and then add our own interpretation of it. To find out more about his yarns and shop visit The Yarn Whisperer or follow him on…
S10 · E1 · 9 Sep 2026 · 55 min
Knitting for the ups and the downs with Lydia of Weku Yarn
Series 10 returns for a series of interviews exploring why we knit and how knitting benefits our mental health. This week I am joined by Lydia who is the Co-founder of Weku Yarn which she runs alongside her sister Hannah. You may also know Lydia as one of the finalists from the first series of Game of Wool. Lydia joins me to speak about how she learned to knit, how her relationship with knitting has changed and evolved over recent years, including the times that high levels of stress has meant that she didn’t feel able to pick up her knitting needles. It was a pleasure to hear Lydia’s…
S10 · E1 · 2 Sep 2026 · 2 min
An exciting announcement...
Series 10 is on the way, and with it a new and exciting development! We have created a Patreon Community and we'd love you to join us there - the perks for supporting the podcast will include early access to episodes, our behind the scenes weekly videos and you can join us at our monthly online knitting circle. We are really looking forward to growing the community element of Creative Restoration so we really hope to see you there. Find out more here: Join the Community Series 10 of the podcast will return on Thursday 10th September with a series of 7 new interviews. We can't wait to share…
S9 · E12 · 5 Aug 2026 · 48 min
Knitting for addiction recovery - Journal club
In this Journal Club episode Dr Paula Redmond joins me to discuss a journal article about using knitting in a center for drug and alcohol rehabilitation. This is a narrative of a knitting group within a rehab center for women living with addiction. The paper is here : Duffy, K. (2007). Knitting through recovery one stitch at a time: Knitting as an experiential teaching method for affect management in group therapy. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery , 2 (1), 67–83. https://doi.org/10.1300/J384v02n01_04 [ 1 , 2 ] Unfortunately the full text is not available for free, but anyone in the…
S9 · E11 · 1 Jul 2026 · 40 min
Knitting for depression and low mood - a bonus relisten
This week Dr Paula Redmond joins me to discuss how knitting can help with depression and low mood. We've chosen three episodes of the podcast in which my guests have discussed using knitting as a strategy to help with low mood, and we discuss our reflections and themes from these conversations. The episodes we listened to were: Series 4 episode 1 with Ellen of Sew and Inspire Series 1 episode 3 with James McIntosh Series 5 episode 6 with Kathryn Vercillo ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon ! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a…
S9 · E10 · 17 Jun 2026 · 38 min
Journal Club - Knitting and Eating Disorders
This week Paula and I discuss the journal article investigating whether knitting can reduce anxious thoughts in people diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Find the article here: Clave-Brule, M & Mazloum, A & Park, Rebecca & Harbottle, E. (2009). Managing anxiety in eating disorders with knitting. Eating and weight disorders : EWD. 14. e1-5. 10.1007/BF03354620. ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon ! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow…
S9 · E11 · 20 May 2026 · 50 min
Book Club - Art Cure and Your Brain on Art
In this bonus book club episode Paula joins me to discuss two great books about art, health and well-being. Both books take a deep dive into the research into how the arts impact on our health, well-being and education. Mia has read the New York Times bestselling book: Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. This is a summary of research across different areas of the arts and how the impact on health, welll-being and learning. Paula has read Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt who has conducted a huge amount of research in the field of arts and health. We share our thoughts on these books…
S9 · E9 · 22 Apr 2026 · 34 min
Journal Club - Can knitting reduce blood pressure?
For this journal club episode we discuss the commonly made claim that knitting can reduce blood pressure. We discuss the origins of this claim in the research and look at a new paper which examines the impact of a creative handicraft group, which included knitting, on a group of older adults living in a residential home. You can find a link to the abstract and reference here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/psyg.70044?af=R To find out more about Self-Care One Stitch at a Time: an audio course ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon ! Perks include early access…
S9 · E8 · 25 Feb 2026 · 48 min
Bonus Episode - Knitting and ADHD
This is our first bonus relisten episode where Paula and I choose 3 episodes on a theme and relisten to them and give our reflections. This month we are listening to 3 episodes with knitters who discuss their experiences of ADHD and how they use knitting to benefit their well-being as an ADHD knitter. If you'd like to listen back, the episodes we discuss are: Una S8E8 Madison Siegel S6E4 Lisa Silver S4E4 If you'd like to see the full list of episodes featuring discussions of ADHD you find them on the blog ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon ! Perks include early access…
S9 · E7 · 18 Feb 2026 · 40 min
Journal Club - Can knitting improve attention?
This week Paula and I discuss a research paper about knitting and attention in children. Sonnier F, Lussiana E and Gueraud S (2023) Boosting inhibition control process by knitting at school. Front. Psychol. 14:1062001. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1062001 This study is specifically focussed on whether knitting can affect our executive function skills, and found that primary school children had significant better scores on a test of inhibition after 20 minutes of knitting compared to spending 20 minutes at recess. They also found that knitting reduced the impact of emotion on response times. You…
S9 · E6 · 11 Feb 2026 · 43 min
Knitting to focus on the present moment with Simon of Veteran Knitter
For the final episode of series 9 I am joined by Simon, also known as Veteran Knitter and one of the contestants from Game of Wool, the knitting and crochet based TV show in the UK. Simon speaks about how he first came to pick up some knitting needles and his journey from a secret knitter who handed out hand knit gifts to his surprised friends and family, to going public on Instagram and then taking his knitting onto our TV screens. We speak about his experience of telling his work colleagues on a building site that he is a knitter, and how he uses knitting to help him bring his focus into…
S9 · E5 · 4 Feb 2026 · 54 min
Knitting to feel like myself again with Annah of Needle and Feather
This week I am delighted to be joined by Annah of Needle and Feather. Annah is a designer of colourwork knitting designs often inspired by nature and if you follow me on Instagram you'll have seen that I am enjoying knitting her Year by Piece blanket which is made up of a square inspired by each month of the year. Annah speaks about turning to knitting during a period of anxiety when she needed a small achievable creative project to keep her brain busy and to give her a sense of acheivement. Connect with Annah: @needleandfeather on Instagram Needle and feather on Ravelry ------------- 🧶 Come…
S9 · E4 · 28 Jan 2026 · 57 min
Knitting for Self-Reflection with Nicole Nehrig
Clinical Psychologist and author Nicole Nehrig joins me this week to discuss her own relationship with knitting and how this lead to writing the book 'With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Stories' in which she explores the meaningful role that textile work has played in so many women’s lives. Find out about Nicole Nehrig ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon ! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more…
S9 · E3 · 21 Jan 2026 · 55 min
ADHD, dopamine and flow with Theodora Burrow
Joining me this week on the podcast is designer Theodora Burrow. Theodora is a knit and crochet designer who taught herself to knit and crochet from books, way before there was an internet. After her ADHD diagnosis at the age of 50 she realized just how important knitting and crochet had been in her life, and how it both soothes and sparks creativity in equal measure. She creates knitting and crochet patterns with a playful and whimsical twist, with colour as a source of dopamine. Instagram: @theodora_goes_wild Website: www.theodoragoeswild.com ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community…
S9 · E2 · 14 Jan 2026 · 36 min
Knitting to find pause with Maya from Knit With Attitude
Maya is the owner of Knit With Attitude, one of the longest running yarn shops in London. She speaks about using knitting as a strategy to manage her own health difficulties, and about the sudden change that lead her to speak about knitting and mental health on a daily basis in her shop. Maya is also running the Knit Calm Retreat on Sunday 22nd February where both she and Mia are speaking. For information on how you can join us click the link. Find out about Knit With Attitude Shop ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon ! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly…
S9 · E1 · 7 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Knitting to channel anxiety with Lauren Aston
Series 9 kicks of with a conversation with Lauren Aston, the founder of Lauren Aston Designs. I first came across Lauren when looking up some of Claudia Winkleman's excellent knitwear on the second series of The Traitors UK. I was delighted to find Lauren's knitting pattern behind one of them! Lauren speaks about the phenomenon that is 'The Claudia Sweater' and the challenge of continuing to get well-being benefits from knitting once it becomes your job. She also speaks about really realising how much she gained from knitting when a hand injury meant that she couldn't knit for several weeks.…
S8 · E12 · 17 Dec 2025 · 49 min
Bonus episode - Knitting and Creative Restoration in 2025
For our last episode of 2025, Paula and Mia reflect on their own knitting and craft projects over the past year, and the ways in which they have used knitting as part of their self-care. They also look back at the new developments in Creative Restoration over the past year, and share their thoughts on the TV show Game of Wool. They share their plans for their own knitting and for Creative Restoration for the coming year including news on the next season of the Why I Knit Podcast which returns in January, and they announce their next webinar on knitting for focus and attention. Thanks to…
S8 · E11 · 12 Nov 2025 · 39 min
Book Club Episode - Wintering by Katherine May
For this bonus book club episode we have read the brilliant bestselling book 'Wintering' by Katherine May and speak about how it links to burnout. Wintering takes us through living through personal and seasonal winters and how knitting can be a brilliant activity to accompany us through both types of winter. ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon ! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all, grow the podcast and share more resources about…
S8 · E10 · 29 Oct 2025 · 28 min
Bonus episode - Knitting for burnout prevention with Dr Paula Redmond
For this bonus episode I am joined by Dr Paula Redmond who specialises in working with health professionals experiencing burnout. Paula speaks about her own journey into this work during Covid, and how creativity in her personal life has encouraged her to bring this into her work. We talk about what burnout is, and who might be more likely to experience it, and why knitting is a great tool to prevent burnout. We'll be going into this in much more detail in our webinar, Unravelling Burnout If you'd like to find out about Paula's clinical work in the area of burnout, or download her free…
S8 · E10 · 1 Oct 2025 · 48 min
Journal Club - Knitting for anxiety and compassion fatigue in nurses
Join Clinical Psychologists Dr Mia Hobbs and Dr Paula Redmond as we discuss two research papers about knitting and mental health. These papers both relate to nurses and supporting them with the challenges of their role. Paper 1 relates to using knitting to reduce compassion fatigue in nurses Paper 2 relates to using knitting to reduce anxiety in nursing students ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on Patreon ! Perks include early access to podcasts, weekly behind the scenes videos and a monthly online knitting circle. This will enable us to connect more meaningfully with you all,…
S8 · E9 · 30 Jul 2025 · 51 min
Healing and soothing through knitting with Dr Katya Miles
For the final episode of series 8 I am delighted to be joined by Dr Katya Miles of The Working Well Doctor. Katya works as a Coach and Trainer for health professionals and people in high stress professions. She speaks about turning to knitting during the Covid pandemic when she was self-isolating with covid and how she now associates knitting with healing and soothing, and it is part of her own toolkit for managing stress or high demand situations. We talk about recovering from perfectionism and give our views on why so many health professionals are attracted to knitting and needlecrafts.…
S8 · E8 · 23 Jul 2025 · 53 min
Neurodivergence and knitting with Una
I was delighted to be joined by Una, also known as @TheNeurodivergentCraftClub on Instagram. Una speaks about how knitting has been helpful in recovering from burnout, but has also been a really useful way to find out what her brain really needs - both to find some moments of focus and to feel settled and satisfied. It was so interesting to talk to Una about her experience of being a neurodivergent knitter and the reasons she believes that many neurodivergent people are attracted to knitting. Connect with Una Instagram: @theneurodivergentcraftclub Substack: neurodivergentcraftclub…
S8 · E7 · 16 Jul 2025 · 39 min
Teaching children to knit with Okeyele-Olatunji Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a knitting teacher based in Nigeria, and she has made it her personal mission to teach 20,000 children to knit and 'think with their hands'. It was a pleasure to speak to Elizabeth about her own journey to becoming a knitting teacher, and how she has personally used knitting to help her to cope with grief and loss. Elizabeth also speaks about her experiences of teaching children to knit and why she believes this is a valuable addition to their education. Connect with Elizabeth Instagram: @tunniz ze Facebook: @tunnizzecreations ------------- 🧶 Come and join our new community on…
S8 · E6 · 9 Jul 2025 · 57 min
Creating Community with Allison Thistlewood
Allison Thistlewood is a creator of community in the knitting world. She has had various roles in and around the yarn industry, and the common thread in all of these roles is that she brings knitters together: at yarn festivals, for yarn crawls and on retreats and trips. Allison joins me to talk about her experience of moving to the UK from Canada, and how knitting was instrumental in helping her to make connections with new friends, and how she has continued to want to bring this opportunity to other knitters. Allison's yarn event Make Joy is returning to Woolwich Works on 8th November -…
S8 · E5 · 2 Jul 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Hooked on knitting with Adam Cleevely
Adam is behind the successful Instagram account @CleevelyKnits where he shares his funny and creative adventures in yarn. Most recently these have included videos on wine-pairings for yarn, and attempting to knit a usable QR code! There is a very strong theme of Adam being someone who thinks outside the box, which is illustrated by the fact that he hasn't knitted from a pattern for several years. Despite only starting knitting in 2022, something about it hooked Adam in and he has progressed from beginner to a dabbling designer very quickly. We speak about Adam's experience of using knitting,…
S8 · E4 · 25 Jun 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Knitting and the menopause with Dr Zoe
In the second of two episodes, this week I speak to Dr Zoe, a GP specialising in menopause. Zoe's colleagues joined me last week to speak about knitting a blanket for her following her recent cancer diagnosis. Zoe speaks about her long history of using knitting to benefit her mental well-being, how she is using it now during her cancer treatment and how knitting has allowed her to find spaces where being an introvert is celebrated. We also talk about Zoe's views that knitting is a particularly helpful tool during the menopause when we all rely more on our daily coping strategies to manage…

About Why I Knit

Why I Knit is a English leisure & travel podcast from Dr Mia Hobbs. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Dr Mia Hobbs
Language: English
Category: Leisure & Travel
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 49 min
Latest episode: 14 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1594861856

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