There are so many benefits to crochet – it is a great stress reliever and helps many people relax in an almost meditative manner. Crochet is also great for self-esteem since it involves working to create a finished product that you can be proud of.
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Crochet can also give you a chance to help others through donations of crocheted items and sometimes helping others is the best way to help yourself. There are many different types of institutions where crochet benefits people in these ways – such as nursing homes and correctional facilities.
1. The Crochet Club: Auburn NY
The Crochet Club: Auburn NY
Being run for over two decades now, the Crochet Club is a sub-group of the Veterans Group within Auburn Correctional Facility in upstate New York.
With weekly attendance by incarcerated veterans, this group has a long waiting list for inmates who want to join in creating hats and blankets for babies in need.
This weekly group gives the men a chance to socialize positively together, make something for the outside community and also learn a new skill they can continue to use both within the facilities and outside.
Read more about this program here.
2. From Crip to Crochet Artist: How an Unlikely Hobby Changed My Life in Prison
From Crip to Crochet Artist: How an Unlikely Hobby Changed My Life in Prison
Read the powerful story of how Lamaar Knox found healing and purpose when he learned to crochet while incarcerated for life.
Not only did crochet allow him to find a passion behind bars, but it also helped him work through and begin to understand his trauma that landed him in prison.
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3. Beading and crochet at Pelican Bay
Beading and crochet at Pelican Bay
Here's another great example of inmates who took the initiative to start their own beading and crochet program within their correctional facility.
With a few inmates knowing the craft, they were able to teach others their skills and get help accessing donations sent in. Finished projects were then donated to local hospitals and nursing homes and inmates were able to earn crochet time outside of the two weekly craft sessions held.
4. Crocheting for a Cause
Crocheting for a Cause
In West Tennesse, inmates are creating backpacks for survival kits for woman facing domestic violence.
Being an all female facility, Crocheting With A Cause gives incarcerated women a chance to give to other women in need and help create the resources they may have lacked themselves.
5. Crochet Prison Fashion Show
Crochet Prison Fashion Show
Crochet is used around the world within correctional facilities and is seen to be a beneficial and purpose giving resource for inmates.
This prison in Brazil not only had inmates crocheting regularly, but also ran a catwalk fashion show to display the beautiful creations for everyone in the correctional facility.
Wow yes of course I believe in crochet b/c without it I would be on anti-depressants and blood-pressure medication. Looking into the Maryland prisons systems today.
Thanks for the info.
Thanks @Cheryl Brown … I’d love to chat with you more about the health benefits of crochet if you’re interested. I’ll shoot you an email when I’m back from vacation and have more regular computer access!
Wow, that’s just stellar. I know crochet is relaxing for me, but also a great means of problem-solving on a controllable scale. And its tactile nature is grounding. And you end up with useful items at the end. I love knowing about these programs – thank you!
Thanks @Diane – I really love your description here and am so glad that you commented!