Knitting helps prevent the holiday blues

With the holidays upon us, we often find our emotions in full swing from jubilation to overwhelmed and despairing. There are many reasons to rejoice, but the challenges of holiday shopping, family issues, and more demands on an already overbooked schedule can often dampen our spirits. While there's no easy solution for turning the tide on the winter blues, evidence is showing that knitting and crochet can improve your mood and help battle depression. In one study of more than 3,500 knitters published in The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 81 percent of respondents with depression reported feeling happy after knitting. More than half reported feeling 'very happy.'

Think about it, with just some yarn and knitting needles or a crochet hook, you can put a smile back on your face and reduce your stress. Plus, you can make a unique handmade gift for someone special this holiday season. I love to knit at night after a long day of working in our office and helping our team fill the holiday rush of orders generated by our website (AlpacaDirect.com). It is a great way to relieve the stresses of the day while using the creative side of my brain to create something both unique and practical.

If you have not recently knit or crocheted, or just want to brush up on some techniques I encourage you to give it a try this winter. Experience how knitting a few rows can put a smile on your face and help your stress melt away. If you are interested in learning to knit or crochet, we have classes each month for both beginners and more experienced knitters. We also have open knitting groups each week (Tuesday 6-8 and Thursday 1-3) where you can sit with other knitters, get advice and share stories.

In case you have not heard about us, Alpaca Direct is a direct merchant of high-quality yarn, apparel, gifts and warm alpaca socks. We carry a full line of fiber art accessories, including hundreds of needles and thousands of yarns. Our unique selection of products also includes Peruvian alpaca sweaters, hand-loomed lace scarves, performance alpaca socks, cuddly alpaca teddy bears & unique international jewelry.

Our building is handicap accessible, with ample parking and is easy to find. You can find us on Hayden Avenue, just two blocks west of Highway 95 at 1016 W. Hayden Ave. in Hayden.

Kelley Hobart is the owner of Alpaca Direct.