Knitting is Good for Community!
Below are a few studies that convinced me to make an impact on my community through knitting, and maybe they'll provide you with inspiration as well!
Mary Lee Potter
Community enriches our lives, and a research study from the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Health Science Center showed that members of knitting groups feel happier, have better coping skills, and have an increase in social and communication skills. The study also proposed that a knitting group can be an easy place to form a community due to a common interest (Potter). This common interest can help people feel included in the group early on and can speed up the community-building process since there is an easy topic for members to use to connect. Community and belonging can greatly increase the quality of one’s life, and the fact that knitting groups provide these benefits can be very appealing to long-time knitters and beginners alike.
Expanding the boundaries of hospitality: the relationship between Ukrainian refugees and their hosts
Lior Birger, Noam Tarshish, and Hani Nouman
I wanted to start Knit for Good with a project related to welcoming refugees into my community. Papers and studies like this one explain the importance of being welcoming to refugees and providing them with support, even in small ways. As Birger et. al state, refugees' resettlement in other countries is greatly impacted by the support they receive from their new community. This study "uncovered the pivotal role of hosts as advocates beyond the domestic sphere... [and determined that] social connections... are a major facilitator of successful ‘integration outcomes’" (Birger et. al). Because of how important creating connections with refugees is, it is integral that we do everything we can to support them in their new countries.