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GPs could soon prescribe creativity to improve wellbeing

<p><a rel="noopener" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1757913920911961" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A new paper</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> exploring the effects of crochet on wellbeing has sparked a wider discussion of the benefits of getting creative can be good for our mental health.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After surveying more than 8000 crocheters, Dr Pippa Burns, a medical researcher at The University of Wollongong, found that 89.5 percent of respondents felt calmer from engaging in the craft, while 82 percent felt happier.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These findings didn’t really surprise Burns, who also crochets.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s very mindful because you’re counting stitches,” she said. “You’re not thinking about who said what at work or what you need to do tomorrow. You’re just focused on what you’re creating.”</span></p> <p><strong>A potential treatment</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though the prescription of crocheting and sewing has been slow in Australia, other countries have supported the move.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the UK and Germany, more than half of GPs refer their patients to community services - including crocheting and sewing - for a range of social, emotional, or financial issues, in a practice called social prescribing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This practice has been endorsed by both the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to Burns, a more targeted education campaign is needed to help GPs and the broader public understand the benefits of social prescribing and increase its uptake.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s about society viewing health more holistically,” Burns said. “You don’t just have to have clinical or pharmacological interventions. You can also have creative interventions that could be just as important to someone’s recovery.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Black Dog Institute is also conducting its own study on the benefits of social prescribing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clients of their depression clinic have been taking part in arts on prescription workshops with the Art Gallery of NSW, with preliminary results finding participants experienced significant increases in mental health, wellbeing, and feelings of social inclusion.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Professor Katherine Boydell, the institute’s lead researcher, believes social prescribing could contribute to improving health outcomes of patients, and even reduce care costs.</span></p> <p><strong>Doing something badly</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An eight-week program called ‘Creativity on Prescription’, devised by social enterprise Makeshift and designed in consultation with Burns, a GP, and a psychologist, allows participants to trial a new creative activity each week.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From dancing and painting to gardening, these activities aim to help participants manage anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“People experience a different version of themselves,” said Caitlin Marshall, Makeshift’s co-founder and a social worker. “And that’s really important for personal change to happen.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the biggest obstacle for many is the perception they’re not artistic or creative enough.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You can go for a run and be really crappy at running and you’re still going to get the benefit of that,” Marshall countered. “Creative practices give us the same thing.”</span></p>

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World’s largest crochet blanket made by thousands of women in India

<p>More than 2000 women from 14 different countries came together for six months to create the world’s largest crochet blanket.</p> <p>Based in India, the all-female team produced an 11,148-square-metre bedspread – that’s roughly about the size of one-and-a-half football fields.</p> <p>Chennai-based project initiator Subashri Natarajan said the blankets had since been donated to the needy.</p> <p><img width="391" height="261" src="http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/7135984-3x2-700x467.jpg" alt="Indian kids with crochet blankets" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>"Our ultimate goal of our mission to donate to NGOs has been fulfilled with the help of our Tamilnadu police department," she said in a Facebook post.</p> <p>"We have donated all our 8,034 blankets to needy people."</p> <p>The group, called Mother India's Crochet Queens, was officially awarded the title on Sunday.</p> <p>The team beat the previous record of a 3,377-square-metre blanket made by a South African group.</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/12/clever-ways-to-use-salt-at-home/">12 clever ways to use salt around the house</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/12/stains-never-to-clean-with-water/">4 stains you shouldn’t use water to clean</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/12/household-tricks-from-the-1900s-2/">More great vintage household tricks from the 1900s</a></em></strong></span></p>

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Craft: Hello Kitty crochet doll

<p><em><strong>Over60 community member, Cheryl O’Brien from Sydney, shares her most recent craft project, a Hello Kitty crochet doll. It will make the perfect gift for your grandchildren.</strong></em></p><p>“I made these for my granddaughter, Sophia’s, third birthday party which was a Hello Kitty theme. We used these as place settings and take-home gift for the party guests. The children loved them.</p><p>There are lots of patterns online for similar dolls, but to get exactly what I wanted, I combined a few elements from different patterns.</p><p>When I found that I was not sure how to do something, YouTube was very helpful as there are lots of demo videos. For instance, I had not heard of a magic circle before and found it better to see someone do it rather than reading instructions.&nbsp;</p><p>Also, <a href="http://ravelry.com/">ravelry.com</a> is a good site to use as they have a lot of free patterns but you have to be aware that some of the patterns are not good if they are translated into English. Also patterns do not say whether they are UK or USA so it takes a bit of working out.</p><p>I have made a conversion chart for the some used stitches as follows.&nbsp;I hope this makes sense.”</p><p><strong>UK &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;USA<br></strong>dc= double crochet &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;sc = single crochet<br>tr = treble &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; hdc = half double crochet<br>dc = double crochet<br>htr = half treble &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Hello Kitty crochet doll pattern:</span></strong></p><p>TERMS USED
</p><ul><li>ch = chain</li><li>inc sc = 2 sc in each st</li><li>magic circle
sc = single crochet (USA Stitch) which is dc=double crochet (UK/Australian)</li><li>sc2tog = sc 2 together&nbsp;</li><li>sl st = slip stitch</li><li>st(s) = stitch (es)</li></ul><p>MATERIALS</p><ul><li>Cotton 8 ply in colours: white and pink</li><li>Black and yellow embroidery cotton for eyes, whiskers and nose</li><li>Hooks: 3mm</li><li>Row marker
polyester for stuffing&nbsp;</li><li>Tapestry needle</li></ul><p>INSTRUCTIONS:</p><p><strong>Head</strong></p><p>With white 5ch+1ch</p><ul><li>Round 1: 3sc in 2nd ch from the hook, (1sc in 1ch) - 3 times, 3sc in next ch, turn the work to continue along the opposite side of the beginning ch, (1sc in 1ch) - 3 times (12)</li><li>Round 2: (2sc in each of next 3sc, sc in each of next 3 sts) around (18)</li><li>Round 3: [(sc in next st, 2sc in next st) - 3 times, sc in each of next 3 sts] around (24)</li><li>Round 4: [(sc in each of next 2 sts, 2sc in next st) - 3 times, sc in each of next 3 sts] around (30)</li><li>Round 5: [(sc in each of next 3 sts, 2sc in next st) - 3 times, sc in each of next 3 sts] around (36)</li><li>Round 6: [(sc in each of next 4 sts, 2sc in next st) - 3 times, sc in each of next 3 sts] around (42)</li><li>Rounds 7-13: sc in each st around (42)
</li><li>Round 14: (sc in each of next 5 sts, sc2tog) - 6 times (36)</li><li>Round 15: (sc in each of next 4 sts, sc2tog) - 6 times (30)</li><li>Round 16: (sc in each of next 3 sts, sc2tog) - 6 times (24)</li><li>Round 17: (sc in each of next 2 sts, sc2tog) - 6 times (18)</li><li>Round 18: (sc in next st, sc2tog) - 6 times (12)
</li><li>Round 19: (sc2tog) - 6 times (6)
Fasten off</li><li>Fill the head with fiberfill stuffing.</li><li>Use the black to make eyes and whiskers. And yellow to make nose.</li></ul><p><strong>Body</strong><br>With white 5ch+1ch</p><ul><li>Round 1: 3sc in 2nd ch from the hook, (1sc in 1ch) - 3 times, 3sc in next ch, turn the work to continue along the opposite side of the beginning ch, (1sc in 1ch) - 3 times (12)</li><li>Round 2: (2sc in each of next 3sc, sc in each of next 3 sts) araund (18)</li><li>Round 3: [(sc in next st, 2sc in next st) - 3 times, sc in each of next 3 sts] around (24)</li><li>Round 4: sc in each of next 2 sts, 2sc in each of next 4sc, sc in each of next 8 sts, 2sc in each of next 4sc, sc in each of next 6 sts (32)</li><li>Round 5: sc in each st around (32)</li><li>Round 6: sc in each st around (32)</li><li>Rounds 7-8: sc in each st around (32)
</li><li>Round 9: (sc in each of next 6 sts, sc2tog) - 4 times (28) with yellow
</li><li>Round 10: sc in each st around (28)
</li><li>Round 11: (sc in each of next 5 sts, sc2tog) - 4 times (24) with black
</li><li>Round 12: sc in each st around (24)
</li><li>Round 13: (sc in each of next 4 sts, sc2tog) - 4 times (20)</li><li>Round 14: sc in each st around (20)
Fill the body with fiberfill stuffing and sew it to the head.</li></ul><p><strong>Feet</strong><br>With white 5ch+1ch</p><ul><li>Round 1: 3sc in 2nd ch from the hook, (1sc in 1ch) - 3 times, 3sc in next ch, turn the work to continue along the opposite side of the beginning ch, (1sc in 1ch) - 3 times (12)</li><li>Round 2: (2sc in each of next 3sc, sc in each of next 3 sts) around (18) –</li><li>Rounds 3-4: sc in each st around (18)
----Round 5: (sc in each of next 7 sts, sc2tog) - 2 times (16)</li><li>Repeat to make a second foot. Fill the feet with fiberfill stuffing and sew it to the body.</li></ul><p><strong>Arms</strong><br> With white</p><ul><li>Round 1: Magic ring and 6 sc into it. (6)
</li><li>Round 2: (2sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts) - 2 times (8)</li><li>Round 3: (sc in each of next 2 sts, 2sc in each of next 2sc) - 2 times (12)</li><li>Rounds 4-6: sc in each st around (12)
</li><li>Round 7: (sc in each of next 4 sts, sc2tog) - 2 times (10)
</li><li>Round 8: sc in each st around (10)</li><li>Repeat to make second arm. Fill the arms with fiberfill stuffing and sew it to the body.</li></ul><p><strong>Ears</strong><br> With white</p><ul><li>Round 1: 6 sc into magic ring (6)</li><li>Rounds 2-3: sc around (6)</li><li>Round 4: 2sc in each st around (12)</li><li>Round 5: sc around (12)</li><li>Round 6: sc in next st, 2sc in next st, around (18)</li><li>Fasten off and slightly stuff the ears so that they kept their shape. Sew to head</li></ul><p><strong>Dress</strong><br>With pink 28ch</p><ul><li>Join with sl use row marker</li><li>Round 1: 1ch then (6 sc in each st inc in next st) 4 times sl in beg ch (32)</li><li>Round 2: 1ch then (7 sc in each st inc in next st) 4 times sl in beg ch (36)</li><li>Round 3: 1ch then (8 sc in each st inc in next st) 4 times sl in beg ch (40)</li><li>Round 4: 1ch then (9 sc in each st inc in next st) 4 times sl in beg ch (44)</li><li>Round 5: 1ch then (10 sc in each st inc in next st) 4 times sl in beg ch (48)</li><li>Round 6: 1ch then (11 sc in each st inc in next st) 4 times sl in beg ch (52)</li></ul><p><strong>Bow</strong><br> With pink</p><ul><li>Round 1: Ch 15</li><li>Round 2: Sc in second ch from hook, ch 1, turn.</li><li>Round 3-9: Sc across, ch 1, turn.
Fasten off, leave long tail for sewing.</li></ul><p>To Form Bow:
</p><p>1. Weave in short piece of yarn (where ch was started) to center</p><p>2. Weave in long tail to center</p><p>3. Pinch center and wrap long tail around 5 times</p><p>4. Thread through blunt needle and secure by running under the wrapped part, bringing it out; secure firmly.</p><p>5. Use yellow to create a little detail at the middle of the bow.</p><p>6. Sew to head.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

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