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Pick up some pinking scissors and you could cut out stress from your life, as creative hobbies like crafting are linked to lower levels of depression in older people, a study has revealed. The International Body of Art found 33 per cent of over 65s viewed creative pastimes, such as pottery and flower arranging, as their primary aid in maintaining mental wellbeing. Crafting queen, Strictly star and Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Sara Davies isn’t a bit surprised. “It’s only 33 per cent because the other 67 haven’t found crafting yet,” laughs Sara, 39, founder of £37million stationery firm Crafter’s Companion. She joined BBC show Dragons’ Den in 2019 as the youngest ever Dragon.
“Craft used to be this massively kept secret. In the last three or four years, the rest of the world has opened its eyes to it and understood.
“When I first started doing crafts for a living 20 years ago, it was a bit taboo – lame almost. If you made someone a card for Christmas, it was because you were too cheap to buy them one.
“Now, we want to make everything because it’s so much better than buying. And its popularity was massively accelerated during the pandemic when there was this huge focus on mental wellbeing.”
According to the Crafts Council, craft can alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, loneliness and even dementia.
”Sara, who lives in Teesside with her husband Simon and their two sons, Charlie, seven, and Oliver, nine, started Crafter’s Companion two decades ago, after a work placement at university saw her stumble across the industry.
I grew up surrounded by creative women and got the spark off my mum “I grew up surrounded by creative women,” says Sara, who was born and raised in Coundon, County Durham.
“I got that spark of creativity off my mum. We used to bake a lot at home, and my grandmothers did knitting and crochet.”
Over the years Sara has tried all sorts of crafts.
“I went through a jewellery-making phase and I did scrapbooking for a while,” she says.
“I’m an instant gratification type of person. Sewing a dress might take several evenings, whereas you can finish a cushion cover quickly.”
During the pandemic, Sara took up crocheting to ease her anxiety.
“I couldn’t face watching the news every night,” she says. “My whole evening was waiting for that update then it just set the tone for the rest of the night – an air of anxiety and stress.
“So I downloaded some patterns and started making little rainbows.”
Once perfected, Sara put her rainbows through people’s letter boxes to cheer them up.
“The first one was rubbish. But by the time I’d made four or five I was tremendous. I was experimenting, changing them up a little, putting tassels on them. I gave one to my mum and dad, my in-laws, my neighbours. They’d hang my little rainbows up in their houses.”
It provided much-needed moments of mindfulness for Sara.
“I switched off. Doing something with your hands means you focus and become more present.”
There was a sense of pride, too.
””The feeling of elation surprised me. It’s the positive affirmation of completing something. When you get better at it you feel proud – you’ve done something yourself.
Doing with hands you more “Crafting can get you out of your comfort zone, allowing you to try something new. You never get any growth from doing the same thing over and over. It’s exactly why I went on Strictly,” says Sara, who took part in the BBC show in 2021 and made it to week eight.
“It was the best experience of my life, and an absolute rollercoaster. It’s about taking that first step and giving something a go.”
Statistics show loneliness affects almost a quarter of people in the UK. And crafting is a great way to meet others, as Sara knows.
“I ran Crafternoons for mental health charity Mind during lockdown, and saw how it gets people out into the community – your means become present – be that in person or online. There are groups for everything, from the generic to the super specific. The craft community is nothing but positive. Like-minded people will share what they’ve done and receive encouragement in return.”
As we head into spooky season, it’s a great time to have a go.
“You can make seasonal decorations in time for Halloween – saving a fortune in the process. And Christmas is edging ever closer too, it’s the ultimate time to make and give,” says Sara whose new book, Craft Your Year with Sara Davies, a seasonal crafting guide, is released this week.
“Last year I made bath bombs and this year I’ll be making picture frames for friends and family with the kids. It’s a way of spending time together and a screen break too.
“I hope they catch the crafting bug from me, and if not, I’ll wait until I have grandchildren, and pass it on to them.”
*Craft Your Year with Sara Davies (£20, Bantam) is out on Thursday
