Knitting workshops for
About
Bringing people together through an engaging, calming, and inclusive group activity
Knitly (formerly The Wellknit Co.) was founded on the conviction of knitting’s unique ability to expand satisfaction, wellness, and sense of community in a workplace setting. Given our overly-stimulated minds, an opportunity to step away from a desk and focus on an activity that is three-dimensional, tactile, and relaxing also allows the mind to wander just enough to return to work refreshed and inspired.
A Knitly session will help you ground yourself in the present, share an experience with colleagues, and disconnect for a moment from a hectic day—and leave with a me-made accessory.
“Apart from being an easy and fun hobby, knitting is also an effective technique to manage daily stress and anxiety”
—Forbes
benefits
Knitly at your workplace boosts…
Energy
Give people a chance to step away and re-energize, returning to their afternoon renewed
Culture
Foster community and deepen culture through a shared, informal learning experience
Relaxation
Create wellness at work, by providing an escape, a space to relax
Growth
Give employees a toolkit for personal wellness: a fun and effective combination of knitting, stretching, and meditation that they can deploy any time, anywhere
Lifestyle
Offer people a fuller, more satisfying, well-rounded workday, by creating a diversity of activities — time away from a screen, working with their hands — that can make people feel more inspired at work
“The repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state like that associated with meditation and yoga”
—Dr. Herbert Benson, Massachusetts General Hospital, Director of Henry-Benson Institute
Why knitting is a great corporate wellness activity
The tactile, repetitive nature of knitting releases serotonin, quickly improving the knitters mood/frame of mind1
The rhythm of hand movements inspires a sense of calm analogous to meditation2
For those sitting at a computer all day, moving from a 2D, analytic task to a 3D, tactile, creative one gives your brain a rest, a completely different focus, allowing you to step away from and manage the stresses of the day, returning re-energized
Knitting groups in the workplace build informal connections between colleagues, often of differing seniority and departments, to deepen community and culture
Frequent knitters are calmer, happier, less sad, less anxious, and more confident3
[1] Jacobs, B.; Fornal, C.A. Activity of Serotonergic Neurons in Behaving Animals. Neuropsychopharmacology, 21, 9s-15s, 1999; Jacobs, B.; Fornal, C.A.; Martin-Cora, F. Activity of Medullary Serotogenic Neurons in Freely Moving Animals. Brain Research Reviews, 40, 45-52
[2] Kingston, R. Loose ends: Unravelling the benefits of knitting. Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group Quarterly. 2012
[3] von Hecker, U.; Riley, J.; Corkhill, B. A Knitting Survey. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, In Preparation
