The past year or so has been pretty rough, in terms of school, politics, and world news, and I’ve found myself having a myriad of emotions to sort through. Especially since the 2024 presidential election, I’ve leaned into my creative side to cope with my feelings about current events. From crocheting to junk journaling to learning new crafts like beading, I did it all. 

Crafting might not sound like all that, but in my opinion, it has therapeutic powers. Here are some reasons I craft, and why you should try it out, too:

You can only control what you can. 

When everything seems crazy and you feel powerless, you can control what you create. Your crafts can make a statement or can simply bring you some comfort. Over the summer, I felt overwhelmed with political despair and anger. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get the song “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie out of my head. With it playing on a never-ending loop in my brain, I picked up scissors and glue and got to collaging. I couldn’t do anything about political issues, but I could make a journal page about how I was feeling.

Crafting can build community. 

Most people enjoy being with others who are like-minded, and creatives are no different. I’ve met some of my best friends here at Moravian through Stitches, Moravian’s crochet and knitting club. We meet weekly to craft, listen to music, and debrief. It’s a space to connect with others and relieve any stress, and I look forward to it every week. Similarly, Cut the Scrap!, a secondhand craft store in Allentown, hosts regular crafting workshops and groups. If you are looking for community and connection, you might be inclined to check these out.

In a world of increasing technology, crafting is a screen-free, hands-on, and mindless activity. 

If you’re looking for something to do that doesn’t involve a phone or computer, crafting may be your next hobby. Put on your favorite playlist, set your phone aside, and start crafting away. When you’re finished, you can look at what you made and say, “I created this! With my hands!” It can be a super gratifying experience. It’s also always fun when someone asks you where you bought something you’re wearing, and you can tell them that you made it.

Crafting can be cheap. 

If you’re anything like me, you may not have extra funds to spend on things that aren’t truly necessary. There may be a blank journal and old magazines lying around in your parents’ house. I got my journal for free from a campus event and magazines from my mom and her friends. I bought a bunch of stickers from Etsy for $0.99 per sheet. Craft stores, like Michaels, typically have good sales, and you can sometimes find supplies for cheap at thrift stores. A lot of the supplies I have now have been accumulated—a cute piece of construction paper here, a ball of yarn there. I’ve also taken advantage of the free color printing on campus to help me curate my journal pages a little better. Remember that it doesn’t have to be expensive to be good, and it doesn’t have to be perfect to be fun. 

Finally, crafting keeps life fun and whimsical! 

I have been chasing my lost childhood whimsy ever since I grew up. Crafting has helped me rediscover it. There are no rules and no expectations. You are free to use your imagination and creativity in any way you like. I’ve made journal pages to express my love for something, to sort through emotions, to remember an experience, or to get myself excited about something. Crafting can help you to have a little bit of fun, while also relieving stress that comes with being a student or life in general.

I hope you consider taking up arts and crafts as your next hobby! It can range from knitting to collaging to painting to embroidery. You truly can make it out to be whatever you want. In trying times, we need every ounce of fun and happiness we can get.