Thousands of Australian women are picking up their knitting needles again after two best friends started a DIY craft business.
Cardigang, co-founded by “ex work wives turned wool wives” Cat Bloxsom and Morgan Collins, teach knitting and crochet workshops for total newbies who have never mastered the craft before.
The Melbourne-based business has sold over six million metres of yarn and taught 12,000 people to knit and crochet since starting up two and a half years ago.
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And the reviews on the website speak to their customers passion for the skill.
“I grew up knitting with my nan, but haven’t picked it up in years. Doing this kit made me fall in love with knitting again and was so nostalgic.
“Instructions were really clear, yarn was fantastic, and I really appreciated that you could see the different colours you were choosing on the website itself. Will be getting more kits now - I’ve fallen in love,” one woman said.
“A fun knitting project with a great sense of accomplishment when I completed my Olivia cardigan. Made me feel like: hey I can knit! Easy step by step instructions, great for beginners,” said another.
Instagram is awash with colourful woollen cardigans, beanies, jumpers and blankets since Cardigang launched.
The founders have spoken about how the hobby helps them deal with stress - and can build resilience in others.
“We’ve had tears and tantrums as people face the daunting reality that this activity is challenging them but we see them grow over the 90 minutes and the sense of accomplishment at the end of the session is amazing,” the founders said.As the cost of living crisis hits, it’s more important than ever to find ways to build our resilience.
Actively seeking out new experiences might just be the ticket to building our resilience muscle.Cardigang sell DIY knit and crochet kits so anyone can learn a new hobby.
Their custom, quality, colourful, chunky-chic knit and crochet kits are made for beginners by beginners.
They’re designed to last a lifetime and they put a pep in your step because nothing beats the not-so-humble pride of saying “I made it myself”.
For Cat and Morgan a new hobby - specifically knitting - gave them confidence and a sense of achievement that has turned into a tool that they use to manage stress and build resilience.As adults, it’s not often that we learn something new and if we do venture into the unknown and try our hand at something where the outcome is uncertain, it can only take a minor speed-bump to throw us off course and have us throwing in the towel.
According to Hello Driven’s National Resilience Index Australia 2022 Report there is a common misconception that resilience is about toughening up, but actually we should think of resilience as a protective shield for our wellbeing and a muscle we can strengthen.Building resilience as adults requires intentional effort. One way to strengthen our resilience is to learn something new.
Learning a new hobby teaches us the art of perseverance and adaptability. Whether it’s untangling a knitting mishap or learning how to bake the perfect loaf of bread, we gradually develop the resilience to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.
The key to mastering a hobby is setting realistic goals and celebrating small victories along the way.
The Cardigang kits include everything you’ll need to make a beanie, scarf, jacket, top or even coaster, depending on what you’re up to learning that day.
To find a kit that works for you, visit the Cardigang website here.
