Celebrating International Crochet Day: Crocheting for Creativity, Health, and Sustainability with Re.Bag.Re.Use

As the world celebrates International Crochet Day tomorrow, Thursday, 12 September 2024, Re.Bag.Re.Use proudly spotlights the numerous benefits of crocheting—not only as a creative outlet but also as a tool for environmental sustainability and community empowerment. This time-honored craft continues to enrich lives, and now, through Re.Bag.Re.Use, it is helping to reduce plastic waste and provide meaningful income opportunities.

Crocheting: More Than Just a Hobby

Crocheting has been practiced for generations, offering a wealth of mental, physical, and emotional benefits. Whether you’re an experienced crocheter or just getting started, crochet brings relaxation, focus, and a sense of accomplishment.

Six Things You Might Not Know About Crocheting:

1. Stress Relief and Relaxation
   The rhythmic, repetitive motions of crocheting have a calming, meditative effect, helping to reduce stress and promote mindfulness. Many find that it eases anxiety and brings a sense of peace.

   Hlezipi Mnguni, a Re.Bag.Re.Use team member from Mpumalanga, shares how crochet brings her both relaxation and purpose: “Crocheting is not only a form of relaxation but also an opportunity to create something meaningful. What I love most about crocheting is that it’s simple, and with Re.Bag.Re.Use, we can make waste look chic and fashionable. It doesn’t cost anything to practice this hobby; all you need is a crochet needle and a pair of scissors. You don’t need much experience to make something out of nothing—all you need is passion, patience, and love for what you do.”

2. Boosts Focus and Cognitive Skills
   Crocheting requires focus and concentration, which sharpens cognitive skills, enhances mental clarity, and improves memory. Studies suggest that such mindful activities may even help stave off cognitive decline with age.
3. Enhances Fine Motor Skills
   The intricate hand movements involved in crocheting help improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, making it beneficial for individuals recovering from injuries or those seeking to maintain dexterity.
4. Builds a Sense of Accomplishment
   Creating something tangible from raw materials, such as yarn or recycled plastic, fosters a sense of achievement. Completing a project—whether a simple scarf or a complex pattern—boosts self-esteem and provides a tangible representation of one’s efforts.
5. Promotes Social Connections
   Crocheting often brings people together in local craft groups, crochet circles, or online communities. These social connections help combat loneliness, provide support, and foster a sense of belonging within the crochet community.
6. Supports Mental Health
   Crocheting is not only a creative outlet but also a therapeutic one, offering a productive distraction from negative thoughts. It helps manage anxiety and depression by giving individuals a sense of control, purpose, and relaxation.

Re.Bag.Re.Use: Crocheting for Sustainability

At Re.Bag.Re.Use, crocheting is taken to the next level by merging creativity with sustainability. The initiative repurposes plastic waste into functional, reusable items like shopping bags, mats, and home decor. This process not only helps to reduce plastic waste in local communities but also provides participants with an additional source of income.

Founded to address both environmental concerns and economic challenges, Re.Bag.Re.Use has grown to include 21 women—six cutters and 15 crocheters—working across small teams in Hout Bay, Cape Town, Pretoria, and Mpumalanga. Each piece created by Re.Bag.Re.Use is a testament to the power of creativity and resourcefulness in tackling one of the world’s most pressing issues: plastic waste.

Workshops and Team-Building Opportunities

Re.Bag.Re.Use also offers crocheting workshops that are not only educational but also serve as excellent team-building exercises or group activities. These workshops foster creativity, teach new skills, and emphasize the importance of sustainability in our everyday lives.

For more information on these workshops or to learn how you can support Re.Bag.Re.Use, please contact Regine le Roux at regine@rebagreuse.com or 083 302 1528.