Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Anyone Here Use Knitting To Help Cope With Celiac And Gluten Sensitivities?

Lynayah

By Lynayah
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted

Do you knit to help cope with a gluten-free lifestyle?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mommida Enthusiast
mommida
Posted

I just started knitting when I was having problems with the gall bladder that came out in February.

K8ling Enthusiast
K8ling
Posted

I don't know how to but I want to learn.

sb2178 Enthusiast
sb2178
Posted

Some, but I'm actually a spinner. So I make the pretty yarn...

AvatarOfChaos Newbie
AvatarOfChaos
Posted

I don't knit specifically to help me cope with gluten-free - I'm fairly at ease with gluten-free. But I am also an avid knitter :)

Lesx2 Newbie
Lesx2
Posted

Ditto to Avatars reply above for me

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted
  • Author

Some, but I'm actually a spinner. So I make the pretty yarn...

Oooooh, I'm envious! I want to learn to spin eventually. Do you use a wheel?

Has spinning helped you cope with living a gluten-free lifestyle?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted
  • Author

I don't knit specifically to help me cope with gluten-free - I'm fairly at ease with gluten-free. But I am also an avid knitter :)

Because I took up knitting after being diagnosed, I can definitely say it helped me cope with going gluten free.

Before being diagnosed, I could eat anything and everything (or so I thought). I had lost over 100 pounds (not easy, I'm not one of those skinny gluten free gals) and learned to keep it off.

I'm super, super sensitive and found I did best by sticking to meat, fruit, vegetables and certified gluten free whole grains.

I'm a foodie, and like so many others here, my family members are foodies, too. EVERYTHING revolved around food.

It was a real challenge for me to learn not to feel sorry for myself at first. I was cranky, too, with lots of negativity.

Knitting helped me so much. It relaxed me, and it also gave me something to do at family gatherings while everyone ate. Even though I could eat gluten free foods, I needed a diversion to keep food from being the most important thing in my life, especially since I'd gained 15 pounds during my gluten challenge. Augh!

I told myself that my knitting time also has to be my positive time -- that is, while I knit, I was allowed to think only positive thoughts. This was difficult at first, but I kept at it, and eventually the act of knitting became an almost immediate way for me to enter into positivity.

They say that the repetitive motion of it helps produce the same brainwaves as meditation does.

For me, it works . . . except for the times when I want to throw the project out the window because I've dropped a gazillion stitches that day!

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I told myself that my knitting time also has to be my positive time -- that is, while I knit, I was allowed to think only positive thoughts. This was difficult at first, but I kept at it, and eventually the act of knitting became an almost immediate way for me to enter into positivity.

They say that the repetitive motion of it helps produce the same brainwaves as meditation does.

I do that when I'm walking the dog. Only positive thoughts. If I can't think of happy stuff, I make up a story or count how many people have pink flowers or Halloween decorations, etc. After a few minutes, the bad stuff is gone.

SueQueBlue Newbie
SueQueBlue
Posted

I don't knit anymore (hurts my hands), but I cross-stitch. I have been an avid stitcher for several years now, and found even before I was diagnosed, it is very theraputic. The repeative motion allows my mind to wander, and it is sort of like meditating.

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted
  • Author

I do that when I'm walking the dog. Only positive thoughts. If I can't think of happy stuff, I make up a story or count how many people have pink flowers or Halloween decorations, etc. After a few minutes, the bad stuff is gone.

It's so cool how well it works. At first it was a challenge -- it is amazing how easily negative thoughts can become a habit.

BethJ Rookie
BethJ
Posted

I never thought about it but it probably is good for relieving stress. I started crocheting after having broken my right wrist. I had a lot of pain and discomfort so the crochet "rehab" worked miracles. The wrist has long healed but I'm still crocheting.

I never had much anxiety with the gluten-free lifestyle other than tears of joy when I found a great new gluten-free product in the store. :)

sb2178 Enthusiast
sb2178
Posted

No, I've been spinning since I was pretty small (mom's a weaver and branches out to other fiber jazz some). I have a double treadle Schacht and a handful of spindles. Which is use varies... travel is always a spindle, but I use them at home some too.

You should learn! Ghandhi was right that the world would be a better place if we all spun daily. AND, you can make really fun/weird/playful yarns just like you want for that _____ you're going to knit/crochet/etc.

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted
  • Author

Anyone here going to any of the Stitches conferences this year?

I am going to Chicago and Hartford, and I'm hoping it will be easy to find gluten free food.

Chicago will be okay. I live close to Chicago, will drive and can pack my own food.

Hartford, I'm flying and I've never been there.

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted
  • Author

No, I've been spinning since I was pretty small (mom's a weaver and branches out to other fiber jazz some). I have a double treadle Schacht and a handful of spindles. Which is use varies... travel is always a spindle, but I use them at home some too.

You should learn! Ghandhi was right that the world would be a better place if we all spun daily. AND, you can make really fun/weird/playful yarns just like you want for that _____ you're going to knit/crochet/etc.

Thank you for your post. I definitely want to learn someday. I love your reference to Ghandhi. Thank you -- your reference is a new piece of information for me. I agree, and I also think the world would be a better place if we all knit each day.

There's a real connection between knitting and inner peace. It's been shown that knitting produces the same brain waves as meditation. For me, it has made me a MUCH better person. Knitting has been a heaven-sent blessing.

Mack the Knife Explorer
Mack the Knife
Posted

Well, I can't say that it has helped at all with coping with a gluten free lifestyle... but I do love to knit!

I have started up a stitch 'n b*tch group in my local area and - as the organiser - I damn well make sure that we meet at a cafe that has lots of gluten free options. I need my gluten free cake when I knit.

quincy Contributor
quincy
Posted

Well, I can't say that it has helped at all with coping with a gluten free lifestyle... but I do love to knit!

I have started up a stitch 'n b*tch group in my local area and - as the organiser - I damn well make sure that we meet at a cafe that has lots of gluten free options. I need my gluten free cake when I knit.

this is amazing. when I first was diagnosed and my anxiety was sky high, I just came up with the idea that I should learn to knit to keep my mind in a certain state. someone at my work says she will teach me. I have the needles and yarn sittin in my car for several months now.... haha. maybe its time to put them to use... Thanks!!

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted
  • Author

Well, I can't say that it has helped at all with coping with a gluten free lifestyle... but I do love to knit!

I have started up a stitch 'n b*tch group in my local area and - as the organiser - I damn well make sure that we meet at a cafe that has lots of gluten free options. I need my gluten free cake when I knit.

You rock! I hope you'll post here how the group goes. Please let me know. I have a great interest in those wonderful S&B groups. It sounds great!

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted
  • Author

this is amazing. when I first was diagnosed and my anxiety was sky high, I just came up with the idea that I should learn to knit to keep my mind in a certain state. someone at my work says she will teach me. I have the needles and yarn sittin in my car for several months now.... haha. maybe its time to put them to use... Thanks!!

Knitting will help you, I promise, promise, promise!

There are also some outstanding DVDs out there about how to knit -- if you want more info, let me know, but if I were you, I'd go with the person I know and then expand from there.

Everythihg happens for a reason. You are being drawn to knitting for a reason.

Do it! It will change your mind and change your life. If you want more information on the outstanding knitting community out there, let me know this as well.

Knitters are an exceptionally caring group of people. It's "a whole new world" out there for people who knit -- as corny as it sounds, it really IS a magic carpet ride.

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted
  • Author

I've been getting brave and knitting at casual parties -- the ones where there's tons of food everywhere, all glutened. It really helps keep me from feeling sorry for myself.

Lynayah Enthusiast
Lynayah
Posted
  • Author

If you suffer from arthritis yet want to knit, I found an interesting video on youtube.com today. Search under

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      129,856
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Skindy
    Newest Member
    Skindy
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Refractory Celiac disease - what to do

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      As @trents mentioned, removing gluten if you have celiac disease would be key to villi recovery, and if you still are having issues trying to identify other triggers would be the next step, even though the additional intolerances will not likely contribute to villi recovery. This study indicates that a majority of celiacs don't recover until 5 years after diagnosis and starting a gluten-free diet: Mucosal recovery and mortality in adults with celiac disease after treatment with a gluten-free diet However, it's also possible that what the study really shows is the difficulty in maintaining a 100% gluten-free diet. I suspect that if you looked closely at the diets of those who did not recover within 2 years might be that their diets were not 100% gluten-free. Perhaps they ate out more often, or didn't understand all of the hidden ingredients where gluten can hide. Either way, it shows how difficult recovery from celiac disease can be for most people. According to this study: This article explores other causes of flattened villi:      
    • trents
      Refractory Celiac disease - what to do

      By trents · Posted

    • ehb
      Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease

      By ehb · Posted

      I am wondering how you developed this supplementation regimen? Was it just through trial and error? Did you base this trial and error on blood tests or symptom improvement? It cost me $300 for the blood tests, so I would prefer not to do those regularly
    • ehb
      Refractory Celiac disease - what to do

      By ehb · Posted

      Thank you, @Scott Adams I am wondering if these additional food intolerances could explain the continued tTG-IgA elevation and villous atrophy? Am I required to eliminate these potential intolerances in order for my gut to heal, or could it heal on it's own with just the gluten free diet?
    • Scott Adams
      Refractory Celiac disease - what to do

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful:    
×
×
  • Create New...