‘Yarn Overcomers’ helping unemployed knit away stress

By Carolyn Manno (cmanno@wsbt.com)

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Yarn Overcomers: knitting for the unemployed

Gene McCreary (left) joined Yarn Overcomers, a knitting group in Goshen, to help relieve stress after he lost his job. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: May 14, 2009 at 3:18 PM EST

Story Updated: May 20, 2009 at 5:27 PM EST

GOSHEN — With some of the highest unemployment in the country, a lot of people here are looking for ways to deal with the stress. A new local group is offering something unique to help.

Gene McCreary is a painter in Elkhart, and after losing his job like so many other around him, his mom urged him to try an unlikely hobby.

“I was going through a lot of anxiety and stress and she said, ‘That might be a good idea for you,’ to keep my mind occupied and give me something to do,” he recalled. “So I thought about it and I thought yeah, it's something totally new.”

Gene is a member of YO! — which stands for Yarn Overcomers. It's a new group to help those affected by unemployment in our area.

“I had been struggling with how to respond to the unemployment because it is so devastating and it impacts families and friends,” explained Sher Gunden King, the founder of YO!. “A couple of things went through my mind but nothing really stuck, nothing really felt right. But then all of a sudden the most obvious thing hit me, and I thought, ‘Well, we'll teach them to knit!”

Web sites like www.stitchlinks.com suggest that knitting actually has a neurochemical effect on the brain — possibly decreasing stress hormones and increasing serotonin and dopamine. So while McCreary may have lost his job, he is finding peace of mind.

“Right away I noticed whenever I started knitting and stuff and I would get my mind into it, it was the few moments that I had at first where I was relaxed and at peace,” he said.

Eight committee members make up the group. They are skilled in both kitting and crochet. They say even if you've never knitted before, they can get you started at the two classes a week in Goshen.

For further information contact:

Sher Gunden King: (574) 533-8156
Nancy Yoder: (574) 533-5603

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