UPDATE MARCH 19, 2023: Did you miss our live 2023 Knitathon sessions but are curious to watch the recorded sessions? They are available for viewing with a $25 minimum donation, which will support a program kit! We’ll send you the video replays, links to the resources mentioned by our speakers, and a bonus PK knitting pattern. Click here to donate >
It’s a Knitathon, a la Gilmore Girls or a throw back to your Readathon days in school!
On March 18, 2023, bring your current work, start a new project, or explore a new skill.
Join us to learn more about why the art of knitting is excellent exercise for our brains.
Join us to get your rhythmic hand and mind exercise on that day!
Join us to be inspired to knit more!
With your help we can provide opportunities for those facing stressful situations to learn to knit and build resilience at the same time. Check out our toolkit below to get started!
Steps to participate in the Project Knitwell Knitathon
1. Help support our goal of raising $10,000 to provide knitting materials and instruction to more people facing stressful circumstances! You can create a personal fundraising page in Network for Good here. Click Start Fundraising and it will guide you through all the steps.
2. Then share your Network for Good page and encourage your friends to sponsor your Knitathon by donating any amount or $1 for every minute (or row) you knit on March 18. In addition, everyone who raises at least $300 will receive a Project Knitwell t-shirt! Everyone who donates at least $25 to your campaign will also receive a ticket to our webinar events on March 18.
3. Give or receive a minimum donation of $25 to receive a free surprise knitting pattern and a ticket to join Project Knitwell via Zoom on March 18 to chat with fiber artists and advocates for arts in health — see sidebar for more details.
- DMV friends can join Project Knitwell for a meet and greet at Fibre Space, 1310 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA from 4–5pm.
March 18 Webinar Events
Give or receive a minimum donation of $25 to receive a free surprise knitting pattern and a ticket to join Project Knitwell via Zoom for any and all events on March 18 with our guest speakers.*
Click here to donate $25 to receive the Zoom link for the webinar events from 10am–4pm on March 18 >
10am EDT
Dr. Mia Hobbs
Host of the Why I Knit Podcast from London, UK
10am EDTDuring this discussion, we will learn about the impact of knitting on our mental health and wellbeing. Dr. Hobbs will answer your questions and address some of the foundational research.
11am EDT
Tanis Gray
Knitwear designer and author from Northern Virginia
11am EDTFrom the oldest knitting artifacts to modern day virtual knitting, join designer and author Tanis Gray for a Brief History of Knitting lecture. Bring your knitting and settle in as we learn more about the history of the craft we love!
12pm EDT
Dr. Kristina LaVenia
CompassionKNIT researcher from Bowling Green, Ohio
12pm EDTDr. LaVenia will share her research and our grant partnership helping teachers and staff learn knitting to improve their personal mental health while building stronger connections and relationships between school community members. Helping school personnel focus on finding time to recharge with their knitting is a wonderful self-care practice.
1pm EDT
Jill Wolcott
Knitwear designer from Seattle, WA
1pm EDTDesigner Jill Wolcott will discuss how to select the best next project for you. The planning process can be a very rewarding benefit of knitting. Join us to discuss the benefits of different types of projects, how to manage your stash, and how to stay engaged in your projects.
2pm EDT
Dr. Kelly Holder
Chief Wellness Officer at Brown University Medical School from Providence, RI
2pm EDTHow does knitting relate to self compassion? Dr. Holder will share research from Kristin Neff focused on self kindness, mindfulness, and shared humanity, which we can find in our knitting practice.
3pm EDT
Dr. Mia Hobbs
Host of the Why I Knit Podcast from London, UK
3pm EDTLive Podcast recording with Project Knitwell participant Kesha Evans (pictured here), who learned to knit with our founder over a decade ago in the NICU.
4pm EDT
Craft as an Embodied Care Practice
Woodlawn featured panel event
A discussion of “the intersection of craft, care and community. We’ll use examples from our own art-making and from community art therapy projects we’ve facilitated to show how crafting can nurture well-being, and joy to support the interconnected processes of individual and community healing.” Please note that this session requires a separate registration through EventBrite — click here to sign up.
*Tentative times and details subject to change. Most sessions will be recorded and links distributed after the event to all registrants (Tanis Gray and Woodlawn events will not be recorded).
Register for the Webinar Events
Give a minimum donation of $25 to receive an all day ticket to join Project Knitwell and our guest speakers via Zoom on March 18. Every $25 donation sponsors a full knitting kit!
Create a fundraiser
Encourage your friends to sponsor your Knitathon by donating $1 (or any amount!) for every minute (or row) you knit on March 18. In addition, everyone who raises at least $300 will receive a Project Knitwell t-shirt!
Everyone who donates at least $25 to your campaign will also receive a ticket to our webinar events on March 18.
Right click on an image above to download it to post on your social media feed!