We Are Enough; The Creative Yarn Bomb of Love

We Are Enough; The Creative Yarn Bomb of Love is a collaborative, community project aimed to raise awareness about mental health, bring people together to share experiences and encourage more self-expression through creativity whilst spreading positivity and kindness so that we can all know that we really are good enough, just as we are.

We Are Enough is open to all creativity; from knitting, crocheting, writing and poetry to drawing, painting and photography. If you can create it, we can include it!

We all have moments when we feel like we’re not good enough. We criticise and beat ourselves up, we believe that if we’re not perfect then we’re not deserving. It can hold us back, leave us feeling anxious, low in confidence and self-worth, can lead to depression and worst of all, feeling judged, ashamed and as though we’re entirely alone. This can have a massive negative impact on our mental health, and I know this from experience and because of the people that I have worked with. But it doesn't have to be this way. We are ALL capable, strong, intelligent, resilient and beautiful in so many ways. 

We Are Enough:

• Embraces who we are including all our imperfections
• Connects us to ourselves and to others
• Encourages more self-expression and self-care through creativity and openness
• Creates a strong, inclusive community 

We Are Enough will be a year-long project, starting in May 2018 and concluding during mental health awareness week in May 2019.

How Will It Work?

Here in Cornwall:

• I'll be working closely with an amazing organisation; Quiet Connections, to deliver this project through their Quiet Community Connection groups to support people who feel socially anxious, shy and not good enough. (They have been of huge help to me personally and now I'm working with them to help support others ❤)
• I'll also be delivering this project through my own crochet, knit & creative groups, workshops and collaborating with mental health and wellbeing organisations to support as many people as possible.
• As a Time to Change Champion and part of the Cornwall Time to Change group, we'll be using the yarn bombings throughout the project to generate conversations about mental health with the public out on the streets!

Community crochet groups & workshops

Time To Talk Day 2018, crafting with students at Cornwall College

Coffee, Cake, Create event for World Mental Health Day 2017

Yarn Bombing

the action or activity of covering objects or structures in public places with decorative knitted or crocheted material, as a form of street art.

People all around the world have been transforming spaces with their textiles either just for fun, in aid of charities, to promote events, to raise awareness around important causes and build communities - the latter two being what this project is all about.

Whilst this has been a form of street art exclusive to knitters and crocheters, we believe it's time that we all come together and open up this art to everyone else as well!

If you're still a little unsure about what yarn bombing is, this Ted Talk explains it further:

Please Note: We will request you gain permission from your local councils and any necessary businesses etc. before the yarn bomb is displayed. We will help with this.

• Creativity has a beneficial impact on our mental health & wellbeing.
• Self-expression improves self-acceptance and confidence.
• Vulnerability and connection increase compassion, empathy and builds stronger communities.

We know because this has helped us; and because there are so many scientific studies to prove it! Here’s what we know:

Creativity and mental health & wellbeing:

• Just 45 minutes of creative activity decreases the amount of the stress hormone, cortisol in your body.
• Creativity induces a state of flow, meaning we’re present in the moment rather than stuck in our worries, providing the space for our minds to process and heal.

Self-expression and self-acceptance:

• Creativity reminds us that what we bring to the world is unique to us and cannot be compared, encouraging us to let go of the need to compete and conform, and just to be who we really, truly are.
• We gain the courage to let go of certainties and embrace imperfections, increasing our self-acceptance, our self-worth and our confidence.

Vulnerability and connection:

• When we believe we’re not enough, we feel like we’re alone. What we need more than anything is to connect with others; to feel empathy. Sharing our vulnerabilities lets others know that we’re in this together and opens us up to connection. This is powerful.
• To be vulnerable is, to be honest, open and courageous. The more we practise this, the more we begin to let go of shame, judgement and perfection, becoming more compassionate towards ourselves and others.

"Knitting and sewing really helps reduce my anxiety, as concentrating to follow a pattern doesn't give room to dwell on other thoughts and worries for a while. It's also great to see the finished item and proudly think 'I did that'." - Dawn

Did you know that around 55,000 adults in Cornwall alone struggle with social anxiety?

Over a third of the money pledged will be donated to Quiet Connections to help set up monthly community groups throughout Cornwall so that they can support and reach out to even more people; in the same way that they helped support me.

We Are Enough will be delivered through these groups to encourage self-care through creativity and share experiences through self-expression; in a way that is gentle without the pressure to talk.

No one should feel alone, broken or ashamed. Quiet Connections supports people when they’re feeling socially anxious or not good enough; bringing like-minded people together to create a community of understanding and a safe space to gently connect with others and make new friends; growing self-acceptance and confidence.

Over 1 in 10 people feel socially anxious; and almost half of all people consider themselves shy. So many people feel awkward in social situations and think bad of themselves for it; We want to change this.

"Quiet Connections have helped me massively, I've been able to make amazing support networks and stretch myself to be able to do things I've always been scared to do on my own. Without QC, I'd probably not be able to express myself and talk openly about what's going on, and ask for help when I need it." - Nicola

Quiet Connections is just one example of how this project will be working with organisations!

Your pledges and support will be helping people to love themselves, express themselves and be themselves! 

With your support We Are Enough will be:

Here in Cornwall:

• Establishing monthly Quiet Community Connections groups in 6 locations in Cornwall for people who feel socially anxious and not good enough. As well as additional knitting, crochet & creative groups and workshops around Cornwall and the South West.
• Offer support and training for volunteers to establish Community Connections groups around the UK. 
• Organising yarn bombing displays to generate conversations about mental health with the public from Time to Change Champions!

What we can achieve depends on your donations!

To say thank you for your pledges and to show our appreciation, I've put together some fab rewards to treat you with including:

• Having your name featured in the yarn bomb displays
• Building your own creative self-care kits where you can pick & mix what you'll receive
• E-book of creative wellbeing activities and exclusive knitting & crochet patterns
• Free workshops and courses
• Coaching sessions with Quiet Connections
• Private groups for friends, businesses and employees
• And plenty more...

Check them out!

Hi, I'm Stacie, and I'll be heading up and managing We Are Enough; The Creative Yarn Bomb of Love! I'm an award-winning knit and crochet designer with a 1st Class Honors in Fashion. Mental health advocate, Time to Change Champion, creative collaborator and team member at Quiet Connections and fellow of the Lloyds School for Social Entrepreneurs.

For years I struggled silently, too afraid, confused and ashamed to explain how I was feeling; depressed, anxious, alone and hating everything about myself. I had no confidence, self-esteem or worth. I believed that I wasn't good enough.

Immersing myself in creativity has been the best way in which I have been able to help myself, and I've learnt many important lessons through my experiences:

• Embrace your story, your differences and your voice.
• Let go of perfection and the final outcome and instead focus on the process and the journey.
• Never disregard anything that didn't go to plan or that you didn't like because there is no such thing as a mistake and you never know what it might lead to.
• And that you can achieve many things if you just explore, experiment, play and be curious.

I've been on this mission of mine to spread the mental health and wellbeing benefits of creativity ever since I realised how beneficial it's been for me, and although I still have my challenges... here we are today!

What will happen if we don't reach the target?

The project would still go ahead, but on a much smaller scale; so while many people would still benefit from the project, it wouldn’t have the amazing impact that I'm hoping to achieve!

Can I still get involved in the yarn bomb even if I don't want to knit or crochet?

Absolutely! I want as many people as possible to benefit from this project and to be involved. You can express yourself through:

• Writing; poetry, prose or sharing an experience.
• Photography and imagery
• Painting
• Drawing and illustration
• Collage
• Pom poms, patches and badges
• Anything else you can think of!

We can easily incorporate pieces like this through laminating (with eco-friendly laminating pouches), punching holes around the edges and crocheting/stitching them into/onto the knit and crochet, and they may even inspire some knitting and crochet as well.

Is collaboration only open to knitting/crochet groups?

Not at all! I would love to see the project collaborating with writing groups, art groups, photography groups, community centres, colleges, universities and organisations as well.

I run a group and would like us to be involved in this project, how do I do that?

The project will officially start in May 2018, and I would love to hear from anyone who wants to be involved in it now. Feel free to drop me an email at [email protected] to have a chat.

How do I set up my own group to be involved in this project?

I can help and support you in doing that. Feel free to drop me an email at [email protected] to have a chat to get started.

Do I have to join a group to be involved?

No, not at all. Individual participation is welcome, and you can do as much as you like. Pieces can be emailed or posted to then be used in the yarn bombs. You are also welcome to join in any of the online hangouts and the Facebook group.

I would like to join a group but I am feeling anxious about it, can you help?

I understand how this feels, and I'm always happy to have a chat and support you. A Quiet Community Connections group will be a great place to start and can connect you with someone already attending through their befriending scheme.

I don't think I'm creative, is this for me?

Of course! You were born creative, and it’s still in there somewhere. Creativity isn't about artistic talent or producing a 'masterpiece'. It's about the process, the playing around, trying ideas, asking what if, and just giving it a go and seeing what happens. I'll be offering inspiration, tips, suggestions and thoughts on the website to encourage and support you. We are all creative in our own way and this project will help you find YOUR way ❤

What will happen to all the work created for the yarn bombs after the project has finished?

I would like to avoid anything that's been created to be wasted or end up in landfill. One of the beauties of knit and crochet is that it can easily be reworked and recycled. I would love to encourage you to wash and clean pieces after the display and then rework them into blankets, jumpers, scarves etc to donate to homeless shelters and people in need. 

All laminated pieces can be returned to the participant, or to me to be used in a mental health exhibition in Cornwall next year.

Thank you for taking the time to look at We Are Enough; The Creative Yarn Bomb of Love. I am so excited to invite you to become a part of this amazing journey, project and community! Please pledge, support us and most importantly, get involved and join the movement!

Love, Stacie x

www.stacieclarkknit.co.uk