Why Women With ADHD Are Secretly Obsessed With Crochet (And Why I Have 30 Projects Started Right Now)
My Favorite Crochet Tools For Keeping My Creative Chaos Organized
If you're anything like me, these are worth every penny.
1. A Beautiful Project Bag
A dedicated project bag helps keep yarn, hooks, and works-in-progress from taking over the house.
I love the idea of the premium leather-style project bags like this Project Bag.
2. A Luxury Crochet Hook Set
A comfortable crochet hook can make a huge difference during longer crochet sessions.
The Prym Crochet Hook Set is gorgeous and makes crocheting feel like a luxury experience.
3. A Handmade Yarn Bowl
A yarn bowl keeps yarn from rolling across the floor while adding beauty to your crafting space.
I love the look of the Yarn Handcrafted Yarn Bowl with Unique Resin Accents.
4. A Quality Yarn Swift
If you love premium hand-dyed yarn, a yarn swift can save so much time.
The Yarn Swift is one of those tools you don't realize you need until you own one.
5. A Crafting Tote For Multiple Projects
Because let's be realistic...
We're not carrying just one project.
The Original Bogg Bag is perfect for fellow crochet hobby collectors. (I refuse to call them unfinished projects.)
Last week I found a crocheted mitten in the middle of my bedroom floor.
I absolutely remember making it. I even remember why—I used it during those freezing cold nights at track meets during track season.
What I don't remember is how it somehow ended up in my bedroom months later. My best guess is that it migrated there through some combination of ADHD chaos, laundry baskets, and good intentions.
If you also have ADHD or think you do, you probably understand exactly how this happened.
At any given moment I have at least 30 crochet projects started and another 25 patterns saved that I'm convinced I need to make immediately.
A cardigan.
A market bag.
A granny square blanket.
A crochet chicken.
A hat.
Another hat.
Definitely a hat.
My brain is constantly generating ideas faster than my hands can crochet them.
If my hands worked as fast as my thoughts, the entire state of Wisconsin would probably be covered in yarn.
And yet, despite all the unfinished projects, frogged experiments, and piles of yarn, crochet remains one of the most calming activities I've ever discovered.
The ADHD Brain Is Busy
For years I assumed everyone's brain worked like mine.
I thought everyone had:
Multiple conversations running in their head
Random creative ideas popping up every 30 seconds
A running mental grocery list
Three unfinished projects
A sudden urge to reorganize a closet while making dinner
Then I started talking with friends and realized...
Apparently not everyone has a brain that sounds like a busy airport terminal.
For many women, ADHD goes undiagnosed for years. We become experts at masking, compensating, and pushing through.
But one thing I've noticed over and over is that many women with ADHD naturally gravitate toward hobbies that keep both the mind and body engaged.
That's where crochet comes in.
Why Crochet Feels So Good To An ADHD Brain
Crochet gives my brain exactly what it craves.
The repetitive motion is soothing.
The counting creates structure.
The texture keeps my hands busy.
The creativity keeps me interested.
It's almost impossible for me to sit and "do nothing."
But give me a crochet hook and some yarn and suddenly I can relax.
The rhythm of stitching creates a grounding effect that feels similar to meditation.
Except let's be honest...
Many of us would rather crochet than sit quietly on a meditation cushion.
Crochet Is My Favorite Form Of Mindfulness
People often ask me how I practice mindfulness.
Sometimes it's yoga.
Sometimes it's a walk.
But most often?
It's crochet.
When I'm crocheting, my attention naturally comes back to the stitch in front of me.
Not tomorrow.
Not my to-do list.
Not the 17 other ideas that showed up in my brain this morning.
Just this stitch.
Then the next one.
And the next.
That's mindfulness.
And unlike some wellness practices that feel like another thing to add to your schedule, crochet feels fun.
The Joy Of Starting Something New
One of my favorite things about ADHD is the creativity.
The downside?
We love starting things.
Finishing things is sometimes optional.
I've started projects with absolutely no idea what they were going to become.
Sometimes after 30 minutes I frog the whole thing.
And honestly?
I'm okay with that.
Because the goal isn't always the finished product.
Sometimes the benefit comes from the process itself.
The movement.
The creativity.
The calm.
The feeling of being completely absorbed in something that brings joy.
Maybe It's Not About Finishing
These days I've stopped judging myself for the piles of yarn, half-finished blankets, and random mitten discoveries.
Crochet helps regulate my nervous system.
It slows my racing thoughts.
It gives my creativity somewhere to land.
And if I end up with 30 unfinished projects?
Well, that's just evidence that my imagination is alive and well.
If you also have ADHD and find yourself surrounded by yarn, hooks, and unfinished masterpieces, know that you're in good company.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have approximately 25 new project ideas I need to start immediately.