Sara's Crochet Contribution to Mandalas for Marinke

Here is the next of the beautiful, inspiring, special contributions coming in to the #MandalasForMarinke remembrance project. I am grateful for each and every amazing contribution. You are invited to join; learn more here.

Beautiful Crochet Mandala

This dazzling crochet mandala is made using Wink’s free crochet pattern for the spoke mandala. The dark green spokes pop off the work with exquisite texture. I love the way they tie in with the two other rounds of green crochet stitches. The pop of yellow brings brightness in to give a sense of lightness and hope.

Meet the Maker

This crochet spoke mandala was crafted by Sara Elin Roberts who goes by her full name on Facebook and Essie3 on Ravelry. She shares:

“I am an academic, a medieval historian; I love in Anglesey, North Wales with my two boys. Crafting keeps me sane.”

And she adds:

“I have not been crocheting long but I found Wink’s blog while looking for a Mandala pattern – and I made several of her mandalas. Her tone was so lovely and cheerful, and so I started following her blog a year or more ago. She just seemed so … happy.

I have suffered from depression – once during pregnancy; and then after a difficult period. It is hard to explain but life stops.

I wanted to contribute because Wink’s patterns are so wonderful and I want her to continue through her work.”

You can find Sara on her blog 40 Things Before 40.

Words by Wink

About Depression

One purpose of this project is to raise awareness about depression so each post will end with some facts, thoughts or quotes about depression, suicide and/or mental health. Today I wanted to talk about the diagnostic criteria for depression. Did you know that major depression can be diagnosed after just two weeks of symptoms? Many people find this surprising because depression is often such a persistent problem and can go a long time, years even, without being diagnosed. However, the official criteria for major depression requires that symptoms are persistent for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks in a row. Long-term depression that lasts for at least two years is called Persistent Depressive Disorder (formerly called dysthymia).

There are many different forms of depression, even within the single category of major depression. The diagnosis means that you have either a depressed mood and / or anhedonia (loss of interest). Plus you have to have at least five additional symptoms which may include weight change, sleep change, restlessness, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, indecisiveness and thoughts about death. A specific diagnosis made by a professional requires very strict criteria but that’s the gist of it (based on my academic knowledge of the DSM and my personal knowledge as someone treated for depression.

All contributions to Mandalas for Marinke are welcome and will help raise awareness about depression while honoring her work in the same way that this great contribution has done today. Details to join here.