Today’s crochet mandala for the Mandalas for Marinke project is by Jen from Birmingham, UK, who shares that she chose this crochet mandala pattern because she liked the pattern itself. She also liked the colors, but then she didn’t have those colors in her own yarn stash, so she adjusted them. She says:
“I have used Sirdar baby sparkle, which I love, but sadly it has been discontinued. I like the fact that the colors are pale, and I think the overall effect is lovely.”
I agree!
Jen also shares,
“I didn’t know Wink, but I understand her story, and I’m very sad to hear that depression has claimed another life. I wanted to join in with this project, because it is very close to my heart, and I believe it is so important to raise awareness about depression. I also believe that crochet and knitting have and continue to save my life.”
“My depression really took hold about 8 or 9 years ago. At the same time, I suffered badly with an eating disorder. It is quite a long and complicated story, which I don’t want to go into now, but my struggle with an eating disorder has led to some serious physical issues, and my body is permanently damaged.”
“I have had numerous forms of treatment for depression / ED over the years, and during one of those I learned how to crochet. My mom had taught me to knit as a teen, but I had forgotten; however, I have since picked it up again , big time.
Crochet has given me something to focus on, and in recent years I have started to sell items (on Etsy @Newton Craftworks), which gives me an incredible sense of pride. Over the last couple of years, I have suffered from chronic fatigue, and even at my lowest energy levels, I sit and crochet. I find it takes little or not concentration and it keeps my mood stable, as it gives me something to focus on.”
I send love to Wink’s family. I hope thy can take something from the outpouring of love I have seen on Instagram, and I didn’t even know her. Now I feel like I do.
Connect with Jen @newtoncraftworks on Instagram.
We learned in a previous Mandalas for Marinke post that somewhere between half and three quarters of people struggling with eating disorders have a co-existing struggle with depression. Psychiatric nurse and fiber artist Paula White has previously shared with us her own struggle with these issues and how craft helped her overcome them. Notably, anxiety disorders may co-occur even more frequently with eating disorders than does depression.