Satisfaction and frustration: the well-being experience of homemade knitwear

This paper considers well-being in relation to homemade knitted garments. The topic forms part of a qualitative design research project investigating amateur making as a sustainable fashion strategy. Within this context, well-being is identified as an integral component of sustainability. A small group of amateur knitters took part in the project; they were interviewed individually before taking part in a series of knitting and design workshops with an experienced designer-maker. The process of knitting is widely recognised as beneficial in terms of well-being, offering a source of relaxation, personal satisfaction and social connection. However, knitters can experience frustrations, such as patterns restricting opportunities for creativity. Homemade clothes materialise the making process, and wearing them can create a strong sense of identity and pride. However, the positives of the making process do not automatically carry through to the wearing phase. Homemade clothes are marginal in comparison to the mass-produced norm. They are particularly vulnerable within the context of contemporary fashion, which is already ambivalent in terms of well-being. Despite these issues, the preliminary results of this research indicate that amateur knitters can be supported to work without fixed patterns and achieve wearable results which contribute to a positive sense of well-being.