第1659期:The benefits of craft making

Are you good with your hands? Many of us like to make things which we can use or give as gifts. Crafting is certainly a hobby that’s seen a resurgence, and those who pursue it claim getting creative improves their mood.

你的手好用吗？我们中的许多人都喜欢制作可以使用或作为礼物赠送的东西。手工制作无疑是一种重新流行的爱好，追求它的人声称获得创意可以改善他们的心情。

The recent lockdowns caused by the Covid pandemic gave people time at home to try out new activities, which they’ve continued to enjoy. Many turned to hobbies such as craft making as a way to soothe their work-from-home burnout. Knitting, crocheting, pottery and painting are all crafts that have seen a revival, and many of them are being done by younger people.

Covid 大流行导致的最近封锁让人们有时间在家里尝试新的活动，他们继续享受这些活动。许多人转向手工制作等爱好来缓解他们在家工作的倦怠感。针织、钩编、陶艺和绘画都是复兴的工艺品，其中许多都是由年轻人从事的。

But even before the pandemic, people were turning to arts and crafts as an interesting pastime and even a way to make a bit of pocket money. Numerous websites, such as Etsy and Folksy, allowed people to sell their handmade goods. Richard Sennett, author of the Craftsman, told the BBC that: “A lot of people are finding their day jobs pretty empty, whereas learning a craft provides a real satisfaction. It’s a skill – things like carpentry and weaving are mentally and physically stimulating, and people get inherent pleasure out of that kind of work”.

但即使在大流行之前，人们就开始将艺术和手工艺作为一种有趣的消遣，甚至是一种赚点零用钱的方式。许多网站，如 Etsy 和 Folksy，允许人们出售他们的手工制品。 《工匠》一书的作者理查德·森尼特 (Richard Sennett) 告诉 BBC：“很多人发现他们的日常工作很空虚，而学习一门手艺却能带来真正的满足感。这是一种技能——像木工和编织这样的东西可以刺激身心，人们从这种工作中获得内在的乐趣”。

The internet has also been the place to turn to to buy craft kits which help you get started with your craft-making projects, such as candle making or macrame. But many people are enjoying designing and making things from scratch and are doing it just for pleasure or to occupy their minds – and there’s evidence that it’s good for us as well. According to research commissioned by BBC Arts, even the briefest time spent on a creative pastime such as painting, pottery or playing the piano, has an impact on our wellbeing and emotions. The survey of around 50,000 people found being creative can help avoid stress, free up mind space and improve self-development, which helps build self-esteem.

互联网也是购买工艺套件的地方，可以帮助您开始您的工艺制作项目，例如蜡烛制作或花边。但是很多人都喜欢从头开始设计和制作东西，并且只是为了乐趣或占据他们的思想 - 并且有证据表明这对我们也有好处。根据 BBC Arts 委托进行的研究，即使花在绘画、陶艺或弹钢琴等创造性消遣上的时间最短，也会对我们的幸福感和情绪产生影响。对大约 50,000 人的调查发现，具有创造力有助于避免压力、释放思维空间并改善自我发展，从而有助于建立自尊。

So, if you’re looking for the perfect tonic for your stressed-out life, maybe now’s the time to get creative.

所以，如果您正在为您压力重重的生活寻找完美的滋补品，也许现在是发挥创意的时候了。

词汇表

good with your hands 手巧
crafting 手工制作
hobby 兴趣爱好
creative 创造性的，创意的
craft making 做手工
knitting 针织
crocheting 钩织
pottery 陶艺
painting 绘画
revival 再度流行
arts and crafts 美术与工艺
pastime 消遣活动
handmade 手工制作的
satisfaction 满足感
carpentry 木匠活，木工
weaving 编织
craft kit 工艺套装
candle making 制作蜡烛
macrame 编绳，编结
from scratch 从零开始