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Helpline
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Already an avid knitter, enjoy crocheting or just fancy giving it a go?
You can help spread awareness and help raise funds, by making and selling one of our suggested ideas below or choose your own craft!
The answer is anything! Here are a couple of suggestions to get the (sewing) ball rolling:
When I became ill with Crohn’s, I had to stop work as education manager at an outdoor museum on the North Yorkshire Moors, as it was quite a physical job. I’ve always enjoyed crafting so, rather than just mope around the house, I taught myself to crochet.
My husband persuaded me that other people might like my crafts so I set up a little shop on the online marketplace, Etsy. I didn’t want the pressure of doing it as a business, so I decided to raise money for charity and Crohn’s & Colitis UK was the obvious choice.
I’ve been selling for just over two years and so far I’ve donated £1,881. It’s also about raising awareness. I set up an Instagram account where I mainly post about crafting, but I’ll often comment on how I’m getting on with my Crohn’s too.
I used to think, why would people want to listen to what I have to say about Crohn’s? But then I thought, no, I’m going to share this and get it out there in the open. The Happy Bowels is the first crochet pattern I wrote myself and it has kind of become my mascot. I want people to have happy bowels even when the real thing is anything but happy.
I’ve never officially hit remission but, compared to how it’s been in the past, my Crohn’s is fairly well controlled. I now work part-time from home doing admin for my husband’s company, so that enables me to manage my condition and gives me more time for crafting.
Crafting is definitely good for my wellbeing. It helps me feel productive, even in times when I don’t feel as productive in my life in general. I get quite anxious about medical things, like when I’m going in for a procedure or starting a new medication, so I’ll often craft in the run-up to that and I find it soothing. I’ve had a couple of minor reactions to medicines in the past so whenever I start something new I’m always paranoid that it’s going to happen again. If I sit and crochet, I’m focusing on that and not on thinking, is my throat swelling up, am I getting a rash, is my heart rate increasing?
Emma Colclough
Crafting champion
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We know it can be difficult to live with, or support someone living with these conditions. But you’re not alone. We provide up-to-date, evidence-based information and can support you to live well with Crohn’s or Colitis.
Our helpline team can help by:
Providing information about Crohn’s and Colitis.
Listening and talking through your situation.
Helping you to find support from others in the Crohn’s and Colitis community.
Signposting you to specialist organisations.
Please be aware we’re not medically or legally trained. We cannot provide detailed financial or benefits advice or specialist emotional support.
Please contact us via telephone, email or LiveChat - 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (except English bank holidays).
If you need specific medical advice about your condition, your GP or IBD team will be best placed to help.
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