A ball of bright orange yarn rolls across the screen, finding its way to two winsome stuffed mice who begin to gather up tangled bunches of the stuff. Then lilting voices of English knitters begin telling their personal stories of healing, stitch by stitch. Not 30 seconds in, you already feel the love woven into this charming short film.
Samantha Moore's animated documentary, “Visible Mending,” (2023) is a touching exploration of how knitting can be a powerful tool for emotional repair. The film, nominated for a BAFTA Award, tells the stories of individuals who have used knitting to navigate adversity, calm anxiety, and forge meaningful social connections.
Moore’s beautifully crafted stop-motion animation showcases a group of knitted objects, each representing a personal story of healing and resilience. From a software engineer re-learning knitting to recover fine motor skills after a stroke, to an artist using knitting to connect communities, the film highlights the therapeutic benefits of this age-old craft.
The film also features insights from an occupational therapist specializing in pain management, who explains how knitting can positively impact the brain and aid in emotional healing. The tactile nature of the handmade puppets adds a layer of empathy, making the stories even more impactful.
Moore is an award-winning animation director and researcher. She has made work on diverse subjects, from competitive sweet pea growing to cutting edge microbiology, archaeology, neuroscience, and her own experience of having twins. She is Head of Animation at Royal College of Art, London.
Q&A
I read that your learning how to knit inspired you to make “Visible Mending.” What’s the story behind that?
My mum was unlucky enough to get early onset dementia in her 60s. She was a good knitter and my whole life I'd had her knit sweaters for me. Suddenly she had forgotten how to read a pattern, and as a way of dealing with my own grieving whilst we cared for her, I learned to knit from YouTube tutorials. It gave me an insight into the ways that knitting and other crafts can help us deal with difficulties in our lives. There's a pragmatism to it as a form of therapy that I really respond to!
How did you meet the people whose stories we hear in the documentary?
I spent some time taking public buses around Shropshire, the county in the UK where I live, talking to groups of knitters at libraries and community centres. I found a group that I really gelled with, led by a kind crafter called Kate Johnson. I began to regularly visit them to chat to them about their crafts, and even ran an animation workshop with them, so they could understand my craft too! Once we had the funding to make the film, I looked for a few more voices, like Mike Donnolly, the Scottish teddy, and Lorna Hamilton-Brown, an artist who makes the tension birds.
“Visible Mending” is winning accolades -- and hearts -- all around the world! Have people reached out to you with their own stories of ‘mending’?
Yes! We have been told the most amazing stories of how knitting and crochet has helped people deal with their lives. When the film was featured in the New York Times last Christmas I was in tears at the beautiful stories shared in the comments. We originally got seed funding from a ‘Celebrating Age’ programme in Shropshire funded by ACE, Baring Foundation and Shropshire Council, so I wanted to amplify stories of older people - the interviewees were in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. As well as international film festivals we have since screened the film in church halls, at yarn festivals, at Borderlines (rural media film festival) and at local rural film clubs.
You’re well-known for your 2-D animation expertise, but you decided to make this film with mostly stop-action animation of actual objects. What was it like for you to transfer your filmmaking skills to the 3-D world, so to speak?
It was tricky to change, as I was at the mercy of things like gravity and lighting which don't factor in 2D hand drawn animation! Now I have done it I am eager to do more - the world of stop motion opens up a totally different type of film making.
Do you find any creative similarities between animation and knitting?
Yes, there are lots of similarities. Both are incremental, require lots of patience, and you often have to surrender to the process despite wondering if you will ever complete it!
Now that you’ve taken up knitting for yourself, has it helped you find a new place of joy or serenity in your life?
Definitely. I am aware of knitting when I am under stress as a way of self-soothing. It is a way of slowing down and being in the moment, which is really needed when life gets stressful.
Watch how “Visible Mending” was made:
Photos and videos courtesy of Samantha Moore.
:-) Please like and share this post with anyone who could use a hug -- thanks!
What a lovely film about knitting and life.
Brilliantly done! Thank you.