This Adorable $25 Purchase Is Proven To Relieve Stress And Support Brain Function

It’s a good day on the internet, because something wholesome has gone viral: these outrageously cute, “Shark Tank”-approved Woobles crochet kits.

The kits, which enable you to make your own crochet plushie, have amassed a true cult following, with 1.5 million TikTokers singing their praises and a recent Woobles event in New York City with a four-hour wait time to enter, according to a HuffPoster with a friend in attendance.

Lucky for us, we don’t have to queue up for hours to enjoy them — or to reap the well-documented scientific benefits of crocheting, which are far more extensive than you might know (I didn’t).

Studies show that crocheting helps to reduce stress and anxiety, increase self-esteem and calmness, and boost dopamine and serotonin, according to the American Counseling Association. Crocheting is so effective at improving age-related memory loss and postponing the onset of dementia that it’s used as its own form of therapy. It’s also a powerful tool for processing grief, managing chronic pain and even reducing insomnia. (HuffPost previously covered multiple studies about the benefits of knitting (and crochet), one of which stated that “an enormous amount of research [shows] that knitting has physical and mental health benefits, that it slows the onset of dementia, combats depression and distracts from chronic pain.”)

Plus, the practice’s portability and relative low cost make it especially ideal, researchers noted.

Crocheting’s litany of advantages make it something of a no-brainer for creative folks and people in need of stress relief to incorporate into their lives.

Woobles makes it easy and extra-fun to pick up the craft, which was exactly founder Justine Tiu’s intention. “When I made my very first crochet plushie ... I spent a lot of time piecing together a hodge podge of tutorials,” she wrote on the site. “All I could think was — what’s a girl gotta do to crochet a cute penguin[?!]”

Now, Woobles fills that gap, with your pick of adorable animals (from foxes and bunnies to dinosaurs and dragons), pop culture characters (including from Harry Potter and Hello Kitty) and sweet food pieces (like a coffee mug and a birthday cake!). They also frequently release limited edition and collaboration kits for extra-unique, fresh options.

They have offerings for beginners and seasoned crocheters alike, with skill levels assigned to every kit. Each one also includes actually-helpful, step-by-step video instructions that reviewers deem “excellent.”

You can grab single kits should a particular critter catch your eye, or a thoughtfully compiled multi-project bundle that’ll provide more characters for cheaper. All beginner kits come with a crochet needle (and a pre-started piece) so you’ll be ready to start right away.

Read on for some of our favorite Woobles picks.

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