In 2020, researchers Pippa Burns and Rosemary Van Der Meer published “Happy Hookers,” a study of more than 8,000 crocheters. Nearly 9 in 10 said crochet made them feel calmer, and many said it helped them through tough times. But anyone who has ever received a handmade gift knows it does something more: it keeps people close. A blanket for Grandma, a scarf under the Christmas tree, a hat spun from a beloved dog’s fur: stitch by stitch, they hold family love, laughter, kindness, and sometimes even a secret.