Project Knitwell, a nonprofit organization serving the Washington DC metro area since 2010, is seeking a research partner. Project Knitwell is a small nonprofit in the Washington DC area that teaches people knitting as a wellness practice to people going through difficult times.
We have developed a research proposal investigating knitting as a strategy to manage elementary students’ stress. This study would be conducted in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools at Riverside Elementary School, a Title I school where we currently provide knitting programming.
Study Overview:
• Population: 4th-6th grade students (n=30)
• Design: Quasi-experimental pre/post study over 8 weeks
• Focus: Measuring changes in stress levels through knitting intervention
• Timeline: Spring 2026 implementation
We believe this could be an excellent partnership opportunity. While we’re relatively new to formal research, we’re very excited to participate in this process and are seeking a research lead who could help us refine our methodology, conduct statistical analysis, and guide the academic aspects of this study. The research has potential for significant impact, contributing to literature on alternative therapeutic interventions in educational settings while providing practical, replicable programming for children facing challenges.
Please reach out to lkeogh@knitwell.org if you are interested.