One in 20 teens in the United States suffer from clinical depression, which impairs one’s ability to carry on without mood disorders and changes in behavior and physical health, according to notmykid.org.

Unfortunately, many young adults take on negative coping mechanisms, ranging from drug consumption to self-harm, to overcome their depression; however, for junior Emma Bigelow, depression resulted in a unique coping strategy and hobby – knitting.

“I’m battling depression, and there are so many negative coping skills out there and negative things to do, and I wanted to do something positive,” Bigelow said. “So I looked online and [found that] you can make a lot of cool things [by] knitting, so I went to Michaels, bought some yarn and needles and just started.”

Bigelow believes knitting has improved her approach in dealing with her depression.

“Knitting has helped a lot because it’s something to do with your hands, and it’s a repetitive movement so you just keep doing it, and I [eventually] lose track of time,” she said.

Knitting has become more than a hobby for Bigelow as her products started attracting her peers.

“I would wear some of the things I knit, and people were actually willing to buy [scarves] from me,” she said.

Bigelow started a Facebook page titled, “Bundled Up,” where customers can sift through images of the scarves she knitted and place an order via Facebook message based on two criteria: color and design.

According to Bigelow, customers are able to select any color and choose between the traditional, infinity and eternity styles for their own customized scarf. Along with scarves, hats are also available for customers to purchase.

“Although I do enjoy the money and the knitting, just seeing how happy people get when they see or try on my scarves makes me happy,”she said.

The knitting process takes approximately six to eight hours, ranging from two to five days. With Bundled Up being a student-run business, Bigelow occasionally finds time management difficult.

“Sometimes I don’t always have time to knit because of [De La Cru practice or homework],”she said. “Then I get behind on orders, and things can get frustrating.”

Sophomore Dana Grad, a customer of Bundled Up, expresses her satisfaction towards the quality of the scarves.

“I think [the scarves are] really professionally done,” Grad said. “They’re so soft, [and] it’s something that I would buy at a store. It’s really high quality, and I can’t believe Emma made them herself.”

Bigelow’s friend junior Yunsu Yu admires her positive attempt to gradually overcome her depression.

“It was hard to see her be so unhappy consistently but seeing her be able to become stronger as a person […] by knitting has made me really look up to her,” Yu said. “She is one of the strongest and bravest girls I know.”

The improvements Bigelow has made as a result of her knitting business are noticeable to her parents.

“[Emma] seems calmer and less distracted because she has something to keep her busy,” John Bigelow, Emma’s father, said.

Emma is currently learning to knit sweaters and mittens and plans on continuing her business for as long as customers show interest in her products.

“I’m also trying to learn how to knit sweaters and mittens now too, and when I have time, I try to learn how to crochet,” Emma said. “It’s fun learning all these techniques and it’s a good distraction.”