Book Review – Mindful Knitting

Knitting is a relaxing and calming activity that can help reduce stress and soothe the mind. The repetitive motions of knitting and the focus it requires can help to absorb attention and distract from unwanted thoughts. The book “Mindful Knitting: 35 creative and calming patterns to reduce stress and soothe the mind” offers 35 meditative knitting patterns that use color, repetition, and texture to enhance the calming effect of knitting.

These patterns are specially designed to incorporate calming repetition and different textures, as well as mood-boosting bright colors and soothing pastel shades. These projects are suitable for beginners through to experienced knitters. As you knit, you can focus on the present moment, letting the click of the needles and the rhythm of the stitches help you to be in the moment, bringing you calmness and a sense of wellbeing.

Many of the projects in the book make ideal gifts, bringing you satisfaction and positivity as you knit them for other people. There are also homewares included such as a mandala pillow and a meditation garland that you can create to inspire your environment, as well as cozy accessories and garments to allow you to focus on yourself. All the techniques and stitches you will need are explained with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step artworks.

In summary, knitting is a meditative activity that can bring calmness and a sense of wellbeing by requiring focus, incorporating calming repetition and different textures, as well as mood-boosting colors. The book “Mindful Knitting: 35 creative and calming patterns to reduce stress and soothe the mind” offers 35 such patterns that you can use to destress and unwind.

Get it here: Mindful Knitting: 35 creative and calming patterns to reduce stress and soothe the mind

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Once you get past the rush of the holidays, it’s time to focus on yourself and your home and what’s going to make you feel good for the rest of winter. For me, that’s having a homemade blanket in every room. I’m currently working on a granny stitch crochet blanket, but I wanted to share some cozy knit blanket patterns with you in case you’re on the lookout for something great to knit yourself or someone you love.

I have really been enjoying log cabin projects lately because they’re a great way to use stash and I love the connections between knitting and quilting. This log cabin scrap blanket pattern is free from Very Pink, and it includes a video tutorial if you haven’t done log cabin knitting before. It’s worked in garter stitch and has blocks that are connected by borders in a single color.

Speaking of scrap busting (since that’s on my mind all the time, but particularly when New Year’s resolution time rolls around), the Hue Shift Afghan by Kerin Dimeler-Laurence is worked in a huge array of colors in garter stitch mitered squares. The pattern has options for working with sport weight or worsted weight yarn, and the blanket is worked in quarters and then sewn together, but the individual squares in each section are worked off each other for minimal finishing. Get the pattern from Knit Picks.

If you’re looking for an easy pattern that has a lot of texture, this quilted knit throw from Mama in a Stitch is a great choice. It uses chunky yarn in a single color to make a simple knit and purl pattern that looks like diamonds. The designer notes that a lighter colored yarn is helpful for making the stitch pattern stand out, but you can try whatever color you like.

Or go even simpler with the Bella Vita blanket from Christaco Design. This one uses super bulky yarn (or make it a stash buster by holding two strands of worsted weight yarn together). The pattern has a seed stitch border and allover knit and purl pattern, and includes sizes from baby blanket to California king.

If instead you want a project that will challenge you and occupy your mind as well as your needles, try the Aran texture cable afghan knitting pattern from Pattern Professionals. This gorgeous design features panels of cables and other textured stitches, and the pattern is originally form the 1970s. It uses worsted weight yarn and each pattern strip is worked individually and sewn together (though you could combine them into one big panel if you’d rather).

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