Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Book Review – Mindful Knitting

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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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Add a Little Lace to Your Knitting Patterns

If you’re new to lace knitting or just aren’t sure how to incorporate the technique into garments, check out these tops and sweaters that use lace as a decorative element.

The easiest lace out there is eyelets, and you can practice them plenty with this eyelet covered sweater from Knitcro Addict. It uses light/DK weight yarn and is worked in four pieces knit flat. It’s intended to be a little cropped and a little oversized, and includes sizes XS to XXL in the pattern.

If you’re in parts of the world where it’s getting colder as you read this, the Nora sweater from Bummbul might be a good choice. This is actually a great one for learning lace because it’s worked in super bulky yarn, which makes it easier to see what you’re doing and makes the lace super graphic. This one just comes in one size, with a 42 inch (106) cm bust, but that could fit a variety of people depending on how much ease you like.

Minimi Knit Design has a cute allover lace cardigan worked in one piece from the bottom up. It’s worked in lace weight mohair held double, which maybe isn’t the best for those new to lace (because it can be hard to rip out) but it sure is pretty. Sizes range to fit from 30 to 66 inches/76 to 168 cm bust measurements.

If you’d rather not have lace all over your sweater, you can knit the Lumi sweater from Originally Lovely, which has a chevron lace pattern on the yoke and is otherwise worked in reverse stockinette stitch. (It’s worked inside out so you don’t have to purl every stitch.) The pattern has 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and uses worsted weight yarn.

Or try the super romantic sookie blouse from Trust the mojo (available on Ravelry). This sweet top is started working flat from the bottom up and has a V-neck and I-cord edgings. The sleeves are worked separately in the round, and the pieces are all joined together to work in one piece to finish off the top. It comes in eight sizes and is available in English and French.

You can also pair lacy sleeves with an otherwise plain top, like on the Starflower Wrap from Annelise Driscoll Gingrow. This intermediate pattern makes a wrap sweater with generous lacy sleeves and a double wrap belt. The pattern has nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, and is available for free from Hobbi.