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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While I was knitting this baby blanket, my husband was curious as to why I was knitting a baby blanket when there are no babies in the near future that we know of. (What we know is kind of relative since some friends told us they were adopting a couple of years ago with less than a month’s notice.)

I said, “well, I had the yarn.” Which is true. I bought a ball of Bernat Sport Ombre Twist yarn when JoAnn was closing and it seemed like just the thing to make a baby blanket.

And at more than 1,000 yards per skein, I figured a one-skein baby blanket would be a fun project to try.

It actually worked out perfectly, with the blanket coming out a good size. With the border it’s 36 inches/91.4 cm square, which is what I’m usually aiming for when I knit baby blankets but I rarely hit it because I also rarely check gauge for a baby blanket since it’s usable whatever size it is.

I had enough yarn to work the blanket and two rounds of single crochet as a border, with a few yards of yarn to spare.

If you don’t crochet you can leave off the border or do an applied I-cord or some kind of knit border, but you might need to use a contrasting yarn for that.

The blanket uses sand stitch, which is an easy knitting stitch that only uses knits and purls. It’s sort of stockinette on one side and alternating knits and purls on the other. There’s some debate as to which side of this stitch pattern is considered the front, but the good news is they both look good.

You can grab this free pattern over at Our Daily Craft. Stitch it up even if you don’t know of any babies coming soon. You never know, and it can always be a charity project if all else fails.

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