During the Winter Holidays many of us like to slow down and consider the message of the season. This is not about religion as much as it the importance of creating and enjoying a special time – a time when contemplation and peace of mind is the ultimate gift.
It was with that in mind, that the Mindful Collection was developed for those of us who enjoy knitting for more than one reason. The fact that it results in attractive finished products is just one appeal of the craft. Those who have knit for a while know that its benefit are numerous. Not the least of these is the calming effect it has on those who practice it regularly.
Its health benefits have been acknowledged by physicians, therapists and meditators for years. (One oncologist we know keeps knitting needles and yarn in his waiting room for those who may suffer from anxiety while waiting.) There are blogs devoted to its therapeutic benefits and more than one book extols its welfare for those who suffer from a variety of problems. Knit for Health & Wellness is just one of many on the subject.
The Mindful Collection was designed to encourage knitters to mindfully concentrate on the moment while knitting. Soothing words, such as “Believe”, and “Balance” are imprinted on the smooth stainless-steel needles to provide the knitter with a mantra – a word that helps them stay concentrated on the moment.
An assortment of needle sets each of which delivers additional value, complements the collection, as does a beautiful assortment of accessories.
The Mindful Collection knitting accessories complement the entire collection's intent with its beautiful symbols, calm colors and packaging.
All this “talk” about the meditative aspect of knitting has made us want to make something. Here’s a simple pattern developed by one of our designers that reinforces the quality of peace that the Mindful Collection extols. It’s a simple triangular shawl. It was knit originally in a worsted weight blend, but we think it would look wonderful in a double strand of Symfonie Yarn’s Viva. Viva comes in over 50 semi-solid colors and 10 variegated ones. While any one of them is luscious, imagine how thrilled someone you love would be to receive a shawl in one of these beautiful colors. These are just a few examples of Viva’s offerings:
It is no secret that the art of crochet is also beneficial in more than one way. The repetitive and rhythmic motion of the hook induces a state of calm that is a perfect antidote for stressful times. We were not surprised to find this interesting feature online:
10 Best Mindfulness Crochet Patterns
Any one of these patterns are sure to help you practice and perfect your crochet skills. These crochet hook sets will insure that you have the right size hook for whatever you are doing. Lots of folks like an aluminum hook for its lightweight and smooth glide. The handles on the Waves set are shaped for hand comfort. This set of the 9 most popular sizes come packed in a brightly colored vinyl zippered case.(It also makes a wonderful gift.)
Some people prefer the feel of wooden crochet hooks – perhaps it’s what they learned on. If that is the case, take a look at this set of 8 colorful hooks – all packaged in one see-through case.
Created from highly polished and radiantly colored birchwood, they are smooth to the touch for both hands and yarn. The polished wood surface of the highly defined hook ensures smooth effortless crocheting with no snagging or slippage.
In case you haven’t heard, there is more than one way to crochet. Lately, Tunisian Crochet has come to the attention of people who love both knitting and crocheting. In many ways it bears a resemblance to both. Tunisian crochet produces a very dense fabric and is ideal for blankets, throws and cushions. The fabric produced will not unravel when cut -Unheard of with regular crochet and knitting! It takes two rows of stitching – one picking up row and one casting off row – to form one complete row of stitches. Be sure to take a look at these Interchangeable Tunisian hooks as well.
These hooks are created from polished and colored birchwood and their easy to connect long cable and stopper make them ideal for a full range of projects, including wide blankets and throws. (Pls. note: These cables are the same cords that are used for the Knit pro Interchangeable knitting needles.
Tunisian Crochet work is a remarkably easy craft and results in a very impressive project Take a look at this pattern to see what we mean!
We will be back, soon, with more ideas and inspirations. In the meantime, we wish you a happy peaceful Holiday season.
