Crafting awareness.
Mindful or mindless?
INSIDE: an intriguing thought, cabling adjustments, drool-worthy yarn, a lane way yarn surprise + wondrous nature.
I’ve been conscious when I’m knitting, I’m usually listening to an audiobook or a podcast and thus multitasking.
My fingers and hands and parts of my brain are attending to the stitches but most of my brain is listening to the story or the interview.
So, I’m not really present with my knitting.
Would it be better to attend only to creating the stitches, and practice mindfulness during those knitting breaks? By being aware of my breath, letting thoughts come and go, and being present with only one activity.
Many people love knitting and listening, chatting, or watching their favorite program/movie. They get to relax and also achieve something.
We live in a society where being busy, being “a doer” getting things done and achieving outcomes is rewarded with praise.
Why isn’t just knitting enough?
Why am I adding other activities into the time I spend knitting?
The answer is, it stops me from thinking.
My mind is engaged in the audio entertainment and I don’t have to sit in the discomfort some of my thoughts bring. I seek escape from that! My mind doesn’t ruminate and get stuck in the negative all the time, but it happens.
My meditation practice is about letting thoughts come and go but not holding on to any of them in particular. You can’t stop thoughts!
Somehow, I’ve decided my meditation practice is where I’ll work on awareness, but not at other times. It’s time to change this.
So, I’m challenging myself to only sit and knit, and see what happens.
Hopefully, with more time spent in awareness, my brain’s plasticity will kick in and create new neural pathways. And the clarity and calm I experience in my mind will be strengthened.
I’ll test this out in these coming weeks and share with you how I’m going!
Another question for you: When are you in a state of awareness when crafting?
I’m in awe of people’s ability to create knitting patterns! The intricacies of the stitches forming a design, the different sizing requirements, and all that math!
The Flow Tee caught my attention because of the cable yoke. The body and sleeves are reverse stockinette, which means purl stitches on the right side.
That’s different to many patterns with traditional stockinette knit stitches.
As my row gauge is off, (I reached 35 rows whereas the pattern gauge is 38 rows), I’ll need to knit more rows for the cable yoke.
The designer, Trin-Annelie, says I can knit more rows of the cable pattern from the size larger than mine, or knit plain.
I’m inclined to keep knitting in the cable pattern as it’s so lovely.
Hopefully, by next week, I’ll have the cable yoke finished and the short rows for raising the back are done. But this may be a big ask!
I’ve re-read the section in the pattern for the short rows.
I’ll need to practice the special technique for the W&T (Wrap & Turn) short rows explained in a suggested YouTube video.
My knitting journey is full of learning which I thrive on. I’ll never become complacent about knitting, there’s just so much I’m yet to learn!
Look at these beauties! These balls of recycled silk fibers from Nepal were gifted to me by my Mum for Christmas. They’re so colorful.
The strands are long and short so there are lots of loose threads from the ply. I’d like to try weaving with these rather than knit or crochet with them.
I’ve always wanted to learn to weave. I’m sure not this type of fiber is suitable, but I’m excited to find out!
My son only did a few rows this week. Still, some fun progress, he tells me!
A trip down memory lane…
In 2018, I was living in Malaga, Spain, and I visited Lanas Cinco Bolas (which literally translates to “five balls of yarn.”)
It was a delightful small store in a laneway near the older parts of the city of Malaga. There, I practiced my limited Spanish to purchase some Katia Merino Baby wool which was in very sweet colors of aqua, green, purple & pink.
I also purchased a set of tapestry needles which I still have.
I found a simple lace shawl pattern: Nettle Grove Ridged Shawl by Plymouth Yarns. I liked how the lace sections separated by garter stitch rows are reversible.
The yarn was a real treat to knit with as it was so soft and squishy. The shawl was more the size of a neck wrap as I knitted it in different yarn to the pattern.
I’ve no idea where that knitted piece has got to, it wasn’t in the box of knitted items I’ve had in storage. Oh well, it was lovely while I had it.
It doesn’t look like Katia sells the colorway I knitted with anymore.
Trying to block it without any pins on a towel is harder than you’d think.
Mystery Quote Of The Week
“As soon as I could use my hands, she taught me to knit, which has been a great amusement; and she put me in the way of making these little thread-cases, pincushions and card-racks, which you always find me so busy about, and which supply me with the means of doing a little good to one or two very poor families in this neighborhood.”
Which character said this in which book? Comment or press reply! No cheating!
(You’ll find out if you were correct next week.)
Last week’s was… Ann Budd! Let me know if you got it right.
Crafting Trivia Question Of The Week
Which knitting design is associated with Scotland and golfers?
What’s the answer? Leave a comment or press reply! No cheating!
(You’ll find out if you were correct next week.)
Last week’s answer to: who holds the record for knitting the longest scarf?
Helge Johansen of Norway, knitted a 4,565.46m (14,978 ft + 6.16 in) long scarf! Did you get it right? Let me know if you did!
What I’m grateful for this week…
There’s a massive River Red Gum tree on my daily walk I take alongside the Murray River. The girth of this beauty is enormous!
If this tree could talk, what stories would it share with me? I touch this tree and greet it each time. It’s so beautiful and awe-inspiring, and I smile and feel at ease in its presence.
I’m grateful for being able to walk in nature and soak in all its goodness.
A thought for you to ponder this coming week…
Awe is such a wonderful feeling that’s so important to cultivate in our lives.
As
says in his book, Steal Like An Artist: “Read deeply. Stay open. Continue to wonder.”So, may you find something that makes you smile, something awe inspiring and brings wonder!
How’s your crafting going? Leave a comment or press reply!
P.S. Another photo of that lovely gumtree.
P.P.S Thanks for reading!
(Disclosure: Any purchases made through links may earn me a commission.)
Before you go…
Some day I’d love to know more about the places you’ve lived! I believe I’ve gathered Thailand, Spain, and Australia thus far. What brought you to those places? If you’ve already shared, I’d be happy to read it if you could point me to it
Your poll should include the choice "all of the above." Sometimes I listen to a book or a podcast, sometimes I watch TV, sometimes I am with a group of friends, and sometimes I just sit and knit!