Barbara Breen
July 17, 2025
Soothing Stitches: My Journey into Meditative Knitting
Why would a knitter with 30-plus years of seasoned experience – and hardly a daywcithout yarn on her needles – decide to set aside complexity and return to the mostbasic beginner-style projects? The answer is as simple as the stitches in my designs: to find relief from the ever growing – though self-imposed – challenges of advancedknitting and reconnect with the quiet joy I’d somehow lost along the way.
I’d been a knitting nomad, wandering everywhere the craft beckoned, from scarves to sweaters to blankets, from intricate lace to Aran cables and honeycombs. I was always chasing a new technique or looking to bring an original twist to an old favorite. My results ran the gamut from glorious to ghastly, with plenty of frogging and frustration in between. I’d take a bow when my creation turned out to be a keeper, and secretly bury the disasters when things went off the rails.I thoroughly enjoyed both the challenges and the peacefulness that knitting brought intomy life, but I longed to tap more fully into the sustaining rewards I knew I could find within this beloved craft. Knitting of any fashion helps to soften the noise of everyday life, but especially so when the steady rhythm of the stitches fosters meditative clarity. Sometimes knitting organically bring us to that place, and when it does, it feels like truenirvana. But why, I asked myself, leave all those valuable and restorative benefits to chance? There had to be a better way. I decided to take a deep dive into meditative knitting.
For me, meditative knitting isn’t something that just happens. It’s a conscious choice.I’ve found that the best way to tap into its potential is by choosing a simple, easily memorized pattern, using a soft yarn that glides smoothly from needle to needle, and following a few simple steps.
First, set aside a small block of time where you can work undisturbed, adding soft music or soothing sounds if that helps you to relax. Then, pick up your knitting as gently as you would a sleeping baby, rest your eyes on your yarn and needles, and begin to knit with extremely slow, deliberate movements. As you would with any type of meditative practice, allow intruding thoughts to drift through your mind and float away, as you knit with a sense of wonder and quiet presence.Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your craft in other ways. You may be a TV knitter like me, a novice working on your first sweater, a speed knitter, a sockafficionado, or an experimental knitter who thrives on intricate colorwork. Rather than thinking of meditative knitting as a replacement for your favorite pastime, see it as acompanion practice – something you return to on a regular basis, or simply from time to time, as a breather between projects.
My book, Simple Designs for Meditative Knitting: 19 Easy, Beautiful Patterns for a Mindful Experience, was born from a desire to share the calming qualities of meditative knitting with others, whether they are new to the craft or seasoned experts. Anyone seeking a creative outlet that brings a sense of peace to their daily lives is welcome to explore this gentle, restorative space. My designs offer familiar stitch patterns that are incorporated into scarves, hats & amp; mitts, blankets, place mats, and one particularly lovely poncho. The patterns stand on their own merits, no matter how a knitter wants to use them, but each has been curated with care to maximize the mental and physical benefits of knitting through simple, repetitive movements. Tips for incorporating mindfulness into the creative process, and step-by-step instructions on how to achieve a meditative state are included. One meaningful outcome of my journey has been how I approach my craft. I now see knitting through a different lens, choosing yarns that inspire my creativity, rather than looking for a yarn to fit a predetermined pattern. I let the color, texture, and character of the yarn lead the way, pairing it with simple stitches that allow its personality to take center stage. And I’ve let go of the notion that ease equals boredom. The most beautiful garments often emerge from the simplest designs.I hope my journey into meditative knitting offers a reminder that tranquility can be found in quiet, ordinary moments shared with a soft ball of yarn, a pair of needles, and a desire for inner peace.
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