Knitting has the extraordinary potential to calm the mind.
- Dr. Alberto Costa
If you practice yoga, you know the feeling of balance, calm, and focus you get after a yoga session. Many knitters report the same serene calmness after spending time with their knitting projects.
That peaceful feeling is common in both practices, and knitter and yoga teacher Mary Ann Gebhardt has written a shawl pattern to promote that serene sense she's experienced from yoga and knitting. She designed the Meditation Shawl (get the free pattern below) for us to knit as we think about our intentions, mantras, or prayers. What a special gift this shawl would make! Mary Ann's creation is an effortless, meditative garter-stitch triangle shawl, a shape that's easy to style and goes with everything.
In garter stitch, you simply knit every row-what could be more relaxing? With some simple shaping, the Meditation Shawl is perfect for achieving a state of peaceful relaxation. The shawl is finished with the i-cord bind-off, which is repetitive and can be meditative once you get going. If you've never worked this bind-off, you will love it!
Knit Along with Us!
We're hosting a Meditation Shawl KAL in our Ravelry group starting on June 15, 2021 and ends on September 1, 2021. All the details, including the free pattern link, are at the bottom of this post.
We'll be offering another fabulous giveaway at the end of the KAL, too!
The Mindful Collection
Mary Ann used her Mindful Collection needles to knit the Meditation Shawl, and she chose a gorgeous teal for her shawl, which is the signature color of the Mindful Collection. It was love at first sight when Mary Ann saw the Mindful Collection:
" Knitting as a meditation has always been my belief. I fell in love with the Mindful Collection needles at first sight, while teaching mindful meditation classes at my local yarn shop, Knitapestry. Mindful meditation knitting is the practice of allowing the stitches to move through the needles to the sound of Tibetan singing bowls. I had to get to know the Mindful Collection better, so I took my time looking over the website and felt it was like coming home; I noticed every detail from the words selected on the needles to the lotus flower on the packaging.
Each day I look forward to picking up my knitting, truly a time of peace. The perfect tip of the needle design allows the stitches to move smoothly from stitch to stitch, creating a rhythm with ease. While knitting the Meditation Shawl, I sat comfortably and allowed each stitch, each thought, to slowly release tension in my shoulders."
This collection has so much to offer: Gorgeous and thoughtfully designed tools to encourage the highly enjoyable practice of mindfulness, good health, and peacefulness. If you're new to mindful knitting, here's our in-depth guide .
Like Mary Ann, many of us have discovered that knitting is a wonderful path to mindful meditation; when accompanied by a steady in-out breathing pattern, we can achieve a certain serenity. The passing of time fades away and we become one with the process. We can focus on the yarn as it slips through our fingers onto the needles, the feeling of creating fabric from yarn, the feeling of working with beautiful tools.
To that end, Mary Ann encourages us to choose a yarn that we want to wrap ourselves in-cool cotton, soft rayon, silky mohair, or luscious cashmere-select a fiber that brings you comfort, one you love working with and will bring you peace in your knitting practice.
A special component to the Meditation Shawl knit-along are several meditations with Mary Ann.
If you're ready to cast on, get the free pattern here:
Download Meditation Shawl Pattern
The Giveaway!
As always, there will be a fantastic giveaway at the end of the KAL: The Kindness Interchangeable Needle Set, one of our most popular sets from the Mindful Collection.
You'll get seven sizes of versatile 4" needle tips, four cords, and an assortment of accessories-packaged in our beautiful Mindful Collection cream and teal case.
To be eligible for the giveaway, post photos of your finished cowl in the Ravelry group -OR- on your social media channels using the hashtag #MeditationShawlKAL-you won't want to miss out.
One entry per person, please.
Meditation Shawl Terms & Conditions:
- The knit-along begins on 6/15/2021 and ends on 9/1/2021 at 11:59 Pacific Time.
- To be entered in the giveaway, post a photo of your finished Meditation Shawl in the Knitter's Pride KAL thread on Ravelry-OR - post a photo of your finished shawl on your Instagram or Facebook channel with the tag, tagging it #MeditationShawlKAL.
- One entry per person.
- The winner will be contacted via direct message on Ravelry or social media channel. If we don't hear back within 14 days, a new winner will be drawn.
- The winner will be announced by his/her Instagram, Facebook, or Ravelry username.
- This knit-along is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram or Facebook. By entering, participants confirm they are 18+ years of age, release Instagram and Facebook of responsibility, and agree to their terms of use. No purchase necessary.
Mary Ann Gebhardt knits alongside her Tibetan singing bowls and her Mindful Collection needles.
Meditate with Mary Ann
Find a comfortable spot, pick up your knitting, and meditate with Mary Ann and her Tibetan Singing Bowls.
Picking up her needles and quietly sitting to knit is pure peace for Mary Ann. Visit her on her knitting site, Nahyat Designs or her yoga site, Yoga by Mary Ann, or both. In April 2021, Mary Ann will be hosting a meditation/knit-along on Zoom. Follow her on Instagram @mary_ann_gebhardt to find out more.
