"The best way to capture the moment is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness."
Jon Kabat-Zinn
The ancient art of knitting is known to be a powerful force for health and healing. Knitting stimulates the whole brain and results in benefits that calm both body and mind. The rhythmic movements induce a form of meditation, bringing relaxation and mindful moments. One of the beautiful things about the craft is that the process creates health advantages for the knitter as a product is created.
The simple act of sitting quietly and focusing on knitting helps reduce heart rate and can lower blood pressure, and it's been shown to ease symptoms of anxiety and chronic pain.
Here are just some of the advantages of knitting:
- Improved dexterity
- Reduction in stress
- Cognitive improvement
- Arthritis relief
- Increase in confidence
- Better concentration
Knitting, like meditation, can generate benefits that improve lives.
Your Guide to Mindful Knitting
Knitting designer and yoga teacher Mary Ann Gebhardt has discovered that knitting is a wonderful path to mindful meditation; when accompanied by a steady in-out breathing pattern, we can achieve a sense of 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 and the feeling of working with beautiful tools.
What are Circular Knitting Needles?
Mary Ann designed the Meditation Shawl for meditative knitting. The relaxing garter-stitch pattern is perfect for centering yourself and welcoming the healing powers of knitting.
Tibetan singing bowls are a tool Mary Ann uses to focus her students. The harmony of the singing bowls, when combined with knitting, allows deep relaxation and stress relief. "Holding knitting needles with yarn wrapped gently around my fingers soothes my soul," says Mary Ann.
Mary Ann has recorded several guided meditations, some with the singing bowls and some without, on our YouTube Channel. We invite you to explore meditative knitting with Mary Ann!
Ravelry user Skye5311's Meditation Shawl is the perfect intersection of process and product.
Download the Meditation Shawl and join our knit-along!
Download Meditation Shawl Pattern
Let the Mindful Collection Inspire You
Mary Ann used the Warmth Interchangeable Needle Set in our Mindful Collection to knit her shawl. These beautiful tools are perfect for meeting your creative needs and setting a tranquil environment for meditative knitting.
Knitter's Pride is headquartered in India, a country that appreciates the value of meditation. So, we created the Mindful Collection to harness that knowledge and combine our special knitting tools with the soulful characteristics of the craft.
We used mindful words throughout the collection, including on the knitting needles-we laser-printed words are on each needle, one word per size"inspire," "breathe," "create," "dream," "dream," and moreencourage focus while you work.
Created with heart and hand, the needles and accessories in the collection convey our mindful intention for your wellbeing. We even carried mindfulness into the packagingeach piece in the collection feels like a gift and is made from biodegradable materials and inks.
Let your mind flow in harmony with the rhythm of your hands with the Mindful Collection.
Kathleen Cubley shares her knitting on Instagram @kathcub (there might also be some cute dog stuff there). Follow Knitter's Pride on Instagram and Facebook.
