Knitting is…

During a recent conversation about knitting, a woman said to me “so knitting is very meditative for you.” And I thought to myself, “Well, yes. But it’s so much more than that.” 

It is true, when I pick up the needles and begin to engage, I go somewhere else. My busy mind shifts its focus to one stitch at a time. I concentrate, and repeat similar actions over and over and over. Knit, knit, knit / Purl, purl, purl / Knit, knit, knit / Purl, purl, purl / Knit, knit, knit / Purl, purl, purl. Almost instantly I am seduced into a trance of calm, creative meditation. It feels so good. 

Over the years, knitting has become something much deeper than just a craft. Knitting is a friend. It is a relationship that is truly unconditional. We work together, slowly, peacefully, and with mutual respect, revealing the most beautiful qualities in each other. Our only agenda is to create something magical that will bring joy, comfort, and fascination to someone’s heart.

Knitting is a way in which I offer love to others. As I knit, I reflect upon the person I am creating for, reminiscing on why I love that person, and why I am grateful for their presence in my life. I bless the yarn as I go, infusing it with healing energy and vibrations of joy. It is a prayerful dance of yarn and Spirit, weaving together Divine strands of color and softness that will one day wrap itself around the recipient, holding them in love and warmth, soothing them in the same way knitting soothes me. 

Knitting is an act of giving and receiving. Watching people light up when you give them a personalized piece of your work is so deeply moving. The rich exchange of love brings joy to both their heart and mine. People are often overwhelmed with the amount of time, work, and energy that goes into creating something specifically for them. They feel an enormous amount of love, often bringing them to tears. It is one of the most intimate ways in which to show someone how valued they are. It’s remarkably healing. 

Knitting is also one of my greatest teachers. It teaches me how to be patient with myself. It teaches me to reach beyond my comfort zone and try new things. It teaches me that imperfection is a beautiful part of life. And most importantly, knitting teaches me to love myself and to be proud of my work, two skills that challenge me in most other areas of life. 

And let’s not forget how fun it is. Knitting is limitless in joy and creativity. There is always a choice to make, a challenge to step into, and a new skill to learn. It’s exhilarating, zipping in and out of tricky pattern sequences, making bold color choices, and choosing new yarns that create drape, bold stitch definition, or snuggly soft warmth. It’s the key that unlocks an infinite possibility of self expression to share with others. 

But life isn’t always fun. Sometimes I just want to escape the world and hide away in my knitting. But even then, the yarn comes to my rescue. It listens to my Soul and soothes me with its softness as it slides through my fingers. In no time at all, it reveals a beautiful piece of fabric, reminding me that the world isn’t all darkness and fear. 

So to answer the question, yes, knitting is very meditative. But it is also the most honest and authentic expression of who I am, and how I love. It is a tool for inspiration, connection, love, and joy. It is how I show up in the world. It is my way of healing myself and others, one stitch at a time.