Knitting as Meditation

I'll be teaching a guided knitting meditation twice this April. Once here and again here. 

Years ago I was working on a very complex piece of knitted lace, which had patterning on both sides. While I was able to memorize some of the rows or read the previous row and work by following the patterns shapes quite a few of the transition rows required line by line reading of the pattern. It was one of those projects that I had to work on by myself in a quiet place with no interruptions. I found the intense focus lead to what the positive psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi describes as flow which is “a state of concentration or complete absorption with the activity at hand and the situation. It is a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter.” 

Fast forward to a few years ago and I started reading up on establishing a meditation practice. I've gone to some guided meditations and found more on YouTube that I could do at home. Attaining a daily practice can be challenging in a busy life which lead me to trying a variety of types of meditation. Some of those focus simple mindfulness during daily life.

In an online survey of  knitters, conducted by a knitting therapist, Betsan Corkhill, reported that knitting left them feeling "very happy." Many knitters said that they did so, purely for the relaxation, stress relief and opportunity to be creative.

Using knitting to achieve a meditative state of mind often happens as a natural side-effect of  the process. 

In preparing to give the guided meditation I've just finished reading Mindful Knitting by Tara Jon Manning. If you are interested in trying a knitting meditation on your own this would be an excellent place to start.