The meditative power of knitting

Originally published in The Laconia Daily Sun ›

A few years ago, the Financial Times published an article about the health benefits of knitting, suggesting that knitting can lower one’s blood pressure and create a sense of relaxation, the same sensation experienced through practicing yoga or walking.  As a repetitive task it allows one to exercise both physical and cognitive skills.

I love knitting, although it doesn’t necessarily lower my blood pressure.  This spring when I attempted my first baby sweater pattern it seems I was either pulling out inches of work, struggling with double pointed needles or having difficulty with the instructions.   Like everything knitting has changed.  Contemporary patterns are sophisticated; for example, do you know what a w&t is?  It involves wrapping stitches with the working yarn, turning the work, coming back to the wrapped stitches later in short rows, then picking up the wraps later.   See what I mean?

Knitting has been on my mind because this Friday, the Stitches of Love group at the Laconia Congregational Church will be displaying the almost 200 scarves they have finished over the last few months.   The scarves will be displayed from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm in Veteran’s Square and are available to anyone who needs one for the cold winter months ahead.  Each scarf has been stitched with love by members of the group.

The scarves are beautiful, and it will be difficult to select just one.

As I began writing this, I remembered I had written about knitting a few years ago inspired by a visit to the exhibition “Fashion and Virtue: Textile Patterns and the Print Revolution, 1520–1620” in the American wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Included in the exhibit, was a “caribou” sweater.  It was interesting to learn the name of the designer, Fred Picard, and to know that Jantzen had originally manufactured the sweater in the early 1940’s.

If you are from New England, I’m certain somewhere in your closet, or in a trunk in the attic, there is at least one “caribou” sweater. That is a men’s ski sweater with two reindeer facing one another with a snowflake in the center. If your grandmother didn’t knit one for your grandfather or your father, perhaps someone received one as a Christmas gift. And if you don’t know the pattern, I’m referring to you can purchase a “Reindeer Caribou Ugly Christmas Sweatshirt” on-line.  The pattern has become an iconic image.

This summer I spent hours at the Harrisville Designs in Harrisville, New Hampshire being coached by their expert knitters.  Harrisville makes their yarn and the fibers and colors are so vibrant the most difficult decision is selecting the color.

The Elegant Ewe in Concord is another New Hampshire shop with exquisite yarns and a staff that is ever willing to help you with your project, if only over the telephone.  Like Harrisville they offer classes and a large knitting table where you can sit and work.  Unfortunately, the classes and the working tables are closed in both places for now.

In walking meditation, you focus on your steps, letting everything else go. Knitting is the same: knit one, purl one, knit one, purl one.  Thoughtfully and with focus one stitch at a time.