Let's Knit -UK (2021-03)

KEEP

CALM

AND

Me-time MOMENT...

Cast On!

SIMPLE WAYS TO BRING

MINDFULNESS INTO YOUR

WORLD – AND YOUR KNITTING!

“And when life became too frenzied,

she took up her knitting, and

breathed a while to the rhythm of

the stitches and rows, until her smile

returned and her mind was calm.”

ORIGIN UNKNOWN

Dr. Thomas and I just love ‘The Sound of

Music’, and a few years ago we dressed

up as brown paper packages tied up

with string and went to

the singalong in

Leicester Square. The

audience costumes

were wonderful and

heartwarming. The

message of this classic is simply to find

hope, and that even the hardest of

hearts (Captain Von Trapp) can be

softened when surrounded by others

spreading joy. Neither Dr Thomas nor

myself can sing, but that did not stop us!

Maria told us ‘when you know the notes

to sing, you can sing most anything’ –

but, she never gave advice on singing in

tune! Knitting is the same. Learning the

basics of only two stitches, just look at

what they can produce... a plethora of

items to adorn our bodies and homes,

colour to lighten our hearts and stitch

patterns to engage our brains. I’ve learnt that

when I translate these two stitches to my life,

my mind starts to shine. When knitting, my

worries, fears and emotional

pains disappear. Knitting is

surely the ultimate ‘me time’.

Three years ago I was

acutely ill with depression.

Knitting gave me solace. I

had never knitted before. I spent a whole

year in bed with depression watching TV,

which was not a life. I was searching for

something else to do as my antidepressants

kicked in. Knitting was it. Knitting saved my

life. Dr. Thomas practises mindfulness for

three hours every day. Knitting is my

mindfulness. I call it ‘knitiation’.

Whatever your method of connecting

with your body in the present, whether it be

traditional mindfulness or knititation, I’m sure

we can agree that it’s holistically healing.

Only two stitches to wellness. Keep

knitting and carry on.

LUSH LACEWEIGHT

Spend time creating something fab and floaty

with these stunning yarns

The Hartigan sweater by Brooklyn Tweed is a bottom-up

design with a stitch pattern that echoes the rise and fall of

brick eaves and wrought iron. Perfect for a spot of meditative

knitting, this sweater has minimal shaping and repeating

motifs, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the rhythm of your

stitches. It’s worked in a 4ply yarn so it’s not a quick knit,

but your satisfaction will be all the greater for it once you’ve

cast off. Choose a smooth, plied yarn such as Fyberspates

Vivacious 4ply to guarantee lovely clear stitch definition. The

pattern is available for $8 from brooklyntweed.com

YOU can knit

most anything!

Dr Thomas Ernst FRCP says...

Mindful knitting with

JAMES MCINTOSH

knitmcintosh.com

“Mindfulness is a deliberate commitment of everyone

to themselves, providing unconditional love and

compassion to one’s self out of your own volition.

Continue knitting, which combined with mindfulness

we call knititation: because you are worth it.”

Dr Thomas Ernst FRCP is a senior consultant physician at a

leading London teaching hospital specialising in mindfulness

83

(^3) West Yorkshire
Spinners Exquisite
Lace, (80% wool, 20%
silk), £14.75 per 100g
(800m) skein
(^1) Fyberspates
Scrumptuous Lace, (55%
wool, 45% silk), £17.99
per 100g (1000m) skein
(^2) Rowan Fine Lace, (20%
wool, 80% alpaca), £7.99 per
50g (400m) ball
All available from woolwarehouse.co.uk
Use a soft
4ply for that
gorgeous drape
“Knitting was
it. Knitting saved
my life.”