pleasure to look at. Th ink of the
colors of changing tree leaves as a
starting point: gold and mustard,
maroon and burgundy, varied
shades of brown and green. Set up
your craft space with multiple
points of light so that you can see
the diff erent hues in every strand.
Practice mindfulness as you craft,
consistently bringing your atten-
tion back to the colors at hand.
You may also incorporate your
sense of sight in other ways. What
do you see around you while you
craft? If what you see isn’t inspir-
ing, then it’s time to spruce up your
craft space. Hang some of your
favorite artwork, photos, and fi ber
creations. Take a moment at the
start of each craft session to truly
look at what you fi nd around you.
THE SENSE OF TOUCH
Touch is another sense that lends
itself well to crochet. Th e feel of the
hook in your hand, the fi ber
running through your fi ngers, and
the motion of hook through yarn
can bring your awareness back to
your body. If you pay attention to
these details, then you can really
indulge in the sensory delight of
crafting. Autumn is the perfect time
to use your natural wood hooks.
Wool is a popular yarn choice for
fall because it evokes that natural
feeling of the outdoors. However,
you might want to look for wool
blends that incorporate silk or
bamboo for extra luxuriousness or
softness. On the other hand, if
autumn makes you think of
crackling leaves and fallen pine-
cones, then you might want to
select novelty yarns that have a lot
of texture. Th ick-and-thin yarns are
a great choice in that area.
THE SENSE OF SOUND
What do you listen to while you are
crocheting? Make your selections
more intentional. Consider music,
nature sounds, and podcasts.
Autumn brings Halloween, so you
might want to embrace the season
by listening to scary stories.
Perhaps fall makes you think of
football season and you want to
listen to the games. A nature
soundtrack fi lled with squirrels,
geese, and storms could inspire you.
Of course, you might also opt for
silence, allowing you to hear nature
itself, especially if you craft outside
or near an open window.
THE SENSE OF SMELL
Scent is one of the most powerful
senses in terms of its ability to
evoke a mood or provoke a memory.
Infuse your craft space with the
smells of autumn through the use of
candles, essential oils, potpourri,
live plants, and incense.
Autumn scents include
cinnamon, pumpkin, apple, cloves,
vanilla, and brown sugar. Make each
craft session more of a sensory
experience when you start it by
lighting a particular scent.
THE SENSE OF TASTE
Of course, you don’t eat your
crochet! Nevertheless, you can
incorporate the sense of taste into
your crafting experience to round
out the fi ve senses. You might begin
and end each craft session with sips
of your favorite fall drink, be that
mulled wine or hot apple cider. You
might fi nd a candy that represents
your favorite fall tastes and let it sit
in your mouth as you craft.
Th e point of crafting with all of
your senses is that you elevate the
experience. You really take in the
entire session through all aspects of
your body. As a result, you can relax
more and feel more rejuvenated
even if your craft period is very
short. Autumn is a busy season, so
the more you can relax through you
senses, the better these months
will be.
Interweave Crochet • http://www.interweave.com 53
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