Category: Mindfulness Crafting

1. Zentangled Knitting - is that possible?

   Posted on 2:00am Tuesday 6th Feb 2024

   At the beginning of the year I promised myself that I was going to take care of me this year. I have taken time out to embark on mindful activities, thinking these may help my mental health (well they couldn't harm me). My local village Slaithwaite is great for delivering crafty workshops and finding those that I could throw myself into was easy.  So earlier on this week I tried my hand at Zentangle.

   Find out how to create Zentangles here

   So what is Zentangling?  I think of it a form of doodling but a bit more structured and yet it isn't. An abstract art form of repetitive patterns drawn on paper usually with a black marker pen. The patterns can be various forms of hash lines, circles, triangles, squares, flowers, spirals, paisleys, etc. The overall image can be something familiar like a bird or a flower, or any geometric or abstract shape. So I started by drawing round my hand, outlining finger tips, drawing on patterns, connecting the fingertips with swirly lines to other parts of the hand, adding in knuckles and colouring in shapes.  I started simple and then went deeper without really thinking about it, without really thinking about anything.

   Today, I wondered whether it was possible to create Zentangled knitting, some mindless knitting that was more abstractly creative than the knitting you do in front of the TV. I thought about the different knitting techniques and how I would use them in Zentangle designs, for example with Fair Isle patterns I could use simple repeating motifs and geometric shapes working in 2 contrasting colours (ie black and white); lace patterns could be used to incorporate repeating shapes and intricate details. With cables and travelling stitches I could take my knitting off in different directions and the duplicate stitch technique could be used  to add Zentangle-inspired motifs directly onto the surface of the fabric.

   I also considered the full project and how I  would have to plan the design in advance and consider how the patterns would fit together within the structure of the knitted fabric. I could experiment with different stitch patterns, color combinations, and techniques to achieve the desired effect.  For me, it seemed creating Zentangled knitting, whilst possible, it would take away the mindfullness I felt when I created the zentangled hand. Too much planning up front!

   As freeform crochet is a more intuitive and improvisational approach to crochet where you create shapes and textures without following a specific pattern. I'm thinking that you can incorporate Zentangle-inspired motifs into your freeform crochet by working different stitches and shapes in a structured and repetitive manner. I think I need to have a serious zentangle crochet play one day soon.

   Thank you for joining me in my Zentangle ramblings today.  Sandra

    

2. MIndfulness Knitting

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 21st Jan 2022

   Mindfulness knitting   I've always known that knitting was particular good for my well being. It was something I could do that somehow took my mind away from issues / stresses going on in my life. In fact sometimes I used this form of meditation as a means of putting off things that had deadlines and really I should have been doing before the knitting.  Being a designer I love that I have ideas brewing in my brain, creating knitting stitch patterns that I want to try out. But turning these stitch patterns into a garment etc involves a lot of cognitive thinking; something I'm very capable of doing but when life gets in the way, it can totally stress me out as much as life itself can. So I'm taking a bit of time out from the designing process, the pattern writing & testing (although I do have some simple design ideas in with 'The Knitter magazine which I may do). I would like to turn my knitting skills into creating something for myself, but even the process of selecting and deciding on pattern and yarn to buy seems beyond me at the moment. If I get this process wrong, which I often do then I've wasted yarn and time!  Maybe I'll get the help of the 'The Fibre Tribe' , the weekly knitting group I go to, for this. So, the Mandala's, why? These are something I am really enjoying doing. I had to do a little research and practise to work out how to do the centre circle and how to attach the finished mandala to the embroidery hoop, but once that was done I was on my way. I work out a little plan, starting out with knowing how many stitches to start with and when to start the brioche increases to create the pictures in my head. I'm finding the process allows me to concentrate on the knitting, get enjoyment from it, and I'm enjoy the ongoing result. Because I do know how to successfully frog my brioche knitting, I even feel OK when the work doesn't quite turn out like I want, I simply take it back.  Knitters will understand how knitting can take away some of the stresses and strains of life in general (I'm sure you all have them!, it's not just me!). For non knitters - have you considered taking it up? Maybe one day, you'll see me write up the pattern for one of my favourite mandala's. I'm not sure I've created my favourite yet. Watch this space.   Shop Here A mandala (Sanskrit for “circle”) is an artistic representation of higher thought and deeper meaning given as a geometric symbol used in spiritual, emotional, or psychological work to focus one's attention. The image first appears in India via the Hindu text known as the Rig Veda c. 1500 - c. 500 BCE but has been used by cultures around the world in many different periods up to the present. The details of the meaning of a given mandala depend on the individual creating or observing the image, but mandalas in every culture serve, more or less, the same purpose of centering an individual or community on a given narrative in order to encourage introspection and, ultimately, an awareness of one's place and purpose in the world; this awareness then allows for peace of mind.