Knitting therapy: Maximize your breathing

     Belly breathing.  Most adults do not realize that they spend the majority of their lives breathing incorrectly and this is the cause of many major health problems related to stress.  It amazes people to find out that a simple thing such as breathing can truly affect their health in positive ways.  But what is belly breathing and why is it important to practice during knitting? 

     If you have ever watched an infant or toddler breathe you will notice that their stomach rises and falls with each breath.  Somewhere along the line of growing up we lose the natural reflex of deep breathing and begin to practice what is called shallow breathing- where the breath stays high in our chest.  This type of breathing actually encourages stress in our bodies.  Some of the benefits to learning how to belly breathe include:  increased oxygen levels in the lungs which, in turn, increases the oxygen in the blood stream, improved energy levels, elimination of toxins and a strengthened immune system, reduction of stress and anxiety and  increased metabolism (which can also play a direct role in weight loss).  So why belly breathe when you are knitting?  First, because knitting is such an effective form of stress relief and relaxation.  Combining knitting with an awareness of your breathing further enhances the stress relieving benefits of knitting.  Second, because knitting forces you to be still long enough to be able to pay attention to your breathing.  You might as well use your still time to bring some additional health benefits into your life.  Goodness knows, most of us do not have enough of these still and quiet moments in our days.

     In order to retrain yourself to breathe correctly, here are a few simple steps to follow next time you pick up those needles or crochet hook. 

1.  Place your hand on top of your stomach area.  As you breathe, concentrate on making your hand rise and fall with each breath.  Concentrate on filling your lungs up and then fully exhaling and emptying them.

2.  Now that you have seen and felt correct breathing, pick up your needles and pay attention to your breaths while you are working, taking slow breaths in and out.  If you are working on an uncomplicated pattern you can even inhale for a count of 8 and exhale for 8 counts.  You can also add a 2-3 second hold between your inhale and exhale.  You might feel a little light headed at first as your body gets adjusted to having enough oxygen. 

3.  Continue to pay attention to your breathing through your knitting session and feel yourself relaxed and with a little more energy than when you started.  You may also find that practicing belly breathing for 5- 10 minutes before you start a complicated pattern may increase your attention and patience.

     Happy breathing and happy knitting!
    
    

Tunisian Crochet Obsession

     This is a sad entry folks.  I'm lost- fallen in the hole.  Like the sound of Poe's beating heart,  I have descended into madness.  Don't come looking- I don't want to be found ;)

     Aside from my somewhat pitiful attempt at drama, I have really become obsessed with my new mad skillz I learned from last week's Tunisian crochet class.  Here are some of the results: 

I finished the cabled scarf:

Then I designed a cabled bag:

I designed a lined clutch wallet that I am using for a class:

These ninja guys have nothing to do with crochet, but they were too awesome not to throw in here:



Then I designed a flat bottom bag, which was a happy accident as I set out to make a pillow and ran out of yarn, lol:  



So now I am working on a colorwork shawl pattern:





   It is needless to say that I have issues of some sort- as the saying goes "If knitting is wrong, I don't wanna be right."  Happy day , folks!

  

Local Yarn Shops, Tunisian Crochet and Fun with deZengo

      My friend deZengo and I dropped my kiddos off at their Mimi's house and, after stuffing myself full of the fish and chicken I was craving from a certain fast food establishment, headed off to the Tunisian crochet class we had signed up for.  I was feeling a bit sympathetic for the lovely people at this shop since they were not familiar with what happens when De and I get placed into an enclosed structure together.  But, armed with yarn and our newly purchased Tunisian crochet hooks we settled in at the shop's teaching table for four hours of crochet.  :) 

This is our teacher, Susan, and the creator of the lovely pattern we were working on: 

    
      Tunisian crochet is also referred to as Afghan crochet although it is not in any way limited to stitching up afghans.  In fact, it's boundaries are really only limited buy the skill and imagination of the person using the techniques.  It is kind of a hybrid between knitting and crocheting and is a lot of fun once you learn some basic stitches.  It creates and thick and plush fabric and provides some really interesting texture in your pieces. 

     The pattern we were learning was a cabled pattern which left me somewhere between Frustration and Total Bliss.  It was actually really simple once you got into the groove and the pattern and stitches were very easy to learn thanks to the talented teaching skills (and apparently unlimited patience) that Susan had. 

Here is De when she started: 

And later on.....   De with her WTF did I let Leila talk me into this, grrrr :D

And here is my foundation chain... It sounds very important, doesn't it? 

Ta Da!!

Here is Susan's lovely sample scarf.  My scarf does not look like this.

I told De she better drop that crochet hook at some point and get a few pics of me before everyone thinks I made this whole thing up: 

Look at me, mom.  I'm Tunisian crocheting :D

My piece which does not look like Susan's but it made me happy.



     So class was awesome and De and I cut up enough that I think Susan was a little relieved when we decided to finish up and take a stroll around the shop.  Being a yarn shop virgin, I should have thought to take De's credit cards from her at the door, but sometimes you have to let people live and learn from their own experiences, bwhahaha!!  

     If you have not had the pleasure of trolling around in a local yarn shop, it is an experience that you really shouldn't live without.  Why are local yarn shops so important to the fibers community?  First, they offer a shared common experience.  Whether you walk into a yarn store a complete beginner or an seasoned crafter, there is no sizing up, no judgement.  Just helpful friendly people who love what they do and are more than happy to pass that love on to you.  The second is knowledge.  These gals know their stuff and are willing to answer questions, help you with fiber selection, patterns- whatever you need.  Third- therapy.  When you walk into a yarn shop you will encounter people that are willing to spend unlimited amounts of time listening to you ramble on about how many pieces you have on needles, how you fudged up the last piece you were working, each family member you made a present for (and what you made)  etc., etc... AND they even seem to be interested in hearing all this stuff from their customers.  I don't know very many regular therapists that act that excited over an hour long description of your last felting fiasco. 

    The Yarn Patch, nestled away on the Cumberland Plateau in Crossville,  Tennessee is a truly lovely place.  Every square inch is filled with love for needlecraft and they invite people to pick up, touch and love on the skeins and hanks of yarn as long as it takes to make a selection.  Here are a few shots of the shop I took: 

Some of the lovely ladies in one of the knitting groups that meet at the shop: 

    
     If you are ever in our neck of the woods, The Yarn Patch needs to be on your list of places to go.  But make sure you call me first.  Because I always need an excuse to go to the yarn store :D

Getting organized- holiday projects

     It's that time again!  Anyone who gives handmade for the holidays knows that if you don't start early the presents will never get finished.  We have a rather large family and so I have found that getting organized is an important part of the process.  Let me show you how I do it: 

 I keep a large 3 ring binder (called my mommy notebook because it also has recipes, menus, etc. in it )  Since I usually do not use patterns I either google images or make sketches of the projects I want to make. 

    Then I organize all the info onto project sheets.  I write down any pertinent info such as needle size, yarn selection etc. as well as who the gift will be going to.  This keeps me organized enough to make sure I stay on track and do not forget anyone.  It also ensures that I don't over buy yarn and I can take it with me to the yarn store and know exactly what I need to look for.

The Therapeutic Qualities of Knitting

     Everyone who knits or crochets has probably heard something about the therapeutic qualities needlecraft offers.  However, no one ever really stops to explain exactly what these qualities are.  After doing a bit of research I thought a blog post might help clarify the topic. 
 
     It is being reported now that stress may be responsible for up to 90% of medical conditions.  There are a lot of people who make a lot of money helping people cope with the stress in their lives.  Where does knitting fit into this picture? 
1. Knitting occupies.  People who are occupied feel less pain and depression.  When the brain is engaged at something that requires attention and detail, it often forgets to remind you that something else is wrong.  Knitting provides distraction but of the constructive variety and this can have a profound effect for someone who is dealing with stress, depression or chronic pain.

2.  Knitting calms the mind.  Engaging in knitting closely resembles the techniques of meditation and mindfulness practices that are employed throughout the medical community for the treatment of chronic pain.  Knitting slows down the mind processes and allows for improved concentration.  The relaxation that follows is also important to the process of relieving stress.  

3.  Rhythm, Baby!  Although the exact reasons are not known, the rhythmic movement knitting provides is soothing.  Knitting is logical- it can be done without too much thought once some basic concepts are learned.  Simple patterns are best for someone who is looking to experience the healing benefits of the practice of knitting, although complicated patterns can fully engage the mind and increase a person's concentration on the process at hand.

4.  Knitting is creative.  Do not underestimate the effect that creative activity has the psyche.  Knitting and crocheting allow a lot of room for creative exploration.  With a few basic skills, needlecraft lends itself easily to interpretation.  There is a sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with finishing a piece.  Wearing or gifting a handmade piece is to give something original, bursting with good vibes and love in every stitch.  The joy that goes into creating it cannot help but be absorbed into the fibers the knitter welds.

     In short, knitting is beneficial in a multitude of ways.  In the UK, knitting groups are even popping up in hospitals and therapy centers as a way to engage patients in a creative, relaxing activity.   I envision that in the future we will see the popularity of this craft rising even higher then the surge it is already experiencing as an inexpensive and effective form of therapy. 

Niche Knitters: What kind of knitter are you?

 I love to knit and crochet a variety of projects.  But I have figured out that at heart, I am a scarf person.  Scarves are my favorite thing to make.  Maybe it's the look of stacks of neatly folded scarves in all patterns, colors and fibers or the simplicity of the designs.  There are lots of what I call niche crafters out there- hat people, sock people, mitten people, sweater people, each with their own list of reasons as to why they continuously revert back to their project of choice.  What niche do you fit in?