After talking about grand plans and ambitious projects recently - it feels appropriate to redress the balance a little and talk about slightly simpler projects. Of course, those ambitious lace shawls and intricate cables are a challenge, a workout for both the brain and the stamina but sometimes you just crave something simpler.
For me, garter stitch is always my go-to stress reliever - the simpler the better. But I do also enjoy a nice soothing stocking stitch. Whether that’s in the form of simple sock knitting or as a the basis for a relaxing shawl, particularly when paired with a lovely hand-dyed yarn. Watching the little colour pops change and dance across your needles is particularly mesmerising. And when you are having so much fun with that, you don’t really need any intricate stitches to complicate things further.
Knitting on something plain allows your brain to really zone out and do it’s own thing. I’m often guilty of multitasking - knitting whilst reading my Kindle or watching Netflix for example. But the simple act of just sitting and knitting can be just what an overworked and stressed brain needs to put itself back in order.
And this is backed by scientific research too - the repetitive action of knitting has been proven to lower blood pressure and lowers brain wave frequency in the same way that meditation can.
Five of my favourite current, simple knitting pleasures:
Anything garter stitch: at the minute I’ve been obsessed with log-cabin style constructions for baby blankets and all the garter stitch is proving very therapeutic
Toe-up, plain knit socks, ideally in self stripe yarn. Yes, they are technically ‘Christmas’ colours but they are cheerful and fulfil my self-stripe fix.
Adding more squares to my Mitered Square blanket - although it sometimes takes me longer to decide on which colour to use than it does to knit the actual square.
Simple stockinette shawls - a shameless plug for my latest shawl design -the Simple Pleasures Shawl
Making ‘magic balls’ with mini skeins and leftovers. This is a great technique for using up leftover yarn and also for creating some ready-wound yarn balls while you are in the mood to play with yarn. That way, when the cast on urge hits you, you have some fun, colourful yarn cakes just ready and waiting for your needles.
Wishing you a smooth and tangle-free weekend.
The shawl makes me long for autumn already!
Lovely shawl! Magic balls are so much fun. Like you said, a great way to play with yarn.