Benefits of Circular Knitting Needles

‘Knit one, purl one, and breathe’ is the ultimate mantra of mindful knitting. For many of us, picking up our knitting needles is our way of mindful meditation. The simple act of sitting still, focusing the mind, repeating stitch after stitch, and turning yarn into fabric, is a meditative process that fills our hearts with joy. Being mindful means being present, being in the moment. When we relax into our knitting, we focus on our breathing, clear our thoughts, and be in the moment. The needles seem like producing a melody that brings harmony to our body, mind, and spirits.

Circular needles are the latest addition to a knitter’s stash and a perfect fit for mindful knitting. To understand the mindful aspect of circular knitting needles, one must understand its ergonomic design. Circulars are the typical knitting needles attached by a cord of varying lengths. The needle tips come in different sizes in diverse materials as do the cords. The different cord lengths allow knitting a variety of projects ranging from hats to sweaters. The circular needles come in fixed and interchangeable variants. While the needle tips remain the same, the cables are the difference between the two, one has a fixed cable while the other has multiple combinations of changeable cords. Fixed circular knitting needles come with a permanently fixed cable. Interchangeable needles come with the choice of changing the cord according to the project.

Mindful Knitting Needles

The Mindful Collection is an exclusive range of knitting tools and accessories that are designed for mindfulness. All needles have an inspirational word printed on them to help the knitter focus on the meditative benefits of knitting.

So, are you still wondering if you should use circular knitting needles or not? Let us help you make your choice, here are the five benefits.

Flat knitting as well as the round knitting

The main benefit of stainless steel circular knitting needles is that it is multipurpose. This set can be used for both flat knitting as well in round projects. The cable or the cord of the needle set allows knitting the way you want. While most knitting needles are either used for one, circular needles can be used for all purposes.

The need for seaming knitting projects is minimal

Circular needles minimize the need for seaming. You no longer have to create two flat knitting projects and seam them up to create round knitting. As you can knit both flat and round with these needles, circulars become an obvious choice. 

Distributes weight, reduces strain on hands and arms

The circular needles distribute the weight of your project evenly. Most knitting needles distribute the weight of the project left to right on the needles, but in circulars, most of the weight lies in the cord which can be easily placed in your lap. Once the weight is evenly distributed, knitting will not put a strain on your hands and arms. You will no longer feel muscle fatigue like what you feel while knitting with straights.

Handy Storage

If you are a space-conscious knitter or even if you aspiring to become one, then circular needles are what you need. Circulars both fixed and interchangeable fold up into a neat and compact shape. They are also far more convenient for storing and transporting than the single pointed and double pointed needles.

The freedom of knitting on the go

Knitting has become a choice of mindfulness. The practice can be done at not one particular place but anywhere you want. If you are a person on the go, circular knitting needles are just perfect for you. You can easily carry circular knitting needles set while traveling. Also, you will not be worried about losing your work as the cords keep your work secure.

The benefits of knitting extend far beyond pride in the job well done, and you don’t just have to take this knitter’s word for it. You have science to back it up with data that knitting is mindful, a meditative process and mostly a journey that soothes the body, mind and spirit.

So are you ready to choose circular knitting needles? Our Mindful Circular knitting needles and sets are here for you. Choose from our range of fixed circulars and interchangeable needles and find the power that only knitting brings. Want a guide on this crafty mindful knitting journey? Follow our blog on understanding the health benefits of knitting.

Top 20 of the best Knitting Needles of 2021

The year 2021 was the year of knitting. Because we often had to stay at home, swinging the knitting needles was one of our favorite pastimes last year. We would like to know which knitting needles were swung the most. Let's take a look back to 2021 and find out which knitting needles were the most popular of the past year. We would like to introduce you to the most used Knitters Pride Knitting Needles in this blog, so we have created this top 20 for you.

20. Symfonie Dreamz Fixed Circular Needles

For those who love the warm feel of wood in their hands, our Symfonie Dreamz Fixed Circular Needles are just the thing. The perfect join guarantees that you won't hang while knitting and comfortably keep your knitting flow.

19. Ginger Single Pointed Needles

Beautiful, warm wooden needles made from the finest birchwood, beautifully colored and with a perfect finish. This is the best way to describe our Ginger Knitting Needles. For those who like to knit in simple back and forth rows, these Single Pointed Needles are ideal.

18. Karbonz Single Pointed Needles

Two such strong materials meet in these needles. Lightweight carbon fiber with precision brass needle tips. This is exactly why our Karbonz Single Pointed Needles were so popular.

17. Royale Double Pointed Needles

Our romantic Royale knitting needles were very popular again in 2021. The Double Pointed needles are suitable for small round projects.

16. Bamboo Double Pointed Needles

Bamboo needles are the most popular knitting needles. Double Pointed Needles made from the finest Japanese bamboo with a perfect finish. These needles are a must-have for all knitters.

15. Nova Cubics Platina Fixed Circular Needles

For anyone suffering from wrist pain, the Nova Cubics Platina were a hit in 2021. These needles promise hours of pain-free knitting, even for those with an underlying condition like arthritis.

14. Royal Single Pointed Needles

Our Royale Needles were also in great demand in the Single Pointed Needles version. If you like knitting in simple back and forth rows then these needles are ideal for you.

13. Symphony Dreamz Double Pointed Needles

Our popular Symfonie Dreamz needles as Double Pointed Needles. These were very popular with sock knitters.

12. Royal Fixed Circular Needles

Our Royale quality is also available as a Fixed Circular Needles variant. Thanks to the perfect finish, your stitches slide from one needle to the next as if by themselves.

11. Karbonz Double Pointed Needles

Karbonz quality as double pointed needles, like the single pointed needles, our double pointed needles from the Karbonz series were also very popular.

10. Nova Platina Single Pointed Needles

Lightweight and strong, our Nova Platina Single Pointed Needles have been a hit with those who love the feel of metallic needles, the sound of knitting needles clicking and knitting in simple back and forth rows.

09. Nova Platina Interchangeable Circular Needles

And if you don't want to knit in simple back and forth rows but also in rounds, then the Nova Platina Interchangeable Circular Needles are your choice.

08. Bamboo Single Pointed Needles

For flat projects - our Knitters Pride Bamboo Single Pointed Needles are ideal. These have been a popular choice in 2021.

07. Smartstix Fixed Circular Needles

Knitting and measuring at the same time? Yes, you can, with our Smartstix Fixed Circular Needles. These knitting needles are suitable for both flat and round projects. Perfect for all perfectionists who want to take precise measurements of their projects.

06. Bamboo Interchangeable Circular Needles

Of course, Knitters Pride also has Interchangeable Circular Needles made from the popular bamboo material. Also check out our Bamboo Interchangeable Circular Sets.

05.  Smartstix Interchangeable Circular Needles

Our smart Smartstix are also available as Interchangeable Circular Needles. Connect the desired needle size with the necessary cable length and you're ready to go. Needles and cables can be connected smoothly and guarantee to knit without snagging.

04. Ginger Interchangeable Circular Needles

These needles can be used for almost any project. Simply assemble your Interchangeable Circular Needles to the strength and size needed for your project and you're good to go. Also check out the super handy Ginger Interchangeable Circular Needles Sets and fully equip yourself for all the projects of 2022.

03. Zing Double Pointed Needles

Do you prefer jingling metal needles to wood? Many Knitter preferred in 2021 just this and used our colorful Zing Double Pointed Needles. They’re Perfect for small round projects like socks.

02. Zing Interchangeable Circular Needles

Our feather-light and strong Zing quality was also very popular as an Interchangeable Circular Needles variant. These knitting needles are ideal for larger round projects like loops or raglan sweaters. Also check out our Zing Interchangeable Circular Needles Sets.

01. Basix Interchangeable Circular Needles

As the name suggests, these knitting needles are a basic and belong in every handicraft bag. Our customers thought so too and made these needles one of our favorites.

"It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

So show who you are and choose one of our Knitters Pride Knitting Needles. We assure you that it will be the best decision of your life. But we can say one thing - we certainly won't make it easy for you to choose the very best knitting needles at Knitters Pride. Check out our full range on our website.

Do you like this Knitters Pride blog? Do you want to read other interesting things about Knitting & Crochet? If yes please check our similar blog click here.

The Best Mindful Double Pointed Knitting Needles and How to use them

Knitting with Double Pointed Knitting Needles is a science in itself for some. As complicated as it sounds and looks, knitting with 5 needles at the same time is actually not that difficult. Don't you believe it? We would like to convince you otherwise with this blog. But first of all, in general - what are the Double Pointed Knitting Needles used for? Double Pointed Knitting Needles are used for small round projects such as small baby hats, hand warmers or of course, very popular, for socks. The stitches are distributed on 4 knitting needles and knitting is done with the fifth Needle.

Before you start knitting, you need the necessary Double Pointed Knitting Needles. In our Mindful Collection you will find particularly high-quality Double Pointed Knitting Needles made of stainless steel. The needles are particularly durable, strong and never lose their special shine. With our Mindful Collection Double Pointed Knitting Needles you are sure to enjoy them for a very long time. They are available in two different lengths and in a wide range of sizes. Each needle size is provided with a special Inspirational Word, so the needles are not only a knitting instrument but also an instrument of calming and meditation.

The length and size you need depends on your project. If you work according to instructions, the size and length are usually given. If you are unsure, just try knitting with the different gauges to get a feel for it. If you want to equip yourself with the different strengths, the best thing to do is check out our Mindful Double Pointed Knitting Needles Sets. We offer 2 different DPN sets which we would like to briefly introduce to you here.

The Compassion Set

Our Compassion Set contains 6" needles in 5 different sizes. The most commonly used needle sizes are from 3.5 mm to 5.0 mm. These are neatly packed in a beautiful rectangular case and also contain numerous accessories that are packed separately in a pouch. So you are well equipped.

The Grateful Set

This set also contains needles with a length of 6" but in smaller needle sizes. This set is ideal for finer yarns such as lace. This meditative needle set is packed in a rectangular case decorated with a beautiful mandala. This set also contains numerous accessories such as wool needles and different stitch markers.

How to Use the Double Pointed Knitting Needles?

When knitting with double pointed needles, the hardest part is the cast on and the first three to four rows. After that it gets easier. So don't let that put you off. Take your time, be patient and you will surely succeed. The necessary number of stitches is cast on distributed over the 4 needles. Then you start knitting from one needle to the next in rounds with the fifth needle. If you are a beginner and want to make your work a little easier, we recommend not starting the first row with the pattern but simply knitting a row of right stitches. Make sure you keep the tension of the stitches the same and don't knit looser or tighter. This way you have an even stitch pattern. From the second row you can now start with the pattern of the desired work. When knitting socks, this is usually a 2 left 2 right pattern to knit a stretchy cuff that provides a better hold for the socks.

The more rows you knit, the easier it will be. When changing the needles, it is important to always ensure that the thread tension is maintained, otherwise the transitions will become visible. In the first few rows, the transition between the last and first needle will bother you a little as it doesn't close very well, but just ignore that, it's quite normal.

We hope that with our tips you will easily succeed in daring to use the Mindful Collection Double Pointed Knitting Needles and maybe knit your first pair of socks.

You will see a very special knitting experience with our Mindful Double Pointed Knitting Needles. Our knitting needles are not just a knitting instrument, but an instrument of mediation and balance. Do something for your hobby but at the same time do something for your soul and inner peace. You will find yourself filled with happiness very quickly and knitting with these needles will become your daily meditation routine.

"Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day..." - Dalai Lama

All of our needles have an Inspirational Word engraved on them, so our needles provide the daily positive thought to start your day on a positive note. Do something good for your soul and order our Mindful Collection Double Pointed Knitting Needles today.

Do you like this Knitterspride Mindful blog? Do you want to read other interesting things about Knitting? If yes please check our similar blog click here.

Our Range of Circular Knitting Needles at Knitters Pride

Circular Knitting Needles are the most commonly used type of knitting needles. You can use these for both flat and round projects and that is what makes these needles so practical and popular. Circular knitting needles are also suitable for the currently very trendy raglan patterns that are knitted in one piece. Stitches are also less likely to slip off with these needles. The variety of cord lengths and needle sizes makes the Circular Knitting Needles ideal for many types of projects.

 For these reasons, we at Knitters Pride have a large range of circular knitting needles and would like to introduce them to you here in this blog.

 Symfonie Dreamz Interchangeable Knitting Needles

Anyone who loves wooden needles will love these beautifully colored Symfonie Dreamz Interchangeable Circular Needles. As the name suggests, these needles are simply a dream. The perfect finish allows the stitches to slide smoothly from one needle to the other. Cables and needles are perfectly connected so they ensures no snagging and you can knit your projects quickly in your flow.

 

Ginger Interchangeable

Our Ginger Circular Needles made from beautifully colored birchwood. They are perfect for those who love the warm feel of wooden needles in their hands. Thanks to their perfect finish, they have a beautiful shine and are suitable for all types of yarn.

 

Zing FixedCircular Needles

If you prefer metal needles to jingling instead of wooden ones, you will love our color-coded Zing needles. Made from high-quality aluminum, our Zing Knitting Needles are lightweight, strong and comfortable on your hands. They promise hours of knitting experience without any wrist pain. Our Zing Fixed Circular Needles are available in many sizes and lengths. You're sure to find the right ones for your project.

 

Karbonz Fixed Circular Needles

The perfect combination of two such strong materials. Strong carbon fiber knitting needles paired with perfectly formed brass needle tips. In elegant black, these knitting needles are ideal for knitters of all experience levels. Our Karbonz Fixed Circular Knitting Needles are particularly suitable for fine yarn types. With their perfect connection points, they guarantee knitting experiance without any snagging.

 

Smartstix Fixed Circular Needles

With our Smartstix Interchangeable Knitting Needles you can easily measure your work at the same time as you knit. There is a mark every 2 cm on the knitting needles and also on the cords. Our Smartstix Fixed Circular Needles are available in many sizes and lengths.

 

Royale Fixed Circular Needles

Romantic colors on the finest birchwood. This is how we can describe our Royale Fixed Circular Needles in one sentence. The perfect connection points guarantee a knitting experience without snagging and the flexible and elastic cables without kink or twist.

 

Symfonie Cubics Fixed Circular Needles

The Knitters Pride Symfonie Cubics are our popular Symfonie needles in a cubic shape. These are particularly suitable for Knitters who suffer from arthritis or similar diseases. Thanks to the pleasant grip, our Symfonie Cubics Fixed Circular Needles enable hours of knitting without straining your wrists.

 

Nova Cubics Platinum

If you prefer jingling metal needles in a cubic shape to wooden ones, then our Nova Cubics Platinum Fixed Circular Needles are just the thing. The perfect tips allow for a comfortable pick-up and guarantee long knitting fun without effort and pain.

 

Zing Interchangeable Circular Needles

Our Zing quality is also available as Interchangeable Circular Needles. So you can easily connect the necessary needle size with the desired cable length and you already have the perfect tool for your next project. If you want to be fully equipped with all needle sizes and cable lengths, we recommend checking out our Zing Interchangeable Circular Needle Sets.

 

Bamboo Interchangeable Knitting Needles

Beautiful Bamboo Circular Knitting Needles with 24k Gold Connecting Points. These knitting needles are made from the finest Japanese bamboo, are light as a feather and simply elegant thanks to the golden details. These needles guarantee hours of knitting that you will love.

 

Jumbo Fixed Circular Needles

For large yarns you will also need the matching extra large knitting needles. Our Jumbo Fixed Circular Needles are the perfect tools for this. Our Jumbo Circular Needles are available in different strengths and different cable lengths.

If you like working with thicker yarns, we recommend our Jumbo Circular Needles Sets.

You can also find many of our Fixed Circular Needles or Interchangeable Knitting Needles as practical sets. So you can stock up on the most used lengths and sizes and are well prepared for every knitting project. Check out our wide range of Circular Needles today and open up the endless creative world of knitting. Shop your very favorite circular needles at Knitters Pride.

"Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come" Victor Hugo

When you feel it's time for your ideas too, don't wait any longer - at Knitters Pride, pick your tools, grab your yarn and make all your ideas come true.

Do you like this Knitters Pride blog? Do you want to read other interesting things about Knitting & Crochet? If yes please check our similar blog click here.

How to Select Knitting Needles for Beginners?

Every beginner knows this question; which knitting needles are the best for me? What choices should I make and what should I pay attention to? There are knitting needles in abundance, like Single Pointed Knitting Needles, Circular Knitting Needles, Double Pointed Knitting Needles or Interchangeable Knitting Needles. But these differ again in thickness, length and material, for example they can be made of bamboo, aluminum, steel or acrylic.

As you can see, with such a large selection, the decision is really not easy. With this blog entry today we would like to introduce you to some of the knitting needles that are suitable for beginners and give you tips on what to look out for when choosing your knitting needles.

First of all, we would like to introduce the different types of needles

 

Interchangeable circular needles

The Interchangeable Circular Needles are particularly suitable for round projects, so if you are a beginner and want to knit your first hat or loop, then this type of knitting needles is just the thing you need. The circular needles are easier to use for beginners, like the double pointed needles, which are also very often used for round projects. The needle tips can be connected to the appropriate cable lengths, so you have the right needle ready for every project. Take a look at our Interchangeable Circular Needles Sets.

 

Single Pointed Needles

The classic knitting needles with a blocker at the end, which are very well known to many, are a popular choice for beginners. By simply rowing back and forth, you can knit simple models and thus expand your knowledge. The Single Pointed Needles are suitable for flat projects such as scarves, blankets or pillow cases. You can find the Single Pointed Needles in many different sizes on our website. Take a look at our wide range and order your favorite knitting needles.

But the question now is, which type of needles do I use as a beginner? That depends entirely on your project, let's first clarify what you want to knit. Is it a well-rounded project like socks, loops or hats? Then you should prefer our Interchangeable Circular needles. Is it a scarf, a blanket, or maybe a pillow case? So, you should choose single pointed needles. Our Mindful Collection Needles are made of sturdy steel, yet are light as a feather and lie comfortably in your hands. The steel needles are durable and do not lose their shine for long years. Did you know that the jingling of steel needles has a calming effect? So you can create your works and relax at the same time. This is yoga for your soul.

We very much hope that this article has helped you to choose your knitting needles. You can find the best knitting needles that suit your needs at our Mindful Collection. Also you can find a lot of Sets, with which you as a beginner are perfect equipped. Now you know how to find the best needles to begin, so don’t wait, buy your Mindful Knitting Needles and start knitting.

How do I find the Perfect set of Knitting Needles?

The tool you will hold in your hands for hours on end is of utter importance for the knitting process, of course. We all experienced getting frustrated, when realizing we had chosen the wrong set of needles. The yarn kept either slipping over the top, or worse, the sharp points pinched into the loosely spun wool instead of elegantly sliding beneath the thread.

So, what type of knitting needles do I choose for which project? The answer is not a simple and straightforward one, unfortunately, and can become a daunting task when you are left on your own. The perfect type of knitting needle depends on your type of project. 

As in any other activity, there is one rule which applies to the knitting craft, too: the more experience you have, the bigger your confidence will become. Once you have tried out various options, you will automatically find that your hands are more comfortable with one or the other type and style of needle. At one point you will reach for the right tool with the certainty of a sleepwalker, but you should familiarize yourself with the different options on your plate, first.

When choosing your weapons, it's the type of yarn which determines the thickness or diameter a knitting needle should have. Luckily most patterns indicate the size of needle to be employed either in metric or US size.

You can find needles not only in different shapes, they are also made from different materials, i.e. wood or bamboo, aluminum or steel or a combination of everything.

Most knitting enthusiasts find wooden and bamboo needles perfect when working with smooth yarn. You can progress at your own speed, the yarn is secured and will not slip and slide over the needle top. Also, you can take them on a plane, which is very convenient when you travel a lot.

Aluminum needles are the most common material. They are just so light and easy to use, and will also allow you to progress at a faster speed, as the yarn will slide more easily over aluminum than it does over wood. They come with the tendency to bend easily, though; especially, when you work tighter loops.

Steel needles are the most durable needles and will speed up your WIP even more. They are loved by those who work a lot with loosely spun yarn or double coated wool, as these yarn types may get stuck on a wooden needle.

Once you have got your head around what material your ideal knitting needle should be made from, you can start choosing the best suited needle style for your dream project.

Here is an overview of the different knitting needles and the projects they are best suited for.

Circular knitting needles

These are basically two knitting needles and a cable holding them together. They can be found in different lengths, thicknesses and designs.

Circular knitting needles provide a great deal of flexibility and freedom. You can use them to elaborate round knitting shapes and tubes, but also for straight lines, and especially for bulky items such as scarves and blankets.

When choosing circular knitting needles, the whole project is evenly balanced on the cable; you may find that you progress faster and with less effort; the work is better organized, and the thread does not come off so easily. For larger WIPs, like sweaters, jackets or blankets, circular needles are just ideal, as they help you secure the growing, weighty project comfortably in your lap, while your hands are only burdened with a small fraction of it. The slings are better protected. What's more, you don't have to worry about losing a needle when knitting outdoors on the train or in a park.

However, if you opt for these needles, make sure your projects are of a bulkier size, or you have a sufficiently large number of loops cast on. Although there are circular knitting needles with short cables, you will find them terribly uncomfortable for your seamless socks or baby hat projects. The smaller and shorter the cable between the needles, the more restricted your hands are able to move. When you choose to knit seamless, round projects like snoods or hoods with your circular needles, make sure that the transition between needle and thread runs smoothly, otherwise the wool cannot properly flow over it. You would have to keep making constant amendments during the process, which will eventually slow you down.

Double pointed needles

Double pointed needles or dpns usually consist of five needles, although you may find knit patterns which only use three needles to create a round shape instead of four.

Both ends of the needle are open. Usually four needles hold the knitted part and one needle is used for processing. The working needle removes the stitches from one needle at a time. As a result this needle then becomes the next working needle.

Double pointed needles are, of course, available in different lengths and thicknesses as any other type of needle. In some cases, e.g. for very bulky projects, it is best to replace them by circular knitting needles, as the stitches may fall off otherwise. Dpns are your needle set of choice when it comes to sock knitting or any kind of smaller tubular shapes, like stuffed animals.

Straight needles

Straight needles are the most traditional knitting needles, yes, the Looney Tunes cartoon type of needles. Straight needles come in pairs, and they are 7 inches or longer and come with a block on one end, preventing your work from coming off. They are comfortable for smaller, flat and straight items like baby blankets or scarves, just anything that is not bulky and heavy to tire or weigh down your hands. This style of knitting needle is great for newbies to the craft as it allows for working one row at a time.

How Knitting Relieves Stress

Let’s be honest; this after this year we could all use some stress relief. There are many ways to blow off steam but knitting is especially effective in reducing stress. Not only does knitting give the knitter something to focus on to get out of their head, it actually reduces the level of the stress hormone cortisol. A reduction in stress hormone is just as good for your mental health as it sounds but the benefits don’t end there. Knitting also triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, chemicals which result in satisfaction and happiness. Serotonin and dopamine are often called natural antidepressants for their importance in brain chemistry. Increased mood and self-esteem have been reported by many knitters. The two-pronged effect of busy hands and a busy mind helps to banish anxiety and take attention from pain and stress. Research shows that the brain reacts to knitting very similarly to yoga and meditation, boosting focus and lowering heart rate and blood pressure. Meditation, yoga and knitting all cause the same type of brainwave pattern, proving their deep similarity in effect on the mind and body.

Color and texture can impact stress as well, with colors like blue and green causing a relaxing effect and reds and yellows an energizing one. Teal embodies serenity and renewal and is an ideal color for creative spaces. Surround your craft space with colors and images that make you feel at ease. Consider keeping a house plant at your workspace, houseplants have been found to increase people’s creativity and reduce stress just by existing in a space! Some find that a highly decorated workspace inspires them while others prefer a simple space to aid in focus. Experiment with what works for you to create your perfect craft space. Lighting a candle and brewing some tea will activate the senses with scents to create a relaxing atmosphere. Scents like chamomile and lavender are especially relaxing for many people. Always keep a close eye on an open flame when you are working with yarn! Finally, consider creating a knitting playlist with your favorite music to knit to. Instrumental music is a favorite for mindful knitting because it lacks distracting lyrics. You may even find yourself knitting to the beat.

Once you have the perfect workstation, knitting can lead to mindfulness and a mental state called “Flow”. The flow state is commonly called being “In the Zone” and is the result of practice and attention. People who experience the flow state describe it as energizing and fulfilling, making them feel competent and productive. Flow and mindfulness are quite similar, and both are stress relieving. The repetitive rhythmic action of knitting stimulates multiple areas of the brain allowing the knitter to use their mind while their hands are busy. Many people choose to use that brain power to knit with others and socialize which boosts mood and helps build community. Having a good community to interact with reduces anxiety and aids in forming meaningful friendships.  If the knitter chooses instead to turn the mind inward to practice mindfulness there are many benefits. This kind of mindful knitting is considered the most relaxing and can help people organize and process thoughts as well as reduce stress. 

If knitting is still difficult for you and doesn’t feel relaxing simply know that the more you practice the more easily your stitches will flow. The road to mindful knitting begins with a single step and every step on the path brings you closer to the mental and physical benefits of mindfulness. Like yoga and meditation, no one is an expert overnight. Practicing for a short time each day will build your skills and before you know it you will be able to “Zen out” while you knit. Experienced knitters and beginners alike can choose patterns based on difficulty to control how relaxing a project will be. Start with a simple pattern in one to two colors and large swatches of one type of stitch. These will be the most consistent and relaxing. A higher level of challenge can be frustrating in the short term but results in immense satisfaction when the difficult project pays off.

Need some inspiration? Here are three free patterns to try knitting mindfully:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/holey-square-shawl