For most of my life, knitting and crocheting were solo endeavors. I’d occasionally spend Tuesday afternoons at a local yarn store, not so much to join a vibrant group as to enjoy the comforting rhythm of my routine. Over the past year, I’ve had the joy of connecting with two in-person groups and one online community, where sharing techniques, inspiration, and genuine care has deepened both my bond with yarn and each other.

One group gathers as a salon, where there is a warm, open exchange of ideas and creative insights. For the other, our shared tzedakah projects transform our work into acts of service and generosity. The online community, too, pulses with shared purpose and mutual support. Initially, I planned to mostly sit and observe; however, it didn’t take very long before I found that my advice and teaching were welcomed. Each get-together has been an opportunity for learning, where every interaction sharpens my own understanding of the craft and of communication.

One of the most profound lessons has emerged not from the technical aspects of knitting or crochet but from how we speak about our work. Many women in these groups often preface their questions with apologies or emphasize the imperfections of their projects before anything else. While mistakes are part of the creative process, stressing about them or emphasizing them can sometimes dim the joy of creative expression and the power to explore and experiment. Research shows that the words we choose can significantly shape our self-image and emotional well-being. When we frame our questions and share our work with confidence first, we not only uplift ourselves but also create a kinder and more empowering environment for everyone. (I’ll delve more into this idea in an upcoming post).

It is in these shared moments with the celebrations of successes and the honest discussion of mistakes, and the quiet celebration of progress that brings me hope for all of us in every generation.

I am inspired by this creative, collective journey; I’m exploring what I (for now) am calling intentional yarn therapy, a mindful practice to support those coping with grief, trauma, and loneliness. Over the coming weeks, I’ll share about how blending creativity with mindfulness can offer healing. I’m still figuring out some details, but I have some ideas, and I hope you’ll join me on this journey.

I’ll leave you with a thought exercise. Look at your most recent piece, whether finished or still in progress. Write down five positive things about it noting any negatives. No cheating!

Here’s a blanket I knitted for my Sisterhood. This is moments after I finished it, before I wove in any ends. Dot inspected it as soon as I laid it out!

My five positive things:

1. I finished it (and didn’t get too distracted by other products).
2. I used scrap yarns and made them look cohesive.
3. The image I had in my head (mostly) came true.
4. I was able to match my tension with a wide variety of yarns, some are doubled, some are tripled.
5. I wove in all the ends (after I finished).

Areas for improvement:

1. My tension along one edge of the icord border is tight. It curls in a bit more than I wish and I’ve had to hit it with steam to get it to lay flat. I wasn’t making a fitted blanket! 
2. I need to do better carrying multiple yarns when working a marled technique there’s many spots where one of the strands was dropped. Maybe I should just quickly ply them together.
3. Weave in your ends as you go is much easier in the long run. It’s still a new-ish technique and I need to intentionally practice it.