Inspiration
The Long Rectangle of Orange Mohair and Silk
Dear Kay,
You may have noticed me in New York last month, knitting orange mohair and silk into a rectangle.
I’m like Linus with his blanket, working on this thing. It requires absolutely nothing from me: a skein of this Neighborhood Fiber Co. Loft is 459 yards of fluff, and I’ll be eight feet into this thing before I run out. I can get into a pretty serious zone. It is the ultimate in meditative knitting.
(Details: 44 stitches cast on, size 9 (5.5mm) needle, using our Tulip interchangeable needles–order one set of tips and a cable, not the full set, if you want to try these out. They swivel. They’re so good.) (And we’ve got some zinger colors of Rowan Kidsilk Haze if you’re looking for a color boost.)
It got me thinking about a book I read last fall, from our contributor Suzan Colón.
Medknitation is all about the ways to combine knitting and meditation. Suzan and I had the best conversation last week.
I told her I was finding it soothing to knit a patternless piece of plain stockinette, and she told me about how we can combine the inherent meditative quality of knitting with the age-old techniques of meditation.
Suzan has a lot of experience in leading meditation groups, so of course I couldn’t resist asking her if she’d be interested in doing a virtual meditation workshop with us.
Her answer: yes!
We’ll get all the details sorted out shortly, so watch for news about that. Late March is looking likely. This will be a different kind of workshop for us to offer, but I’ve heard great things about how Suzan works to make the experience accessible and meaningful no matter what a person’s background is regarding meditation.
Honestly, I can’t stop knitting on this thing. I may log-cabin another color onto the side; Karida Collins’s moody cherry called Observatory Circle wants very much to be in on this. Blood pressure drops with each row.
Love,
Ann
I knit and read and have adopted many mindless knitting projects along the way. Very soothing.
I can’t wait!
O-o-oh. This is mine.
(How many stitches did you choose; what size needles?)
Hi Janne! I added details to the post, should have known to include them!
I had some Rowan Alpaca Cotton in my stash, and cast on a simple knit-every-stitch cowl with the same goal, a calming meditative knit. It works.
Your version of a meditative knit in that vibrant color is inspirational!
I worked at a yarn store for several years and I noticed when men came into the shop they all gravitated to the mohair/silk yarn. I wasn’t totally into knitting mohair because I personally didn’t love it against my skin as I frequently got pretty warm but then I went on safari in Africa. It was winter and outside of our room on the lounges were large swathes of loosely woven mohair/silk throws. So luxurious! I’ve been hesitant to try weaving my own throw because of the stickiness of the yarn but loosely knitted might be the ticket. Thanks for the inspiration!
Oooooo sign me up!
I would love to know the details of your “blanket”! What are those wonderful needles that you are using too?
I’m all in on having a meditation knitting project…….
Completely patternless? No edging? Is there some magic involving silk instead of wool which makes that work?
No pattern! No edging! I steamed my scarf, which makes it so beautifully smooth. And it doesn’t really curl much because it’s on a big needle, and this yarn is fine.
The longer I knit, the more I enjoy mindless knitting! Can’t wait!
Meditation and no pattern? Yes!!
Those are the cleanest edges I’ve ever seen!
Try slipping the first stitch of every row purl wise ;-D
I endorse the therapeutic qualities of a long rectangle of mohair and silk. I’ve just finished the kidsilk Albers shawl that accompanied me through last year, which included a broken wrist; the amazingness of the eclipse; two extended trips and the associated trains and planes; and the rest of the ups and downs of 2024. It was a wonderful, mindless (yet mindful?) project for both seeking sociability and for solitude. And now it’s adding to the coziness of my morning, 5 feet of warmth wrapped around my shoulders.
Oh, I’m so glad you finished your Albers shawl in Kidsilk Haze. Isn’t it beautiful? I love mine for travel–it folds into basically nothing yet is a genuinely warm scarf to wear. Now you’re making me want to do another one. The color thing that happens when marling Kidsilk Haze is pretty dreamy. Thanks for the reminder!
Where are the curled edges on your WIP?
Hi Barbara! Kidsilk Haze stockinette on a size 9 (5.5mm) needle curls only minimally. I steamed this piece, and the fabric is so light and airy that it mostly lies flat.
We need this now. Thanks.
Yassssssss. All the orange…and Suzan.
I have gravitated more and more towards, simple one skein wonders such as a kerchief in a wonderful color and fiber. The simplicity I find soothing, the concentration less demanding, and the rewards are rapid. Also I am not breaking the bank 🙂
What a gorgeous color! I, too, would love to know the stats of your wonderfully meditative scarf.
Hi Margie! I added info about my scarf in the post–thanks for asking!
What a great idea. I would also like the details. Number of stitches for cast on and needle size. Also, Neighborhood Fiber Company is temporarily closed. I live just a few miles from the store in Baltimore, and the owner is taking a break. I hope she comes back soon!
Hi Sandra–We too look forward to the return of the amazing Karida. Her color sense is truly delicious. Also: 44 stitches, size 9 (5.5mm) needle.
Been pondering just this sort of KSH project! I love the bright color and planning on something similar. And same info as Janne, please? And looks like stockinette? I started a silk/mohair sleeveless tee (just a shorter rectangle) a decade ago. Almost done and still beautiful – but the texture is randomly garter and/or stockinette. I was a silk/mohair newbie and could never tell the difference each time I picked it up. So it’s still in the naughty corner. Thanks for renewing my enthusiasm, Ann. I will work on it on a plane but NEVER wear it on one. Too dangerous! Chloe
Hi Chloe! Size 9 (5.5 mm), 44 stitches. Stockinette. We have some truly bonkers colors in the shop for Rowan Kidsilk Haze, perfect for a project like this and definitely tricky for anything larger… ; )
Sounds like a wonderful workshop…looking forward to it! The most meditative knitting for me is something simple and circular – a cowl, a good rib knit hat, or an Alexandra’s airplane scarf.
I knitted nonstop for over 2 years after my dad’s passing. It helped me so much and may do so again during these current times.
Are you blocking this as you go? Doesn’t stockinette curl?
Hi Dorothy! I steamed it with my iron, no pressing. It curls very minimally due to the airiness of the fabric. You could do this same idea in garter stitch and have zero curling.
Thank you
I am so excited–in a calm, meditative way, of course–to do this workshop with everyone! And what a wonderful medKNITation project to do it with. Looking forward to seeing everyone and meditating with you next month!
I love this SO much. When we bumped into you and Kay at VKL, you weren’t knitting, but how fun to know what was along for that adventure. Truly, the perfect social knitting project, as well as so mental calming. The is ridiculously needed right now.
It puts me in mind of a shawl that I coveted, as a young dancer. I was in training at Banff School of Fine Arts, where the Winnipeg Ballet was in residence, and I often watched the ‘company’ class, where the senior dancers twirled in glory in front of our young eyes. One dancer in particular would end the class, and wrap herself in a mohair rectangle (glorious ballet pink), so she could cool down slowly. She was a vision of feminine strength and beauty. And to this day, a mohair rectangle is something I crave.
Cue: Me running to my stash to get some yarn! Thank you Ann!!
Oh, ballet pink is such a weakness for me. I was just looking at the color Rose in our Kidsilk Haze colors, have a peek it’s so quiet . . . https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/shop/kidsilk-haze/
How many skeins will I need to make a wrap?
A handful of years ago
I knitted a bright, soft tube like this (look, Mom – no purling!) and it was a divine project – it made me smile as well as curious onlookers!
Looking forward to the virtual meditation workshop – what a lovely idea.
Sign me up for that! Please offer at multiple times to accommodate a variety of work and home schedules.