Contemplative Crochet: A Hands-On Guide for Interlocking Faith & Craft
My friend Cindy Frazier has just published a unique, inspirational book called Contemplative Crochet. This is the first full-length book that I know of exploring the connection between crochet and spirituality. It's an extraordinary gift to the crochet community. Cindy teaches us how to tap the deep wellsprings of creativity and love with our crochet. You won't be able to look at your yarn and hook in quite the same way after ingesting the soul-enriching contents of this book.
Here's a passage from the book:
We may gain helpful insights into our personality by looking at what patterns and items we choose to crochet and how we go about bringing our projects to life. Are you drawn to patterns that require only skills you already possess, or do you like a gentle challenge? Do you often dive in "head first" for the sake of a glorious outcome, or do you prefer to stick to pattern instructions? Do you combine ideas from several patterns, or would you rather create something totally original? Do you crave whimsy? Are you drawn to beauty? Maybe you express a rebellious streak in your use of images and color. All these things and more express who you are.
The multifaceted nature of our craft can reflect our own nature back to us Supported by the quiet rythm of crochet, our inner ears can become attuned to our inner mysteries. We are able to listen for the presence of our true selves, and self-knowledge becomes our axis point. From this center, we can move backward or forward or in any other direction we wish, and we will know exactly where we are. Stitch by stitch, we can uncover our gifts and our limitations, and we can find ways to honor who we are and who we are becoming.
This and many other passages in Contemplative Crochet verbalizes ideas and feelings that have floated through my mind without clarifying into cohesive thoughts. Thank you Cindy for taking the time to raise my consiousness about my craft. I'm sure many can benefit from your wisdom and vision!