Unfortunately the book archived before I was able to download or send it to kindle so I wasn’t able to get a copy/read it. (I’ve only just now realised I could leave feedback on it 🤦🏻‍♀️)

Leaving a neutral rating of 3 stars

I have knitted a lot over the years, mostly for the children and for gifts; and whilst I, then look at it as a means to and end, I can now, looking back, see it was very enjoyable and calming.
I still knit now, but now it is a slower process, a process of meandering through a project slowly and with care, with the enjoyment. of touch, textures and colors. Creating an item that is filled with a process of letting go, of relaxation and calming thoughts. The feel of the wool, and the journey through mindfulness to new understanding of self.

My great-grandma taught me to knit when I was young and I have been doing it, on and off, for all my life. I hadn’t realised the benefit it gave me until I read this book and suddenly acknowledged how much the act of choosing a pattern and the yarn, then the act of knitting, plus the finishing it off, can provide. The book which summarised all what knitting can provide for you to manage your anxiety, stress and depression.

If you’re new to the idea of mindfulness, I don’t think this book does the best job at explaining the concept and its uses; if you’re familiar with mindfulness, I don’t think this book will tell you anything you didn’t already know; if you like the personal knitting stories, you’ll be disappointed at how short these parts are.
I definitely fell into that last category. I quite enjoyed the personal stories, like knitting a jumper at school, or the ones looking at knitting in history, such as the short piece on Beatrix Potter and Herdwick sheep. These stories, however, usually felt too short and somewhat out of place in between strained sections on the connection between mindfulness and knitting. I often felt like I was reading two different books that had been forced together when it switched from personal story to philosophical essay.
In the end, while there was the occasional informative essay and useful bit of information, I didn’t get enough out of the book to enjoy it. I felt I was making myself read it for the sake of finishing it and not out of a desire to learn what it had to say.

There are many books in this mindfulness series. Each has a beautifully designed cover for the subject. Although they cover much the same ground they each have a unique angle to support the title theme. Here it’s knitting a activity many already find relaxing. This book will help you take that relaxation one step further and help you apply it to your daily life.

This book is one in a series of "The Art of Mindful xxx", and so I was rather sceptical that it would offer anything new and of interest. There are six chapters dealing with, among other things, the process of knitting, yarns and craft circles. This is not a knitting project book, there are no patterns, instead it is about Rachael Matthews' observations and experiences. Randomly interspersed through the text are exercises. These are not actual knitting exercises but meditative projects. Disappointingly there are no photographs or illustrations in the book.
I found the book did offer some interesting observations that made me think about why I knit and how I knit. Overall though, I felt that the subject of mindful knitting (as with most recent books that try to apply mindfulness to a particular activity) was laboured in places and didn't really have anything new to add.

"Anyone can pick up a pair of needles and a ball of yarn. And everyone can be mindful. The Mindfulness in Knitting casts fresh light on this renowned calming craft, and reveals how the act of “knit and purl” can be the epitome of conscious living."

As an avid knitter who is always trying to strive to be more mindful this book made me want to pick up my needles and sooth the mind. There were some lovely deep connections that I took away from this book. I was really fascinated as a knitter how creativity links to mindfulness.

This is a wonderful book to read for any crafter, it would also be a fabulous book to read as part of a bookclub or knit group, it has so many potential discussion points.

I would definitely recommend this book.

This book is an amazingly detailed, finely written account of the connection between mind, body and stitches, the value of labour and quiet reflection and an ode to the slowly handmade over the quickly produced. The author covers some of the history, some of the cliches and misconceptions about knitting and knitters, and uses small exercises to help the reader to connect their knitting experience to something deeper. There are sections on knitting as a structure for life long learning, craftivism, self-discovery.
I haven't knitted in a long time and I was thinking of this book as a gift for a friend. I went with her and her knitting circle to Shetland wool week a couple of years ago and was struck by the deep connections these knitters had with their craft and with strangers from all over the world. This lovely book helped me to understand some of those connections and brought back memories of my own early knitting experiences and made me appreciate the art all the more.