I enjoy creating with my hands. Obviously, I like to write, both on a keyboard, and on a white legal pad using a hand made pen, infused with Scottish magic. But that's another blog....
I also love to crochet, as can be shown by the picture to the left. It started out as a normal scarf, to be worn with a long denim winter coat I owned. The scarf grew, seemingly on it's own, to the proper, perhaps even normal length for a long scarf. By then, I was enjoying myself far too much, and inspired by the 4th Doctor, had to continue on until it was long enough to wear touching below both knees and looped generously around my neck. I regretfully no longer own that wondrous coat, but the scarf of legends remains. It's very useful. It can be used as a hat, or wrapped around my arms, as a band to sweep snow off a car.
I also love to braid denim into a rug, hand sew, and cross stitch. I dabble in embroidery. But the lure of yarn is always there. I don't even know how to read a pattern...I just continue on, making square or rectangular things. I know my children are afraid I'll slipcover the entire building in crochet.
What do all these things have in common? Repetitive motion with the hands. Saying that sounds, well, monotonous. And it is. But that's a good thing. Why?
When I pick up my latest crochet project (a lap blanket), and begin, a sense of peace falls. I am lulled by the repeated motion. Stick the hook into the back loop. Twist the yarn around. Pull it through. And so on. Rinse, repeat. This lulling motion allows my mind to drift. I either watch tv (sci fy channel), or talk to a friend, or simply think. Crafting with my hands is my best thinking time. It's very relaxing. I'm certain my heart rate lowers.
Try it sometime...pick up a repetitive motion craft. It doesn't have to be 'girly'. I've worked on hand sewing while a friend worked on making chain mail. By hand. It involved wire, snips, and some muscle to wrap that wire around a stick. But it's the same.
Try it, and let me know what you experience.
1 comment:
I guess I'm too much of an engineer. I want to make a machine to do the knitting, and I'd study it only as long as required to understand the motions involved. I've wanted to before, but just never got around to it. But that's for another blog.
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