Knitting is Conducive to Thoughts

 

"Knitting is

conducive to thought.  

It is nice to knit a while, 

put down the needles, 

write a while, 

then take up the sock again."  

~Dorothy Day

      I find a great deal of truth in this simple little quotation.  My niece is an artist and she has a very beautiful way of capturing, the most subtlest of emotions in her portraits.  

      Years ago, unbeknownst to me, she began to do a pencil sketch of me as I sat knitting on the couch.  When it was finished, and she called me over to take a look, I imagined, I would appear relaxed in the sketch maybe even smiling restfully.  But, I was surprised instead to find my face holding an expression of deep concentration and complex thought. 

      It is good to be able to get into that part of our mind once in a while, to meditate, ponder, and focus.  It is refreshing and soothing in its own way.  Such times, can bring us inspiration and be a stepping stone to other creative activities.  

       Jane Austen, was often observed, to be "lost in thought" while she was knitting.  She is said to have planned out many of her story plot lines, while her needles gently clicked away.     We can only imagine the wonderful inner workings of her mind, and be thankful, for the beautiful treasure trove of stories she left behind for us to enjoy.  Her example of making room, for creative meditation, shows us the value of setting aside a little time each day, for a daydream...or two.