Simple Designs for Meditative Knitting is a book that is exactly as the title states. Thank you NetGalley and Landauer (Publishing) for making this ebook available to me.

First things first, this is a perfect book for a beginner knitter. It really covers basics. For the more advanced knitter this is a book that will open a window to a more calming knitting, as the title suggests. Knitting (or any hobby for that matter) should bring the heart rate down, right? This book provides techniques to do that while enjoying our craft. You can sit back and knit mindlessly while also truly resting the mind and allowing yourself to sink a little deeper into that state of mind.

The patterns included are fairly basic, for the most part. The final products are delightful. The author, Barbara Bree , has done a wonderful job at curating the patterns included, while considering the reader/knitter and what she hopes to teach others. New knitters or experienced, I think that this book will be an asset to your mental health (and WIP stash) all while enjoying our fantastic fiber arts!

As a new knitter (crocheter of 23 years but dabbling in knitting now) I found this book wonderful! The patterns are beautiful, and simply enough that I can follow them easily, but not get bored. What a great book to use to work on my skills!

This title is not lying, these are extremely simple designs. That doesn't mean that some of them aren't lovely. Unfortunately, they also feel very repetitive. There are multiple hat and fingerless mitt patterns, but they all look basically the same. And while I very much love the idea of meditative knitting, hats and mitts are not the best designs for unfocused knitting. Scarves, shawls, blankets and other rectangular patterns are great for this. If I have to count my rows and remember when to decrease, then this is not a good design for meditative knitting. Basically, this is a repetitive book of simple and boring patterns, most of which consist of nothing more than a garter stitch border around a specific stitch pattern that can be found for free on the internet. This might be a good book for a beginner knitter, but even then, I would find something more interesting.

Impressed. I have been on the search for a simple knitting book with easy to follow patterns, a good description of the yarn used (such as the weight and what the yarn even is, which surprisingly a lot of knitting books don't have), and good diagrams, This is a good book. Easy to follow for beginners and you can make these patterns and relax at the same time, because a lot of them are just so simple. A great variety of useful patterns for different skill levels and different times of the year. Pictures are amazing, well formatted and such.

A wonderful introduction to meditative knitting. The creation of art to enter a meditative state is not a new practice. This book gives instructions on how to enter that state through your knitting including what types of patterns and yarns work best for meditation. The patterns are basic but that is necessary for meditative knitting. The book contains basic knitting instructions that may not be clear to someone who has never knitted before but are useful reminders to beginners.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest, thoughtful review.

This is a really lovely book of simple and basic knitting patterns. I have attempted the fingerless gloves and the pattern was basic. I liked the facts throughout about the meditative qualities of knitting.

The concept of this book was very intriguing to me. As someone who loves to listen to audiobooks while knitting, I often find myself in need of simple, easy-to-follow patterns that help me relax. To that end, these patterns did not disappoint!

Each pattern consists of very few steps that make it easy to fall into a comfortable rhythm while knitting. They are clear, comprehensible, and accessible to all skill levels. Diagrams are included for every one of the stitches used, as well as for assembly techniques like joining/seaming.

The book itself is beautifully designed with pretty end pages/divider pages, and it’s filled with plenty of well-lit, colorful photos of finished products.

Would I actually use/wear/gift any of the items made from these patterns? Maybe. The real value here is process over product.

That being said, I personally would have preferred a little more variety as far as project type. There are 4 repeats (5 scarves, 4 blankets, 3 hats, and 2 mittens) and 4 that are more unique (1 poncho, 1 placemat/napkin wrap combo, 1 play mat, and 1 bath mat). All of the projects in this book are practical in nature, so I would be less inclined to recommend it to someone who prefers to create decorative/novelty-type projects.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I love a complicated lace pattern as much as the next knitter but often I want knitting that is relaxing, calming and doesn’t require memorizing a ten row repeat. These are functional designs for adults and kids. There is a lot of garter stitch as well as very simple texture designs. The instructions are clear. Everything here looks nice enough to gift while not requiring a PhD in knitting. Well done.

I love how simple this book is with the instructions! I crochet and sometimes wonder about trying my hand at knitting. This book gives me the basics needed to try it out! I did look into this book primarily with a friend in mind however now I may just keep it for myself!

A lovely collection of easy to follow patterns that produce beautiful results - I'm already itching to cast on the poncho and bath mat. Barbara Breen puts forward the idea that as well as providing a challenge, or being something to keep your hands busy, knitting can be an act of mindful meditation. It's a lovely idea and accesible to knitters of all levels.

Simple designs for meditative knitting - Barbara Breen

Brilliant! 👏 ❤️ 🧶 📖

I’m not sure where I’d personally place my skills beginner - pro? I know I’m far from pro, but I’m not a newbie beginner either. I learn things in knitting all the time, I enjoy seeing other people’s projects and find inspiration from others. Reading books like THIS one is exactly what I love about the craft.

This book is very informative with clear instructions, beautifully illustrated and inspiring quotes. I’d recommend this book for a beginner knitter knowing that they can learn a lot from it plus make a few of these projects with ease.

This book is great. The patterns contain simple and easily repetitive patterns that look sophisticated. I am already planning on making the bath mat that is in this book. These patterns are great for making while relaxing after a long day with their understated elegant designs. I also really enjoy the step by step instructions for the different stitches, which makes this book great for beginners. The book also contains many pages describing the mediative nature of knitting, which I enjoyed. I think like can be so hectic that it is nice to slow down and focus on the small details. I would highly recommend this book to any of my crafting friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Fox Chapel Publishing for the eARC!
I already crochet and love doing it to relax so I was intrigued by the idea of a book about meditative knitting. I’ve always wanted to knit but haven’t had the patience (I can crochet much faster) so I thought trying it as a meditative practice might help. This book has a great introduction that talks about the practice and some beautiful patterns I’m excited to try! I’ve successfully knit a tiny square and I’d love to try the scarf pattern in this book. We’ll see if meditative knitting is enough to get me there. 😂

I’m VERY new to knitting, so I’m always looking for new patterns that are easy to follow. I was hoping that this book would have some that I could try out, but even these were above my understanding level.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy knitting but often just wing it and end up making random rectangles. This book offered some nice project ideas that were not too overwhelming. The patterns were mostly simple and readable. This would be a great starter book for a new knitter or a way to ease back in if it has been a few years. I was happy to get this ARC free from NetGalley but I would pay for a physical copy of this book to have these patterns on hand to use again and again.

What a beautiful title! I am an intermediate knitter and found these instructions to be simple and beautiful. The pictures were lovely and the patterns, indeed, can be meditative. I can't wait to make a hat for myself and maybe another item or two. It's a great way to amp up your knitting game as well as do some relaxing!

Definitely simple, definitely meditative, and a series of great designs that don't require a lot of brain power but still requires meditative actions.