Let’s be honest — I love to knit; I also love to quilt, papercraft, read books, and cook. I have a husband, children, and grandchildren, so that is 13 handmade gifts that I should make every year. All this fills my days and sometimes it overfills them. Sometimes I get so busy doing “things” that I don’t have time for a spiritual practice.

Naturalist John Muir once wrote, “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” I don’t have a mountain nearby, but I do have a quiet spot and that is all you need for contemplative knitting and the start of your own spiritual practice.

During the pandemic, a friend of mine started an evening Zoom knitting group. There was no agenda — just bring whatever you’re working on and chat. I always felt restored afterwards.

After reading Contemplative Knitting, published by Church Publishing, Inc. and written by Julie Cicora, I realized that I could build a spiritual practice using something that I already enjoy. I liked how Cicora gives examples of how to set up a time for your spiritual practice and how to think about how it will fit in your day. Is it the first thing you do in a day? Is it the last thing you do in a day? Is it somewhere in between? Where can you find five minutes for your spiritual practice? Cicora asks these pertinent questions to help you focus and decide on a practice you can stick with. She then walks you through all the details of setting it up. What is your motivation, what will you use, and why? She also answers all those questions related to why you can’t, why you won’t, and why should you? Your excuses don’t stand a chance against her logical reasoning.

The last part of Contemplative Knitting walks you through incorporating knitting into other parts of your life. Are you interested in knitting for others? Is a knitting group in your church doing charity knitting? Have you googled charity knitting? Maybe that is not what you’re thinking of doing, but how about just getting other knitters to gather and knit? Whatever you want to accomplish with your knitting, Contemplative Knitting covers all the questions you may have. It also gives you the encouragement you may need to make knitting as a spiritual practice a reality in your everyday life.

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.