Tranquility in Motion: A Life of Craft and the Joy of Making

I’ve purchased a new Stitch Magic by USHA machine and am ready to tackle the dressmaking myself. Although it has been a long time due to my previous commitments with my job at the university, social work, and domestic duties, I am fed up with the poor quality and unreliability of paid tailors. Now that I’ve dedicated time to sit down with my new machine, I'm pleased to find that my sewing skills have all come flooding back to me, and I feel confident in my ability to manage this project for my family. Ever since I was quite young, perhaps ten years old, I've loved handicrafts. Not only for the outcome, but often because I just enjoyed the process of doing it. Crafts such as knitting—which I learned using broomsticks as knitting needles and unraveling frayed yarn from old, torn knitted socks my mother had made for my father—were my beginning. I was in the third standard, studying in Hindu High School, Jamnagar, Gujarat; we were living in the woolen mill quarters at the time, as Air Force quarters hadn't been allotted to us yet. I expanded my skills to include sewing, crochet, patchwork, and spinning (both with a charkha and a drop spindle). Later, when I was doing my B.Sc. Home Science, weaving and embroidery were what filled my school holidays in our village in Haryana. I still enjoy creating things these days. The trick is keeping my patchwork and knitting fresh and modern. I'm so glad that it's trendy to be crafty now. I have found my own path to the tranquillity that traditional seated meditation always promised but never delivered. The "think of nothing for 30 minutes" approach is a discipline my restless mind simply cannot grasp. Instead, I find my meditative rhythm in motion and in craft. Walking provides a foundational cadence; the steady, predictable fall of my feet against the ground is a subtle percussion that allows my thoughts to wander and settle, like dust motes in sunlight. Crocheting with the remnants of previous years' yarn offers a similar, yet richer, sanctuary. The meditative quality lies within the simple, repetitive mechanics of the stitches. It is a graceful engagement for my hands that frees my mind. This practice comes with its own collection of quiet virtues: it enforces a mindful pause from snacking, allowing me to be present during family television time with a project resting in my lap. It even permits the careful sipping of a glass of tea or coffee, though the occasional wonky stitch serves as a gentle reminder not to become too distracted—a beautiful metaphor, perhaps, for life itself, requiring a periodic, patient unravelling and a fresh start. The rhythm of the hook and yarn is my anchor, a tangible and satisfying way to find peace in the present moment. It is remarkable how effortlessly you can embrace a new pursuit. While the initial stages may demand focus—perhaps you won't yet be able to master a new stitch and follow a film simultaneously—that synergy will come. In the interim, you have discovered the unique joy of simultaneously unwinding and creating something tangible. This duality is precisely where true satisfaction lies: in the act of creation. Much like the reward of preparing a delicious meal, there is profound pleasure in crafting a thoughtful, handmade gift for a friend, such as a knitted cot rug. The inherent quality of the knit fabric ensures it is resilient—it fastens securely and will not unravel. A favorite knitting project when wanting to knit without really thinking about it is this versatile piece, which serves beautifully as a rugged floor mat or a comforting throw rug to curl up with on the sofa when a chill sets the air. It's a meditative and satisfying make that brings warmth and texture to any space, requiring minimal mental effort for maximum cozy impact. . MY INSPIRATIONAL BLOG TODAY... my castle in spain: Join the poets in Cordoba my castle in spain: Join the poets in Cordoba: At times I wish to be a simple tourist here in Andalusia and visit city after city. If I had time on my hands, Cordoba would be on my agenda...