Contemplative Crochet: A Hands-On Guide for Interlocking Faith & Craft

A Hands-On Guide for Interlocking Faith and Craft.

“Skylight Paths of Woodstock, Vermont has just published a book that draws together the craft of crocheting with prayer and spirituality. The book is titled Contemplative Crochet: A Hands-On Guide for Interlocking Faith and Craft, by Cindy Crandall-Frazier. It is a large size paperback that includes in each chapter a project for crocheting with pictures and instructions. The list price for the book is $16.99. Two chapters are of special interest to Catholics. Chapter 4, called "Meditation Meets Prayer," connects to the Prayer Shawl which several parishes in the diocese have as a ministry. The chapter teaches ways of crocheting the prayer shawl while learning new forms of prayer. Forms of meditation and silence are stressed as the artist creates the shawl that will be used by someone else as an aid for prayer and refection. Chapter 6 is called "Prayers on a String." It speaks of the use of beads for prayer in many different religions. There is a section on Christian traditions that includes the rosary. The author speaks of the connection of the rosary to rose gardens and to the 150 Psalms. She speaks of one tradition where the beads are made of rose petal paste, shaped into beads, and dried, while retaining the scent of roses for many years. Contemplative Crochet looks like a wonderful source book for an individual or a group who enjoy crocheting. The prayer aspect may already to a part of their lives, but this book would seem to be a helpful addition to growing in prayer with the art of crocheting.”

For those who love crafts, their connection to personal faith and spirituality is a natural fit. This is a refreshing spiritual book for practitioners of the beautiful craft of crochet, which is too often overshadowed by knitting. Contemplative Crochet author Cindy Crandall-Frazier comes from a Methodist background, and is now a practicing Quaker. Her work here intersperses a narrative examining the interconnectedness of crocheting to personal expression of faith, with short questions for contemplation, and even patterns for relevant projects.

The author's stated objective is to demonstrate that work done with our hands is sacred and serves a spiritual purpose both for creator and recipient. She addresses practical topics such as meditation while crocheting and use of prayer beads, as well as broader themes, such as finding one's spiritual and vocational path, and discovering personal creativity within one's practice of crochet. The included patterns are designed in such a way that even beginning crocheters can partake-one only need know how to create single, double and half-double crochet stitches from a starting chain. The designs are for a diverse group of projects, from a traditional prayer shawl and prayer beads (not a rosary; rather, beads similar to an Eastern Christian chotki), to a small tea pot cozy and motif made of crocheted morning glories.

This is a well-written book on an inspirational and timely topic. It would make a thoughtful gift for a crocheter, and a nice addition to one's spiritual reading list. -- Tiffany R. Walsh Catholic Library World

Cindy Crandall-Frazier is the author of Single Crochet for Beginners and Sock Doll Workshop: 30 Delightful Dolls to Create and Cherish and Contemplative Crochet: A Hands-On Guide for Interlocking Faith & Craft (SkyLight Paths). She is an educator and member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker).

Linda Skolnik created one of the most popular knitting resources in the world-Patternworks, a high-end knitting mail order company whose catalog has become a knitting bible for the world's most passionate knitters.She is coauthor of The Knitting Way: A Guide to Spiritual Self-Discovery (SkyLight Paths).

With Hook in Hand, Enrich Your Spiritual Practice and Renew Your Awareness of the Connections of Creativity to Spirit What can you learn about yourself through your crocheting? What deeper symbolism lies behind the loops and patterns that you create? How can this simple activity help you make your way down a spiritual path? Delve into these questions and more in this imaginative book that will become your spiritual friend, your teacher and your sanctuary. Follow the crochet journeys of the author and other crocheters to discover how they have used their crocheting to explore and strengthen their spiritual selves, and how you can do the same. In this joyful and engaging look at a time-honored craft, you will discover ways to: Find a Sense of Fullness and Gratitude Have More Within a Structure of Less Combine the Spiritual Practices of Meditation and Prayer Create Tools for Intensifying Spiritual Practice Find Your Spiritual Path with Crochet Connect with Community Through Crochet Make Crochet Uniquely Yours And Much More

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