This collection, if possible, is even better and includes 16 patterns from 16 talented designers. It is an eclectic collection of patterns that invites crafters to combine yarn in new and unexpected ways across brands and bases. The designs showcase modern knitting at its best, using a variety of techniques and unique and unexpected color combinations.
Most of the patterns are photographed in two different samples – worked in different colors and yarns, giving you ample inspiration for your own versions.
The collection celebrates solidarity and cooperation: to showcase the many talented people in the knitting community, Aimée has put together a collection of not only patterns from designers around the world, but yarns from a variety of producers and dyers.
All of them work beautifully together and different sizes and price points have also been taken into account. Sweaters and cardigans are graded into various sizes, reaching from size 1 (30″ / 75 cm bust circumference) to at least size 8 (or 60″ / 152 cm bust circumference).
Aimée writes: “My goal was to curate a knitwear collection that you’ve never seen before. Neons and Neutrals is a collection full of unexpected colors and textures that hopefully will invite you to knit beyond your comfort zone. I believe anyone can wear any color or texture as long as you believe in the fiber story you are making.”
Aimée Gille was born and raised in the United States, in Kansas, and later moved to France, where her passion for knitting was reignited. In Paris, where she now lives with her family, she first opened L’OisiveThé, a wonderful knitting café, and later La Bien Aimée, a yarn company whose gorgeous hand-dyed yarns are sold worldwide. Her debut book, Worsted, was published by Laine Publishing in 2021. Neons & Neutrals is her second book.
The book features designs by the following designers: Inese Sang, Maaike van Geijn, Karen Cronje, Anna Husemann, Layla Yang, Caitlyn Turowski, Cecelia Campochiaro, Valerie Ng, Maysa Tomikawa, Florence Spurling, Lotta H Löthgren, Brandi Cheyenne Harper, Marie Régnier, Susan Chin, Brienne Moody and Julia Wilkens.
200 pages
Hardback
16 knitting patterns (4 sweaters, 4 cardigans, 4 shawls, 2 hats, 1 vest and 1 cowl)
I have found that if you look closely, the Universe is a pretty loving place. The things we need are presented to us (especially if we ask for them), we just have a tendency to get in our own way and block our own joy (I avoid using the term ‘happiness’ – according to Eckhart Tolle the world is not here to make us happy, it’s to make us conscious …. but being conscious feels pretty frickin’ good and brings happy things like joy and peace and contentment, so while it isn’t the same thing, there’s a connection).
People don’t pay attention to the little synchronicities in their lives, which is a shame, because when you open up to those little nudges from the universe they can put you on a completely different path … normally a brighter one. Sometimes it’s an author, a book that catches your eye, or a podcast or a video, an email …. whatever it is, it’s something new, something you maybe might normally dismiss. New things are scary to the human mind, our brains are engineered to keep us alive, but joy … not so much. That’s where the practice of mindfulness comes in, it helps us learn to create the space necessary to reach for the nourishment we need, break old patterns, and create new, happy ways of living.
If you’ve been thinking or reading about our Knitsana mindfulness workshop and haven’t committed, what are you hesitant about? Are there other areas of your life that you are experiencing pause? Is it time for you to open up to more joy, more contentment, more peace, more love? Join Michelle Bloom, a registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist with a passion for knitting will guide you in your mindfulness as you learn the basics (or go deeper).
Whatever synchronicities are laid out in front of you, trust the universe, trust life, and follow the crumbs it’s leaving for you.
If you have any questions about the Knitsana Workshop or want to register, simply e-mail Michelle.
Past participants share their inspiring experiences …
“Knitsana has been a “moment” of peace and growth over the past few months. I’ve taken the opportunity to reflect, find some balance and focus on ‘now’ not ‘then’. I look forward to the group hour as my time to learn and grow. Of course, the growth continues as the learning continues … I appreciate change is wonderful and necessary as long as we are alive …” ~ F.D.
“I joined the Knitsana group last winter … It was lovely – so relaxing, so interesting. I love knitting & being able to incorporate mindfulness to knitting is joyous. Knitting can be so relaxing & so loving – especially if you are creating things for loved ones. I realized I put so much love into what I create.” ~ Lisa H
“As someone who has practiced mindfulness meditation for a few years, I found the Knitsana group a fantastic way to extend that practice and to bring mindfulness and a greater sense of calm into other parts of my life.” ~ Linda B.
“Knitsana for me is a mindfulness knitting community right in my living room. It’s meditative, relaxing, and peaceful—my one hour of contentedness in a stressful world.” ~ Karen H
“I’m relatively new to knitting, and I love it for the relaxation factor. Knitsana brought me together with a group of warm, creative people and helped inspire me to love the journey, not just the outcome. “ ~ J.F.
Discounted Option Available!
If you want to take the workshop with the lovely recommended yarn you can do that for $200, but if you want to save a little bit of money and use some yarn from your stash we are now offering the course at a discounted $175. We want you to have a great experience when you practice your mindful knitting, but ultimately it’s about practicing being present.
Reminder: You May be Eligible for Insurance Benefits!
Because this group is led by a licensed Social Worker and considered to be ‘therapeutic’, any participant residing in Ontario that has insurance coverage for social work can apply for benefits. Otherwise, you may be able to write off the cost of this group on your taxes (talk to your accountant to see). Michelle will issue an official receipt at the end of the session.
Mindfulness is the basic ability to be fully present and aware. The practice can help us when we feel overwhelmed, and help us manage how we react to stress. Luckily, mindfulness is a quality that every person already possesses, you don’t need to conjure it up, you just have to learn how to access it and practice using it. In this workshop, we will use knitting as an entry into the practice of mindfulness, with the intention to help you learn how to both improve and maintain your well-being. The craft of knitting with its repetitive and rhythmic motions is well known for its calming and healing properties. Mindfulness practice has been used for years to help people focus themselves in the present moment. Together, we hope to provide you with the needed tools to decrease stress and support your daily well-being.
The only prerequisite is that you already know how to cast on, knit and purl. You do not need any prior experience with mindfulness or meditation, you just need to show up and be present.
When
Every SUNDAY morning for one hour from 10:30 am to 11:30 am for SIX WEEKS (January 29; Feb 5, 12, 19, 26; March 5)
Welcome to Knitsana 2 – if you are looking for a way to expand your mindfulness skills then this is the group for you! We will continue to use knitting in your practice with mindfulness. Knitting with its repetitive motion, illuminating colours and textures offers so much in the way of healing properties. This group will ‘go deeper’ into concepts explored in the first Knitsana group (ie. perfectionism, burnout, etc.) and will help bridge into your daily living.
When
Every WEDNESDAY evening for one hour from 6:30 – 7:30 pm for SIX weeks. (February 1, 8, 15, 22; March 1, 8)
SEE BELOW FOR THE REST OF THE DETAILS
Details that Apply to Both Workshops
Important Notes
These groups DO NOT include any knitting instruction
Groups are presently only held online
Space is limited to 20 participants per group, so please don’t wait to register
Who
This group is facilitated by Michelle Bloom, a registered Social Worker with a thriving counseling practice who has a love for knitting and a passion for healing. Haley Waxberg, owner of Knit-O-Matic will be co-hosting.
Where
These online groups and will be held over a secure zoom channel.
You will also have access to the Knitsana Facebook Group, a private forum exclusively for Knitsana members to share their mindfulness growth and experiences.
Cost
The cost of the group WITH YARN is $200.00 for all six sessions, and WITHOUT YARN it is $175. Payment and registration will NOT be going through us at the store – because Michelle is a Registered Social Worker it is more cost-effective to offer this workshop directly through her (if it went through the store we would have to charge tax, cover overhead, etc).
Insurance Benefits
Because this group is considered to be ‘therapeutic’, any participant residing in Ontario that has insurance coverage for social work can apply for benefits. You may otherwise be able to write off the cost of this group on your taxes (talk to your accountant to see).
Registration
Register by e-mailing Michelle. Payment will be made directly to Michelle Bloom (by ETF), who will issue an official receipt upon completion of all 6 sessions.
Skills Required
You must already know how to cast on, knit and purl. For knitting tutorials please see our Knitting Skills Page.
Materials (optional)
We will all be using the same, specially selected yarn for our mindful journey. If you are a new knitter we recommend 10” straight bamboo or birch needles. If you are a crocheter that is also fine, you will need a 4.5mm or 5mm crochet hook.
This is NOT a knitting skills course, so we won’t be taking on a specific project, but here’sa list of simple project options that are well suited to mindfulness knitting (choose something that is simple for you):
I’m getting ready for the COCOKNITS MABEL KAL (knitalong) starting in February!
The sweater is knit with the Cocoknits method, a unique technique for working a sweater seamlessly from the top-down, and I’m curious to finally learn it! I think I’ll make it as a turtle neck …. it gives the shape a bit more substance.
I’ve done my swatching and tried 3 different yarns:
I tried 7mm/US10.75 needles and 6.5mm/US10.5 needles, and got the best gauge by combining Drops Air & Drops Kid-Silk on 6.5mm/US10.5 needles.
In the video I also flip through the pattern … it’s very professional and comprehensive, I’m looking forward to it and I know we will be in good hands!
P.S.
The ring I’m wearing in the video is from Kormar Jewellery. I bought it at the Toronto Outdoor Art Show and LURV it! It’s 3D-printed silver and doesn’t get caught on my yarn when I knit or crochet (an essential quality in my jewellery).
Mabel
Mabel is a loose-fitting, comfortable pullover that fits the bill. She is also infinitely adaptable … try knitting the neck ribbing into a cowl or extra long fold-over turtleneck. Add cables, split the hem, knit it knee length, add stripes … the sky’s the limit. It is written in 10 sizes from 36 to 72” bust, so you have options for fit, as well!
This sweater is worked using the Cocoknits Method, a commonsense system for knitting seamless, tailored sweaters from the top down. The Cocoknits Method is explained in detail in Cocoknits Sweater Workshop by Julie Weisenberger.
FYI, if you hadn’t already heard, Cocoknits is hosting a KAL starting this February, and I thought it might be a nice diversion, as well as a neat way to learn something new and unique. Cocoknits designer, Julie Weisberger, is known for her own sweater construction style, which is laid out in her book Cocoknits Sweater Workshop.
I’m going to give it a shot and make Mabel, so reach out and give me a shout if you’d like to join me! It knits up on 7mm/US10.75 needles at 12 sts/4″, so it won’t be a huge commitment. I’d like to make mine light and airy, and I still have to swatch to figure out my yarn, but I’m thinking of using one of the following combinations:
If you’re allergic to wool I think you can also get away with using the Rico So Cool So Soft Cotton we have on sale (I managed to restock more of the navy, black and cream).
KALDetails
Knit whatever Cocoknits Method Patternyou want, whenever you want, however, you want. That’s the philosophy behind Cocoknits knit-a-long.
It’s a “choose your own adventure” of sorts. But the best part? They don’t have an end date…and they don’t plan on setting one, so you can join over and over again. That’s why they’re calling this the Cocoknits Method Everlasting KAL.
Still, the Cocoknits team enjoys the tradition of starting off the new year by working on a shared pattern together. For 2023 they have decided on a fan favorite: Mabel.
With the long days of winter seem to want to stay grey this year, COVID making a comeback, and the rising cost of living, taking care of our mental wellbeing has never been more crucial! When we started Knitsana we wanted to do something to help people heal, not just from the trauma of the pandemic, but all the build-up we all unknowingly carry around. We must be doing something good, past participants of our Knitsana workshops have been coming back for more, making it possible for us to expand and add a second, more advanced workshop.
Now with the rising cost of living, Michelle and I want to find a way to make learning and growing your Mindfulness and peace of mind more accessible. We talked and decided the best way was to offer you the choice of joining Knitsana with or without the yarn. If you want to take the workshop with the lovely recommended yarn you can do that for $200, but if you want to save a little bit of money and use some yarn from your stash we are now offering the course at a discounted $175. We want you to have a great experience when you practice your mindful knitting, but ultimately it’s about practicing being present.
Reminder: You May be Eligible for Insurance Benefits!
Because this group is led by a licensed Social Worker and considered to be ‘therapeutic’, any participant residing in Ontario that has insurance coverage for social work can apply for benefits. Otherwise, you may be able to write off the cost of this group on your taxes (talk to your accountant to see). Michelle will issue an official receipt at the end of the session.
What Past Participants Are Saying About Knitsana
“Knitsana has been a “moment” of peace and growth over the past few months. I’ve taken the opportunity to reflect, find some balance and focus on ‘now’ not ‘then’. I look forward to the group hour as my time to learn and grow. Of course, the growth continues as the learning continues … I appreciate change is wonderful and necessary as long as we are alive …” ~ F.D.
“I joined the Knitsana group last winter – we met Sunday mornings for a few weeks. It was lovely – so relaxing, so interesting. I love knitting & being able to incorporate mindfulness to knitting is joyous. Knitting can be so relaxing & so loving – especially if you are creating things for loved ones. I realized I put so much love into what I create.” ~ Lisa H
“As someone who has practiced mindfulness meditation for a few years, I found the Knitsana group a fantastic way to extend that practice and to bring mindfulness and an greater sense of calm into other parts of my life.” ~ Linda B.
“Knitsana for me is a mindfulness knitting community right in my living room. It’s meditative, relaxing, and peaceful—my one hour of contentedness in a stressful world.” ~ Karen H
“I’m relatively new to knitting, and I love it for the relaxation factor. Knitsana brought me together with a group of warm, creative people and helped inspire me to love the journey, not just the outcome. “ ~ J.F.
Mindfulness is the basic ability to be fully present and aware. The practice can help us when we feel overwhelmed, and help us manage how we react to stress. Luckily, mindfulness is a quality that every person already possesses, you don’t need to conjure it up, you just have to learn how to access it and practice using it. In this workshop, we will use knitting as an entry into the practice of mindfulness, with the intention to help you learn how to both improve and maintain your well-being. The craft of knitting with its repetitive and rhythmic motions is well known for its calming and healing properties. Mindfulness practice has been used for years to help people focus themselves in the present moment. Together, we hope to provide you with the needed tools to decrease stress and support your daily well-being.
The only prerequisite is that you already know how to cast on, knit and purl. You do not need any prior experience with mindfulness or meditation, you just need to show up and be present.
When
Every SUNDAY morning for one hour from 10:30 am to 11:30 am for SIX WEEKS (January 29; Feb 5, 12, 19, 26; March 5)
Welcome to Knitsana 2 – if you are looking for a way to expand your mindfulness skills then this is the group for you! We will continue to use knitting in your practice with mindfulness. Knitting with its repetitive motion, illuminating colours and textures offers so much in the way of healing properties. This group will ‘go deeper’ into concepts explored in the first Knitsana group (ie. perfectionism, burnout, etc.) and will help bridge into your daily living.
When
Every WEDNESDAY evening for one hour from 6:30 – 7:30 pm for SIX weeks. (February 1, 8, 15, 22; March 1, 8)
SEE BELOW FOR THE REST OF THE DETAILS
Details that Apply to Both Workshops
Important Notes
These groups DO NOT include any knitting instruction
Groups are presently only held online
Space is limited to 20 participants per group, so please don’t wait to register
Who
This group is facilitated by Michelle Bloom, a registered Social Worker who has a love for knitting and a passion for healing. Haley Waxberg, owner of Knit-O-Matic will be co-hosting.
Where
These online groups and will be held over a secure zoom channel.
You will also have access to the Knitsana Facebook Group, a private forum exclusively for Knitsana members to share their mindfulness growth and experiences.
Cost
The cost of the group WITH YARN is $200.00 for all six sessions, and WITHOUT YARN it is $175. Payment and registration will NOT be going through us at the store – because Michelle is a Registered Social Worker it is more cost-effective to offer this workshop directly through her (if it went through the store we would have to charge tax, cover overhead, etc).
Insurance Benefits
Because this group is considered to be ‘therapeutic’, any participant residing in Ontario that has insurance coverage for social work can apply for benefits. You may otherwise be able to write off the cost of this group on your taxes (talk to your accountant to see).
Registration
Register by e-mailing Michelle. Payment will be made directly to Michelle Bloom (by ETF), who will issue an official receipt upon completion of all 6 sessions.
Skills Required
You must already know how to cast on, knit and purl. For knitting tutorials please see our Knitting Skills Page.
Materials (optional)
We will all be using the same, specially selected yarn for our mindful journey. If you are a new knitter we recommend 10” straight bamboo or birch needles. If you are a crocheter that is also fine, you will need a 4.5mm or 5mm crochet hook.
This is not a knitting skills course, so we won’t be taking on a specific project, but here’sa list of simple project options that are well suited to mindfulness knitting (choose something that is simple for you):
Happy New Year! It’s been a while since I’ve sent you a COVID housekeeping update …. I know we all would have loved to leave COVID in 2022, but viruses just seem to do what they want.
Currently, NOTHING is changing in the store …
We still ask that everyone put on a mask before coming into the store, and there’s a box attached to the front door with a bunch in there, so if you don’t already have one in your pocket please help yourself.
All classes and help are booked privately through our website HERE.
All social knitting is still suspended.
We ARE accepting donations of yarn, needles and hooks for charity (please drop your donations off in a sealed plastic bag and make sure it contains no perfume, cigarette smoke or moths) … read more on our ABOUT US page.
What is changing (or may be changing) is the COVID situation, and since in the past you’ve let me know how much you appreciated the heads-up from my intuition/spidey-sense, I thought it might be a good idea. A new COVID Omicron variant is out and about, making its way around the world – its science name is XBB.1.5 (no, it’s not named after Elon Musk & Grimes’ baby) but it also goes by the name Kraken. As far as I’ve read, they don’t know a lot about this subvariant right now, but it is definitely the most contagious thus far and is spreading around the world (things seem to be blossoming in China, but their government isn’t reliable about sharing information, so who knows.)
According to doctors, it’s important to make sure your COVD and Flu vaccines are up to date – if your last COVID vaccine was over 6 months ago your protection has expired and you need to get a booster. Luckily, there are now ‘bivalent’ vaccines that cover the Omicron subvariant, and you can get them pretty easily at your local drugstore. COVID vaccines are not the “one-and-done” type of vaccine, they are like the Flu vaccine, you need to get them updated for them to work. Covid vaccines also aren’t the type that prevent you from getting the virus, but they can help keep you from getting really sick and ending up in hospital, and that helps keep the hospitals running so the people who do need care can get it.
Other important precautions include staying home when you feel sick, washing your hands, and wearing a mask when you’re out and about (I equate this to wearing a seatbelt when you’re driving …. it’s just a super easy way to protect yourself from illness.)
Some people still feel a lot of fear around COVID, some are indifferent, and the rest of us are somewhere in the middle, swimming in an Olympic-sized pool of mixed emotions. I’m pretty good about masking, and when I’m out with my family or friends and they ask me “Should we wear masks?” I always respond “What are your plans next week, and would you prefer to do that or be stuck at home, sick?”
The past and the future don’t actually exist, they’re just concepts in our minds. None of us actually have control over anything beyond the choices we make in the present moment, so I say try to live consciously. If you’re having a hard time being in the present (or letting go of the past, or worrying about the future), want to work on getting out of your head, still feel shaken or burned out by the pandemic, or just want to try something new with your life, check out our Knitsana Mindfulness Workshops below.
Mindfulness is the basic ability to be fully present and aware. The practice can help us when we feel overwhelmed, and help us manage how we react to stress. Luckily, mindfulness is a quality that every person already possesses, you don’t need to conjure it up, you just have to learn how to access it and practice using it. In this workshop, we will use knitting as an entry into the practice of mindfulness, with the intention to help you learn how to both improve and maintain your well-being. The craft of knitting with its repetitive and rhythmic motions is well known for its calming and healing properties. Mindfulness practice has been used for years to help people focus themselves in the present moment. Together, we hope to provide you with the needed tools to decrease stress and support your daily well-being.
The only prerequisite is that you already know how to cast on, knit and purl. You do not need any prior experience with mindfulness or meditation, you just need to show up and be present.
Welcome to Knitsana 2 – if you are looking for a way to expand your mindfulness skills then this is the group for you! We will continue to use knitting in your practice with mindfulness. Knitting with its repetitive motion, illuminating colours and textures offers so much in the way of healing properties. This group will ‘go deeper’ into concepts explored in the first Knitsana group (ie. fierce self-compassion, perfectionism, burnout, etc.) and will help bridge into your daily living.
Prerequisites: Knitsana 1 (or prior expereince with mindfulness practice). You should already know how to cast on, knit and purl.
“Knitsana has been a “moment” of peace and growth over the past few months. I’ve taken the opportunity to reflect, find some balance and focus on ‘now’ not ‘then’. I look forward to the group hour as my time to learn and grow. Of course, the growth continues as the learning continues … I appreciate change is wonderful and necessary as long as we are alive …” ~ F.D.
“I joined the Knitsana group last winter – we met Sunday mornings for a few weeks. It was lovely – so relaxing, so interesting. I love knitting & being able to incorporate mindfulness to knitting is joyous. Knitting can be so relaxing & so loving – especially if you are creating things for loved ones. I realized I put so much love into what I create.” ~ Lisa H.
“As someone who has practiced mindfulness meditation for a few years, I found the Knitsana group a fantastic way to extend that practice and to bring mindfulness and an greater sense of calm into other parts of my life.” ~ Linda B.
“Knitsana for me is a mindfulness knitting community right in my living room. It’s meditative, relaxing, and peaceful—my one hour of contentedness in a stressful world.” ~ Karen H
“I’m relatively new to knitting, and I love it for the relaxation factor. Knitsana brought me together with a group of warm, creative people and helped inspire me to love the journey, not just the outcome. ” ~ J.F.
