Embracing The Cosiness Of Autumn Knitting

As we slow down to curl under the blankets whilst autumn draws in, I wanted to share a small, comfy blog. I think that embracing the coziness of autumn knitting can help our mental health and our surrounding communities as the days get shorter, and I want to celebrate this season with some fresh thoughts and ideas. 

Outdoor Knitting

It is all too easy to light the fire and ensconce ourselves on the sofa with our yarn baskets from the beginning of October to the end of March, but I am here to encourage a small act of rebellion: Knitting outdoors. 

There are days when the sun is low, the clouds are sparse, and the sky is periwinkle blue throughout the autumn and winter. It may be cold outside, but surely that is the best time to put on all our woolly knits, make a flask of hot chocolate, and go outside to enjoy some knitting. With all our hats, wrist warmers, shawls, scarves, sweaters, woollenspun jackets, and thick socks, we are in the best position to get out and enjoy the rays. I have also been known to sit outside in my garden for some solo knitting time with a hot water bottle stuck up my jumper, so don’t let the cold stop you.

Vitamin D from the sun is very important to our health, and every year I hear doctors on the radio tell us that we need more of this in our lives to boost our immune systems and help lift our moods. Knitting outdoors means that not only do we get to enjoy some time in nature with our knitting and the sun, but we can also share precious time with our fellow knitters. Meeting up in someone's garden, at a local park, or even choosing to sit outside at a coffee shop, allows us time to enjoy a knit and natter. Keeping our community connections vibrant during this time of year is a great way to help each other through the darkest months, and starting the habit this early on in the season means that it won't feel so weird in January! 

Looking up to watch the birds on the feeders, hearing the rustles in the undergrowth, and seeing the changes in the environment around me helps clear my head when autumn and winter feel a little mentally claustrophobic. Just 15 minutes on my garden bench is all it takes sometimes; it doesn’t have to be hours, just a couple of rows will do. 

It may all sound a bit mad, but trust me, knitting outdoors in the winter is one of the best things you can do to change your perspective when it all feels a little too dark. 

Lighting The Fire

For the days when it is simply too unpleasant to be outside, there is a wonderful glow that can be achieved by a flickering flame. Here in my home I have Martha, my 60+ year old Aga Rayburn, which I keep stoked with wood. She keeps our home warm and snug, and is the provider of endless kettles of boiling water for the teapot and bowls of hearty soup. I also have a beautiful fireplace where I curl up with my knitting and enjoy long evenings listening to audiobooks. 

However, not everyone has a fireplace or an old range, and this is where I think the investment into good quality candles can never be overstated!

Seeing a candle slowly burn as it fills the room with a favourite scent helps our brain and body relax more easily. Simply watching a candle flame for a couple of minutes can act as a form of mindfulness as it can help to diffuse the mental chatter that can build up throughout the day. It’s the perfect thing to do before rushing to start an evening knit session; simply take some deep breaths and watch the flames start to flicker and and dance so that you can start your knitting time gently. Burning a seasonal candle that you enjoy the smell of helps your mind calm down and can also bring back happy memories, in the same way as aromatherapy seeks to do. 

Candles create a soft, gentle environment to create in, and when they are combined with a soft knitting nook in your favourite part of your home, it can be somewhere that entices you after a long day. Having a place where you can retreat after a crazy day at work, or after juggling the kids and the house, your candle lit knitting nook can be the place to find solace in the hurly-burly of normal life. 

The Knitting Nook

A knitting nook can be wherever you want it to be; from the corner of a sofa to part of a room, or a whole room!

But there are three things that I would encourage you to add into your space to make it inviting and relaxing for this coming knitting season. 

A Good Lamp 

With the candles flickering on a coffee table close by, you still need to read your pattern and see your stitches! A good lamp that helps you see clearly is vital for comfy knitting. Classic reading lamps that gently come over the back of chairs, as well as tall standard lamps that are not so low that they don’t give light to your projects, are both good options. Keep the lighting soft and gentle, so that you can still enjoy a calming atmosphere around you. 

Blankets And Bolsters

Keeping warm is key to feeling cosy. As the hot chocolate or wine will be within arms reach, so should a warm blanket, and a cushion to help support your lower back. The blanket can tuck in around you so that you don’t feel the chills, and I am always surprised how toasty I get under mine. When it comes to getting off my knitting chair, I am often loathed to give up the heat it gives me. 

Sofas and chairs are never that fantastic for your lower back, and this is why I would advise that your knitting nook always has a small cushion or round bolster to pop behind your back so it can support you. (You can always put a hot water bottle on it for added cosy warmth!)

A Space To Share

Knitting nooks are very special places; they are the space where we retreat to when we want some time to ourselves and our knitting. When we invite other people to share our creative zones it means a lot. During the autumn and winter it can be lovely to invite friends over to knit with us. A few mugs of hot coffee in the morning with some cake, or a drink in the evenings with nibbles, are easy to put together and special memories can be made as stories and laughter are shared. It is easy to become isolated over the winter, but inviting people into our homes can help lift our spirits and ease the frostier edges of the season. 

There are other little things I have added to my knitting nook that make it special; a bud vase with season flowers is on the coffee table, along with my radio so I can listen to audio books, and my favourite winter mug is often steaming with something delicious. I also have a couple of knitting baskets that I have collected along the way, and a book holder so that my pattern is always within easy viewing along with a pencil to tick off where I am. Making your knitting nook personal to you is such a fun way of getting creative in your environment!

Embracing The Knitting Seasons

Whether you are a gift-knitter, or (like me), you enjoy knitting just for you, the knitting season is one of the cosiest of the year. There are little things that we can do each day to embrace our knitting more. Some of my friends write knitting journals, or fill notebooks up with their ideas for up-coming projects. When I am between knits, I will knit gauge swatches so I still have knitting on the go. I now also have socks with me, which I knit when I am out and about, or when I don’t have anything else on my needles. 

Getting cosy during the winter is such a luxury, and one that is priceless! Having the ‘excuse’ to create a comfortable, seasonal, environment to snuggle up in just sounds like heaven to me, and I hope that it does to you too. 

Many people feel the encroaching darkness in a profound way, with the indepth research and personal stories from around the world saying that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can be debilitating for up to six months of the year. This blog is not here to minimise the effect that the winter can have on so many people, but if there is one small part that can make it a little easier, I hope that it will help. 

I look forward to seeing your winter knitting nooks and projects on Instagram, and until next time, happy knitting. 

With love, Helen xx