By Randi Russell

If you’ve ever thought of knitting as something reserved for grandmas in rocking chairs or folks preparing for the next big “scarf season,” it’s time to unravel that stereotype. Knitting is not just a wholesome hobby - it’s also surprisingly good for your mental health. So grab your needles (or someone else’s if you’re new here), and let’s stitch together the delightful, fuzzy truth about why knitting is basically yoga in yarn form.

1. It’s Basically Meditation With Bonus Sweaters
Let’s face it - sitting still and meditating can feel like trying to herd cats on a caffeine binge. Enter knitting: the repetitive, rhythmic motions of knit-purl-knit-purl are a sneaky form of mindfulness. Your brain gets into a flow state, like a spa day for your neurons. Except you leave with something wearable instead of just inner peace (although you get that too).

2. Stress? What Stress?
Knitting is like a soft, yarn-based stress ball. The act of creating something, stitch by stitch, is calming and grounding. That rising wave of “What am I doing with my life?” gets gently replaced with “Look, I made a hat!” It’s hard to panic when your hands are busy making something squishy.

3. Anxiety Can’t Hold a Needle
When your brain is doing the mental equivalent of 32 browser tabs open (and one of them is playing music but you can’t find which), knitting swoops in like a woolen superhero. Focusing on a pattern keeps your thoughts from spinning out. You’re too busy counting stitches and trying to remember where you left your cable needle to spiral into existential dread.

4. Productivity, But Make It Cozy
There’s something magical about turning a ball of yarn into a tangible thing. Unlike cleaning the house (which tragically never stays done), a finished scarf stays finished. That sense of achievement gives your self-esteem a warm little boost - much like the socks you just made.

5. Community, Not Competition
Knitting circles are like book clubs, but everyone’s hands are busy and no one judges you for not reading the book. Whether it’s a weekly group, a local yarn shop hangout, or just sharing your latest project on social media, knitting comes with a built-in community of enthusiastic, often hilariously passionate people who love a good fiber pun and are willing to cheer you on when your sweater sleeve goes rogue.

6. It’s Okay to Drop a Stitch - And That’s a Life Lesson
Knitting teaches you that mistakes are part of the process. Drop a stitch? No biggie. Tangle your yarn into a spaghetti mess? Happens to the best of us. It’s a gentle reminder that life, like knitting, isn’t about perfection. It’s about patience, creativity, and knowing that you can always frog it and start again.

Final Thread
Knitting might not be a replacement for therapy, but it’s definitely a mental health power-up. It’s portable, it’s productive, and it makes your brain (and your hands) feel good. So the next time the world feels a little too much, just remember: when in doubt, knit it out.

And if anyone asks why you’re carrying a giant bag of yarn around? Just tell them it’s for your mental health. Because it totally is.

Now go forth and purl with purpose.

​By Linda Schaefer

I have been in a bit of a knitting slump over the past couple of months. Although I haven't stopped knitting, my outcomes have been underwhelming. In moments when I can be kind to myself, I realize that my focus is compromised by the stresses that plague us all at some time or another: family issues, world issues, personal issues. 

At one point I announced that I was going to knit no more this year. The idea of tossing all of my unsuccessful projects onto a blazing bonfire seemed reasonable. In calmer moments I pictured myself boxing up all of my yarn and donating it to delighted recipients to be knit and crocheted into blankets and hats and scarves for those in need. Imagining my once overflowing closets now empty was somewhat calming.

But once the dramatic wave subsided, I took a gentler look at the situation. Was I disappointed that a pattern I really liked and had worked on for months didn't fit? Yes, I was. Was I frustrated with the fact that I'd believed I'd done the preliminary work before starting the project and it still wasn't right? You bet I was. Did I promise myself that I'd do the math more carefully next time? Ask Jennifer. While all of those things were true, another reality crept into my consciousness: though I considered myself a failure, I had to admit that I'd learned a lot.

Even though the main project I'd been working on was eventually unraveled, the beautiful yarn relegated to a box to be dealt with in the future, I conquered several techniques that I thought would be out of my wheelhouse and created new neural pathways, something I celebrate. I learned how to do the Italian or tubular bind off and now love the process. I learned how to do an Italian cast on, concentrating hard and starting over again and again and finally working it out and enjoying the finished look. I learned how to attach a double knit placket and a new way to do buttonholes at the same time, which created a beautiful design and professional finish to the piece. 

My father used to say "What's worth doing is worth doing so-so." To me that means that there is value in attempting to do things that you may not ultimately be proficient in because otherwise you mightn't try anything new at all. Worrying about not doing something perfectly, or even well, robs us of learning new things that we might enjoy doing just so-so. This adage certainly rang true upon my evaluation of my knitting. So-so is fine. Mistakes are fine, because in fact they are lessons, and we can all stand to learn new things. 

Shop Owner, Tiffany Perry, was live on New Day Cleveland in January to talk about The Artful Yarn, her creative journey, love of  yarn and helping other people realize their crafting dreams! Here's the link. We thought she was amazing and did an awesome job on-air!

Behold My Humble Library
by Christine Weiss

I kid you not that 10 of the 14 rooms in my house, hold some part of my personal library.
The dedicated shelves contain books on politics, religion, art, travel and history. There are cookbooks, how-to books, fiction books, children's picture books and alas knitting and crocheting pattern books! I love my pattern books. There have been a lot of beautiful books published in this genre in recent years. We seem to be in a bit of a renaissance time for knitting and crochet books and I couldn’t be happier. We are so used to the visually outstanding cookbook, and now we have the visually outstanding crafting book. These bound volumes are tastefully done, many are hardbound and some even have fabric case cloth and liners. Some are done as sleek little handbooks to keep in your bag. Others are multi volume periodicals that you can collect. But all use visuals to inspire, explain, entice!  The photos are relevant and inviting and the text offers so much more than simple recipes for stuff. Our pattern writers are now sharing their stories or the stories of their inspiration. 

A few of my favorite books have stories about various animals with accompanying patterns, stories about the animals from which wools were shorn, and even hand drawings of said animals. Others have hand drawings of places and seasons that led to the imagined finished products of included patterns. I have come to enjoy the journey of my fellow fiber artist and I am really pleased they have found such artful ways to share. 

So even though my books are filled with things I want and plan to make, they are so much more. I can curl up on the couch and read, anticipating what yarns I may choose and how I will approach my project. I can see and understand new perspectives on designs by artists I never knew and now love. I can even see, sometimes, a few cracks in the design thinking and maybe pass on a project or two.  These books  have brought me yet another way to engage with fiber, knitting, crocheting and accompanying crafts community. They help me find my place in this corner of the crafting community. This community is real, and bound, and not popping up on my social media to make me buy, buy, buy indiscriminately. These books add intentionality to my work and have tangible ways to allow me to share and discuss with my friends and colleagues the designs and designers pushing our craft forward. It is often, nowadays, when I enter a yarn store I go straight to the books. I am building my library with intention and am proud to support the hard work of my community when they produce a wonderful, eye-catching volume of good patterns, inspiration and just plain joy. 

Favorite yarn in the shop: Fable by West Yorkshire Spinners
Favorite non-yarn item in the shop: Patty Lyon's Knitting Bag of Tricks
What I am looking forward to: Heading to Ecuador for a bit to visit some birds in the jungle.

Over the first twenty years of my life, I am pretty sure my mom and grandma showed me how to crochet probably half a dozen times. It was something I really wanted to do, but just never stuck until I had my first job after college. Part of my Retreat Coordinator duties at a YMCA camp in the Poconos was waiting in the front office for hours every Friday night while groups checked it. It gave me dedicated time every week to focus on learning and developing the muscle memory to seal it in as a skill. My first project was an afghan that ended up a trapezoid. 

From there, I made hats and cowls, baby sweaters and more blankets (that were actual squares or rectangles). I even made up a pattern for a bacon scarf. I never felt the need to learn to knit until I came across Rebecca Danger's monster patterns--specifically her Daphne and Delilah momma and baby monster pattern (the momma has a pocket for the baby!). I just had to make my own. 

While the pattern is pretty much all stockinette, it also has more intermediate skills than a typical beginner pattern, like knitting in the round, magic loop, picking up stitches (for that cute pocket), and the kitchner stitch. It took some time, and several re-starts, but eventually I got it all figured out. From there, my knitting took off. Initially I made a lot more monsters, but have added in a robot, a yeti, dogs, three narwhals of varying sizes, and most recently two of Rebecca Danger's three dinosaur patterns (Sherman, the Square Dancing Stegosaurus and Terrence, the Tap-Dancing T-Rex). 

This weekend I cast on Basil, the Boogie-Woogie Brontosaurus, and I cannot tell you how excited I am for this dino! I'm using Berroco Comfort in five solid colors held with a multicolor skein for the body. Since I'm holding the yarn double, I'm using US Size 10 needles, which means this guy is going to be BIG. I'm keeping the stripes in the pattern as written, but alternating between the five solid colors for more of a rainbow effect rather than using two colors as the pattern samples show. I'm planning to make the head and the feet all solid colors so we'll see how it goes! Overall, it's going to be a really fun and different knit after the sweaters I was more focused on last year. 

Basil is an upcoming class (March 15th at 10:30am) if you're looking to change up your knitting routine, learn new skills, or make a fun gift for a special kid in your life. We'll be learning the basics of knit toys, knitting in the round, jogless stripes, working a gusset, and using a whipstitch to attach the legs. The Artful Yarn has several great yarns available use for this project (including one that will stripe for you if you'd rather not alternate colors!) You'll want to check out West Yorkshire Spinners' Bo Peep DK yarn. And I'll be sure to bring Basil into the shop once he's finished!  Looking forward to seeing you in our class in March! You can register by clicking this link!

See you there,
Erin

We did it! Over the past 2 weeks we repainted, got new carpet and created an awesome update to our shop with more yarn and tons of other goodies! Moving everything back-in is sort of like returning from vacation - we still have some things to do, but we're open and looking forward to seeing you and all our yarny friends soon! #Yay #GlowUp #LYS #NewLook #WeLoveYarn

Last week: Getting ready for the painters! 

Fresh paint makes a world of difference, don't you think?! 

This week: New carpet! We've needed this for years! Where did all the furniture and cubbies go? Everything is loaded into the classroom and back-room. ​This week, we're bringing everything back out so that we can get those two spaces carpeted. And then we're on to  . . . .  well, you'll just have to wait and see! #TheArtfulYarn #GlowUp2025

​We're taking 2 weeks to remodel The Artful Yarn! From January 12 through January 27, we'll be getting new paint, new carpet and you just don't know what other cool stuff we'll be up to!  

Here's what you can expect:
>While we're closed, call us during our normal business hours to talk with one of our staff about questions and to schedule free in-person one-on-one-time for personal help on any projects. 
>Join us for one of our free our group help sessions scheduled at the Chagrin Falls Public Library. Check our calendar for days & times.
>Join our free online class for our newest project, The Snuggle is Real. Check out our calendar for those Zoom days and times. Kits are available for purchase online or come into the shop before January 11 to pull together your own kit. Zoom link posted now for January 13th kick-off.
​
We'll keep everyone up-to-date via email, social media and our website to share our progress ​and announce The Big Reveal. 

-Tiffany Perry, shop owner

It’s the start of a new year, a time when many resolve to make changes and improvements in their lives. I gave up making bold, unrealistic New Year’s resolutions a long time ago, opting instead to focus on steady, day to day behaviors, and committing to being more intentional in each moment that arises. That approach has flowed naturally into my knitting.

I’ve never been the grand gestures type, especially when it comes to my own abilities, preferring to stay in my own (slow) lane. Baby steps and incremental improvements have always kept me grounded. The slow-and-steady approach has always worked best for me. For some, the stretch of a new challenge is exciting and inspirational, even heady. It has always been overwhelming and counterproductive for me.

I never imagined what an affect our little community would have on my practice. Being in the presence of so many talented and creative people has been a real gift. Nothing makes me happier than sitting in The Loop with our customers and friends (and there are many who are both), working on our projects, chatting about big stuff and little stuff, learning from each other about much more than how to do a yarn over or cabling or a slip slip knit. I’m not exaggerating when I say that it is as refreshing and replenishing as therapy. The support and encouragement I experience at The Artful Yarn has given me a bit more courage to spread my knitting wings. 

Favorite yarn in the shop: Emma’s Practically Perfect Sock yarn for January. The softest, sweetest color ever.

Favorite non-yarn item in the shop: Emma Ball’s delightful sheep in sweaters stitch markers. 

What I’m looking forward to: Visiting our son Andrew in the Lake Worth Florida Community Theatre’s production of “The Sound of Music”. He is playing Captain Von Trapp and singing the much-loved song “Edelweiss”, which my mother used to sing to him and his sister when they were little. 

-Linda Schaefer