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

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

Original projects include:
* Roots and Wings Paperweight
* Horn of Plenty “Deskie”
* Morning Glory Motif
* Prayer Shawl
* Pocket Mandala
* Almost Universal Prayer Beads
* “Way Opens” Scarf
* Friends and Tea Cozy
* Scrumbled Tea Steeper
* Lovingkindness Wristers