Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #581464 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 136 pages

Review
"...for those looking for deeper meaning in the work of their hands, this book offers a fresh perspective." -- Vogue Knitting, Winter issue, 2005-2006

"A thoughtful approach to knitting that provides meditation exercises to accompany simple projects." -- News & Observer, December 2005

"[Learn] to take a moment of absolute experience and serenity and bring that into your handiwork." -- Yarn Market News, January 2006

About the Author
Tara Jon Manning has received teachings from numerous Tibetan Buddhist meditation masters, including Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the Dalai Lama. She has been exploring the use of knitting as a form of contemplative practice and the role of spirituality in art and craft in her own life and work. She is the author of Mindful Knitting.

Customer Reviews

Low on compassion; high on projects
This book is supposed to be a follow up to Tara Joe Manning's Mindful Knitting, however, it is less of a follow-up and more of an appendix to her other book.

First off, the title is where you will find the most "compassion" in the book. There is barely any discourse on the subject and if you are to truley knit with her brand of "compassion" or "mindfulness" then you are assumed to have read the first book. There is almost no explanation of compassion, holding mindfulness, or knitting as meditation in this slim volume, unless you count one or two sentences in the two-page introduction.

This slim volume contains very cute "zen style" patterns. The cloud pillow, stars jumper set for a child and other items are simply lovely, modern and clean in style without being too fussy or full of knitting cliches.

Perhaps what is disappointing to me is that I was looking for a discussion of compassionate knitting and not simply a catchy title for a slim volume of cute patterns. A more appropriate title would have been, Knitting Patterns in a "Zen" Style for Today's Knitter.

Seeking Harmony of Heaven, Earth, and Knitter
"Compassionate Knitting", Tara Jon Manning's second knitting book, futher explores the relationship between mindfulness, knitting, and developing a compassionate outlook, the subject she explores in her first book "Mindful Knitting." There isn't a whole lot ot text or instruction in "Compassionate Knitting", just a few pages that explain how the knitting designs presented in this book are inspired by nature or by the concepts of healing or soothing. There are 20 designs, most of which are very simple. Several of the more attractive designs have nature-inspired motifs, such as a "Cloud Pillow" which is nicely adorned with knitted-in cloud designs.

I have to say that I was not overly impressed with most of the clothing designs presented here, except for the home decor ideas. THe garment designs presented here are quite blocky in nature.

My other reservation in recommending this book is that it does not offer much knitting instruction. This book presumes that the reader has mastered most basic knitting skills. To me, this book was more about inspiring meditation than inspiring knitting.

The heart of knitting
I really enjoyed this book! I have always thought that knitting was more about the process than the product. When you knit from the heart and give your knit item as a gift you are giving so much more than just the item at hand...you are giving love and a bit of yourself.
My daughter loved the look of the angels and fairies in the book.
I loved the Padma Jacket, the colorful pictures in the center of the book and also The Folklore of Aran Stitches in the back of the book(it is wonderful to know the greater meaning behind some of the stitches we use!)