I bet we all grew up loving a patchwork quilt. There’s something so comforting about a cozy quilt. But lately, every time I think of American Patchwork, I can’t help but think of how Americans are trying to hold together a crazy culture of rag-tag opinions, like one giant crazy quilt.
It’s a real scrap box out there. With Thanksgiving around the corner, wouldn’t it be great to enjoy every minute of our family gatherings, even the messy ones? Mindfulness helps.
Today, Anna and I talk about textile art and mindfulness. I think you’ll particularly love what Anna has to say about getting our kids to use their brains in wonderful new ways. Especially when it comes to reading.
And don’t forget: If mental health and mental illness are hot topics in your family, too, you’ll love the experts we’ve interviewed on Fireside Talk Radio.
Did you know textile art can stimulate your child’s brain in wonderful ways? Yes, even the most reluctant child will never know you are equipping them to read easier. We love combining fun with education.
And textile art like knitting, according to Anna, is a great way to get your kids laughing, creating, and thinking about, what? Math! Who knew!
American Patchwork, Knitting, and Computer Coding
When we talk about American patchwork and the benefit of textile arts, Anna plans to start with knitting for her kids.
“At some point, I’ll probably teach my son to knit. And he doesn’t have to be good at it,” she laughs.
Focus and reading go together. Just like focus and knitting. A lot like mindfulness, in fact. Just one thread repeating itself in pattern becomes a beautiful sweater, for instance.
Knitting is simply a fun brain teaser, with the added benefit of using your hands. You can even leave out the needles and knit with your whole arm. For kids with limited fine motor skills, the hilarity of arm knitting is contagious, according to Anna.
“Because knitting is all patterns. You learn all the symbols (as you go) and then the correct motions with your hands and your string in the same order gets the correct pattern,” she says.
That may sound harder than it is. You count by rows. Kids find it motivating to see their rows grow. Plus, you’re stimulating their spatial reasoning one purl stitch at a time.
Sequencing the knitting pattern is similar to the skills needed to read and write.
Interestingly, as you knit, the same brain function engages in patterns similar to computer coding. You might be training a future computer genius!
Anna says there’s power in patterns, even for those of us don’t know much about computer coding. Just think of how zeros and ones became patterns, evolving into multiple computer languages.
In the same way knitting repeats itself, knitting also allows the brain to settle down and focus. But textile art, for instance American patchwork quilting, boasts even more benefits.
American Patchwork: Quilts and Geometry
“My favorite part of quilting is the piecing. That’s all geometry and math,” says Anna.
If you feel skittish at the thought of fabric costs, Anna suggests using leftover paper for collage-type artwork. Your paper American patchwork can be cheap and quick, she adds. You kids will still be playing with shapes and learning how angles come together.
Surprisingly, paper opens the door to experiencing all kids of textile art, even without fabric. For instance, take a hole puncher and some yarn to an old piece of cardboard. My preschool grands love coloring on their yarn looped cardboard. Why? Because I’m the only one who lets them use Sharpies!
For more inspiration on creative ways to encourage a love of reading and self-education, check out our conversations about comic books, field guides, and sci-fi. Plus, don’t miss our special FREE homeschooling lesson plans.
Pondering What It Means to Be Mindful
Whenever I’m talking to experts, a lot of prayer and prep goes into those episodes. As a matter of respect to YOU, I feel like I need to get the info you need and want.
If you read or listen to my stuff often, you know I love the word ponder. Pondering mindfulness is a double treat for me!
Camp Krafve Definition of Mindfulness: a process of discovering your place in life; becoming aware of oneself and others; alert for a good balance in life without self-condemnation.
“I like the idea of mindfulness being the process of discovering your place in life. And I feel like that’s in the definition you just gave,” says Anna.
It really wasn’t, but I changed it when I transcribed the episode for this blog. Hahaha!
“Part of being mindful is not letting fear or anxiety or pain from the past—hurt, wounds—freeze you in the moment you’re in,” Anna says.
Influencing the Great American Patchwork Culture
Anna points out how important it is to be free to use the influence God intends for each of us. Get this though, Anna listens into our podcasts with experts when she needs expert info herself. Which makes our Hot Topics even more special for me.
“What I love about the episodes you do with guests who have experienced struggles in life is they are a comfort to me,” says Anna. “Those people (our experts) were willing to record their experiences so I can listen to them and not be alone when I’m struggling.”
A BIG Thanks to our Experts
Like Anna, I find comfort in the stories our experts share. I’m personally grateful to each and every one of them! If you want to pick up some great ideas around mindfulness, look in particular for the ones by Ashley Kutach, Colleen Long, and Erin Kerry.
“For me, part of that is knowing I have resources and I’m not alone. So that’s why I’m so thankful you’ve done those podcasts (with experts),” Anna adds.
So a big THANK YOU to all our guest experts who have been on the show over the last 6 (yes, SIX!!) years.
And while we’re on the subject of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for YOU, too!
I am thankful we share our messy, but amazing culture together. YOU are a comfort to my heart, like a big homemade quilt.
The Wonder of American Patchwork Culture
American women have been piecing together American patchwork quilts since pioneer days. At times the process seemed overwhelming, I suspect. A box of old rags and a wintery evening on the frontier brought out the innate creativity in God’s design of the human spirit.
Things are definitely in a stir in our nation right now. We live in times that demand creativity.
Still, God brings different people into our lives. Just like the joy, the texture, the color, and the delight of finding unexpected things in an American patchwork quilt.
Thanksgiving, Meditation, and Textile Art
“Sewing is different than drawing with a pencil. Because it is a physical, fine motor skill kind of thing, it takes so much focus,” Anna explains, summing up our thoughts. “You really have to let your worries and your anxiety, you have to let the other things in your brain, and your heart, and your body, settle in order to do it.”
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” ~ Psalm 46:10, NKJV
That’s our Thanksgiving prayer for YOU as we thank God for YOU, dear one.
🙂
cathy
We LOVE to Hear From YOU!
What’s your most indelible family memory at Thanksgiving? How do you settle your mind to focus on God? How do you pray for America?
May we pray together?
Dear good Father, have mercy on us all! We’re living in crazy times. Give us grace to speak to each other in ways that are loving and enlightening. Help us communicate out of gentle truth rather than angry woundedness. Teach us to be still and know You, the One True God. As we spend time with our kiddos over the holidays, let us engage their hearts and hands in constructive ways. You, O Lord, are wonderous in Your good mercy and love. Most importantly, have mercy on us. Set captives free. Have mercy on Your people, Israel. Establish Your peace. Bless us all now because that is Your heart’s desire. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, “This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.’” ~Numbers 6:22-27 NKJV
Coming to YOUR Church SOON (I Hope)
If you attend a small East Texas church and are looking for FREE resources, I want to help. Here’s our latest sizzle reel. Please share this with anyone you know looking to build better communication in their church….
Please share this link — https://youtu.be/m48_SjYTsZk?feature=shared — with your friends! Let me know if I can serve YOU!
And keep praying!
More favorite quotes about mindfulness:
“I wasn’t really sure how to process it (the emotional pain that goes with miscarriage),” says Colleen, “I found myself, or what I should say is, yoga and meditation found me. It was a beautiful way for me to handle my grief and depression.” ~Colleen Long
“For a few months after that death, I grieved in the way only a nine-year-old can. I shut down from everybody. I stuffed it probably because that’s what kids do.” ~Erin Kerry
“If you find yourself putting your hands on your hips and saying, ‘This is just who I am. They are going to have to accept it.’ One thing to remember is that we don’t really,” she explains, “I mean, people don’t really have to accept if I behave in a certain way.” ~Ashley Kutach on one reason Blind Spots can derail our relationships.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” ~Philippians 4:8-9
And lastly, the verse I quoted in today’s episode which happened to be right before Anna’s in Philippians. Great minds think alike!
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:4-7
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Cathy Krafve, host of Fireside Talk Radio and author of The Well: The Art of Drawing Out Authentic Conversations and Marriage Conversation: From Coexisting to Cherished. We welcome your stories, ideas, and questions at CathyKrafve.com.
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