Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Slow TV It is a popular form of Norwegian media in which seemingly mundane events, such as a train ride or a knitting circle, are broadcast in real time. 10 hours slow motion TV video documentation A train trip across the Arctic Circle in Norway has had 9.7 million views on YouTube. It’s the antithesis of my chaotic “For You” TikTok page — and exactly the energy I need for my American life in 2025. This intentional media slowing down reflects a larger movement gaining recognition on social media: “slow living.”
Carl Honoré, author In praise of slowness, He championed the “slow” lifestyle virally TED talk In 2005, I encouraged people to abandon the relentless hamster wheel of efficiency and embrace a more mindful pace. Decades later, Psych research He tells us that our attention spans have become shorter, and that his message seems more urgent than ever. In a world increasingly dominated by distraction, it’s no wonder a frustrated corner of the internet is rediscovering Honoré’s wisdom as a guide to slowing down.
In true 2025 fashion, I didn’t discover “slow living” through a book like Honoré’s — I found it on Pinterest and TikTok, where the picture was perhaps a little less expansive. According to my Explore page, slow living means sipping coffee from homemade ceramic mugs while gazing out at a frosty meadow, or knitting a knit sweater by the glow of a wood-burning stove.
As someone who lives in a city rather than an idyllic cottage, this version of “slow living” once felt out of reach for me. But I was drawn to the intent behind the popular aesthetic and wanted to find a way to embrace the joy of slowing down—without the fireplace or the snow-covered pine trees. That’s when I realized that one element of this “slow living” vision is actually within reach of most of us: knitting (and crocheting).
complete books It has been written about the calming effects of fiber arts. Olympic diver Tom Daly, who famously knitted between events at the Games, credited knitting with helping him stay calm under enormous pressure. “I honestly think I owe the Olympic gold medal to knitting,” Daly said He said The Telegraph in 2022. If it can help an Olympic athlete perform at their best, it can certainly work wonders for the rest of us.
This winter I’ve gotten back into knitting again, and it’s turned my evenings into something much more enjoyable. It’s a calming ritual I can do while watching TV or listening to music, and it’s productive and completely stress-free. Best of all, it provides a welcome break from the constant flood of information I encounter when scrolling on my phone. So, take this as my sincere plea: pick up a crochet hook or a pair of knitting needles and give it a try.
If the cost of a new hobby is keeping you from trying this one, that’s good news: knitting and knitting are worthy investments of time, but the hobby doesn’t require a huge investment of money. Online resources such as Ravelry They have free patterns and public libraries often have textile arts books and e-books. I sometimes find used yarn at thrift stores or get materials at a discount on sites like Ghazal.com. I think you’ll find that the fiber arts community, both online and in-person, is inclusive and supportive of people who want to learn.
I’ll admit there’s always a little setback when learning new skills, but once you understand basic crochet or knitting techniques, it becomes muscle memory. As a beginner, I have found instructional videos to be the quickest and most effective way to learn both crafts independently. The diagrams and written instructions were as clear as tactile, but watching someone go through the movements slowly made a huge difference and accelerated the learning process.
Take your time learning crochet with this An incredibly soothing and informative 45-minute tutorial tony lipsey, Who teaches foundational techniques. When I learned, after fiddling with a hook and some yarn next to the glare of my laptop screen, I knew how to knit single and double crochet. For knitting commentary, this Introductory video from RJ Knitting It will teach you what it means to cast, “purl” and start using a set of needles.
Once you’ve watched a few tutorials and got your hands on the fabric arts sea legs, here are some free, beginner-friendly patterns you can try online:
1.
When my mother taught me to knit as a child, I made utensils and dish towels. These knitted squares, which can have as many mistakes as a child learning to knit, can be placed in an 8″ x 8″ piece of fabric and still be called “finished.” I was so proud of these dish towels, we still have some in a kitchen drawer somewhere. Smart needles This beginner’s dishcloth pattern will help you practice your knitting skills, and they also have Accompaniment Video tutorial in case you get lost along the way.
2.
Granny squares are a perfect crochet project for bundling up any saved yarn you have in varying amounts. When most people think of “crochet,” they probably imagine a granny square: crocheted squares made from clusters (groups of stitches worked together) stitched in a circular shape. For a wearable device, Easy projectthis Crochet granny square pattern great. They’re universally sized, and by the end of their manufacture, you’ll be a novelty pro.
One important note with this pattern and others is that the writer may suggest specific brands of yarn, and while you can use the specific product he or she specifies, there are only two aspects of yarn that are important to pay attention to when following the pattern: the material (for example, wool or cotton) and the weight. Threads (eg, oversized or athletic).
3.
I’ve been seeing a lot of girls wearing scarves and big wraps this winter, so this Not only will this cohesive packaging project help you embrace the “slow living” trend, but it will also help you embrace the fashion trend. Ravelry Classify Pearl Soho The style is a “piece of cake,” and five-star reviewers agree. Design by Gianna Mueller It uses bulky yarn that’s perfect for beginners, as spotting (and fixing) mistakes along the way is easy with bulky stitches.
4.
In 2022, Tim Burton Wednesday The crochet snood became popular when Enid crocheted a matching one and wore it on Wednesday. Since then, patterns for the versatile style have been popping up on industry websites all over the internet. this The Yarnspirations pattern uses up to six colors of yarn to create a striped snood like the one Enid wears in the show.
5.
If you’re ready to take on a knit project that requires a little more time and yarn, give it a try this Simple jacket style. There are few things more meaningful than wearing something you made with your own hands, especially when it’s as stylish as this Fleece and headband design.
6.
If you’re looking for a crochet project that only requires one ball (more accurately, called a skein of yarn), a beanie or winter hat is the perfect solution. This free pattern from Mama in stitch It contains how-to notes for true beginners and can be adjusted to fit any head size.
7.
Thanks to crochet, reusable bags are, for the first time ever, described as “chic.” I have used this Grocery bag pattern by Two of wands Over 6 times because it is simply the easiest and most practically useful crochet pattern, and you can use whatever relatively strong yarn you have. It holds a large amount of products and is much nicer than a regular reusable shopping bag. I keep one of these in my work bag just in case I stop at a store on my way home. The fishnet design makes for a stretchy bag that can hold as much space as it takes up in my bag.
9.
Imagine giving it to someone Nice The gift of ever being able to tell them in words Julia Fox“I did it myself.” this Stuffed with crochet animal The pattern was designed by Fats by ashAlthough more complicated to make than a scarf, the pattern comes step by step video A tutorial, so you’ll never get lost. These homemade plush toys are a Japanese textile art called amigurumi.
10.
Finally, this The blanket will keep you busy with your knitting needles until spring. The combination of knit stitches and backstitches creates a geometric “block drape” texture that will impress every house guest once it’s finished. Free style has accompaniment video To help you get the hang of the knitting sequence.
Whether you’re picking up a forgotten knitting or crochet project, purchasing yarn for the first time, or simply enjoying a slow-motion TV crafting episode on YouTube, I hope we can all take a little stress out of our days and embrace a gentler pace this winter.
