Learn to Knit for Color Therapy

I've decided to make a unique offer nobody else in the Philippines (I assume) can do: teach knitting for color therapy!

Actually, I've been into color therapy longer than knitting. I've offered it in one-on-one and group sessions and I've talked about it with groups, on radio and TV...

This time, I see the benefit of learning how to knit according to color therapy purposes. This involves concretely connecting with colors that one needs to feel better, to get insights and basically, to achieve balance.

This is different from learning just to knit for knitting's sake. Why?

1. Knitting for color therapy will take at least 2 sessions. In the first, I introduce both color therapy and explain why I'm teaching knitting with it. Then we initially explore where the learner would most need color therapy and I teach the basics of knitting too. Overall, first session would take two hours. Second session would be a follow-up and lets learner give feedback, and I teach more techniques and principles to let him/her continue to use knitting for color therapy. It would take one to two hours. Follow-ups may also be scheduled.

2. Because knitting for color therapy is primarily counselling, the session can only be one-on-one. Everything shared will be kept private and confidential. The modality for using color therapy is through knitting. Before, I use meditation, visualization and drawing/sculpting for color therapy. This time, I'm using knitting too.

3. Knitting for color therapy would be most helpful to those who are seeking ways not just to relax and relieve stress (which knitting by itself can accomplish), but also want to learn more about themselves and face important life issues, e.g. heartbreak, confusion, etc.

4. My rates are lower for knitting for color therapy. I just charge P300 for one session lasting 2 hours maximum. To teach knitting to one learner I charge P400 for a 60-90 minute session. (Fee does NOT include knitting materials).

Sessions are by appointment only. Venue can be my apartment in Sikatuna Village or somewhere public. Please PM or email me at soulsearchgroup AT yahoo.com for inquiries.

Wanna join Pinoy Knitters?

I've just started a yahoogroup for knitters who are Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad, or are non-Filipinos in the Philippines or who have a connection to Filipinos and/or the Philippines.

This is our venue for discussing all about knitting in the Philippine setting--projects, techniques, sourcing, patterns, knit-alongs, etc.

I'd especially want this group to have charity projects, and to spread the craft in the country.

To join, you must have a love for knitting and the Philippines. Application for membership is moderated.

Click HERE to get to the Pinoy Knitters website :-) or just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pinoyknitters

It's baaack! Sort of

Am I glad my knitting groove is back, albeit in a restrained manner. I only have energy to knit the hemp blanket I'm making for someone really special. That, and trying to finish the green-and-blue striped place mat I'm using as a sample for my classes.

I have a growing list of knitting projects for family once more, specifically a hat for my inaanak (godson) Anthony, shawls for his sister and mother, my cousin. I'm thinking of making place mats and coasters for my sister in Connecticut, since she likes to entertain, and I want it to be sort of a Filipiniana motif, like maybe having small shells at the borders.

In short, most of my knitting groove this time is for family once more. I think I know the astrological energy for this... but I won't bother you with the details. Let's just say, I probably need to balance my knitting, some for strangers and some for loved ones.

I'll soon post a pic of the hemp blanket strip, which is my 3rd attempt. I think third time's the charm, since I'm happy with how it's turning out.

Where is it?

You know, that darned knitting groove that kept me really busy most of March... it's hibernating like some UFO (Unfinished Object)...

I'm doing my best to knit away, just to help me ground my restless energies... physically I'm not at my best these days, and I thought knitting would at least be tolerable aside from surfing and blogging. Well, barely...

Maybe this is just because of the Void Moon happening almost of the day until 10 past tonight here in the Philippines.

I dunno. I.just.don't.have.the.knitting.groove.now. It.sucks.

Mug Rugs!

I designed and knitted these mug rugs...

Why knit?

Just some links to articles I found online about the benefits of knitting...just click on the article title to get to the page. Most of them are from North America. Someday I'll write about knitting in the Philippines :-)

1. Knitting fad doesn't discriminate

2. Knitting as therapy

3. Knitting provides calming pastime

4. Discover Why Knitting Is A Great And Timeless Hobby That You Can Benefit From

5. 2005 Research Shows: Younger Consumers Spur Increase in Yarn Projects (more of a business profile of the industry in the US)

I'll post some more links later.

Busy working on my dreams

I've actually been a good girl.

I've more or less organized my knitting table, found my missing bamboo needle and categorized the project samples. I am so ready to teach!

I've been knitting up stuff I need for my knitting classes, such as stitch samples to show the learners. These includes samples of patterns I made myself, for mini-towel, mug rugs, and placemats. Here's one, which I love, for a face/hand cloth or mini-towel, in mercerized cotton:



Today, I've started my new blog devoted to selling my knitted items, called Hand-Knit Dreams. (UPDATE AS OF MAR 23: SORRY, Google thinks this new blog is a spam blog... so for now, I'll delete any links to it since you can't access it anyway.)

I just posted there tonight prototypes of some mug rugs I designed myself. Will knit some more, some on these actual designs, some will be variations. Also a pic of the Fancy Herringbone scarf in red.

Other updates:

I've had to re-do my hemp blanket, strip 1. Now it's strip 1.1 since I totally frogged the first version and re-did everything from scratch. This time, cast on is 32 stitches but the pattern remains at 30 stitches, the extra 2 are just for edgings, which the first version didn't have and it came out ugly.

I'm on a roll... with 3 new projects: first is the Lemon Basketweave scarf, made of gold and olive green tencel, and also a basketweave pattern. Second is the Coral Desert Shawl, a simple triangle shawl of garter stitch throughout. Third is also a triangle shawl but in the dark colors of Black and Iris Combo.