Why I’m Embracing the Slow Stitch—and You Can Too

I’ve been thinking a lot about rhythm lately. Not just in my stitches or row counts, but in life.

Things have been a little quieter here on the surface. And that, my friend, has been entirely intentional.

Behind the scenes, my knitting has taken on a slower, more thoughtful pace. I’m currently working on three new sweaters, along with a few accessory projects that are keeping me curious and inspired. Ok, that's a lot yet, BUT the biggest shift? It’s not just what’s on my needles. It’s how I’m showing up to the making itself and embracing the slow stitch.

Slowing Down Without Falling Behind

I used to think slowing down meant I was losing momentum. That if I wasn’t cranking out finished objects or launching new designs constantly, I might be falling behind. But I’ve come to believe something else entirely: slowing down is not a sign of stagnation. It’s a return. A coming home.

With every restart, and believe me, there’s been some frogging, reimagining, and reworking lately, I light a candle. I take a breath. I reset. And with that reset comes something beautiful: the practice of mindfulness, patience, and self-trust.

Sometimes that reset looks like handspun fiber on my eSpinner. Other times, it’s picking up a test knit for another designer. Or reaching for that languishing WIP for myself. But each moment is a choice to engage with my craft as a companion, not a checklist.

The Gentle Shift at Factory Girl

This slower, more present approach is making its way into all of Factory Girl, too. You may have noticed a soft shift in tone lately—a gentle move toward intention, toward slower living, toward making not as a means to produce, but as a way to be.

It’s not a rebrand. It’s a return to the heart of why I started this in the first place. A place where creativity and comfort meet. Where we choose slowness not as an escape, but as a mindful way to connect with ourselves, our community, and our craft.

A Season of Mindful Making

As part of this shift, I’m working on a series of podcast episodes for Relax | Unwind | Create with Factory Girl that explore these themes more deeply. I hope you'll join me there - feel free to follow on YouTube and you'll be notified when new episodes drop.

Here’s a little preview of what’s coming:

Episode 1: “Knitting Slowly: The Art of Mindful Knitting” We'll begin with a short guided meditation and explore the quiet power of knitting slowly. I’ll share practical ways to build mindfulness into your making practice, from breathing through your stitches to learning the rhythm of your hands.

Episode 2: “Seasonal Making: Aligning Your Craft with Nature’s Rhythm” We’ll talk about how the seasons can influence what and how we make, choosing colors, fibers, and projects that honor the energy of where we are in the year. There’s beauty in shifting with the light.

Episode 3: “The Beauty of Imperfection: Embracing Mistakes in Making” This one’s close to my heart. We'll explore how perfectionism can quietly drain our joy and how mistakes are often invitations back to presence, creativity, and grace.

Episode 4: “Gratitude Stitches: Crafting as a Practice of Thanks” Finally, we’ll talk about how making can be a form of gratitude. How every stitch can become a quiet thank you, to our bodies, our creativity, and the gift of time we carve out for ourselves.

These episodes are designed to feel like a warm cup of tea and a cozy chair—a space to reflect, to breathe, and to reconnect.

So, Tell Me, Friend...

What does mindful making look like in your world right now? Are you learning to embrace the pause? Are you giving yourself permission to frog, breathe, and try again? Are you finding joy in a slower stitch? Letting go of perfect rows in favor of peaceful ones?

However it looks, know this: You’re on your own beautiful path. And every stitch is enough.

Wherever you are in your making journey, THANK YOU for being here. For being part of this community. For believing, like I do, that every stitch holds a little piece of us. And every restart is a brave and beautiful act of self-trust.

Let’s keep creating with care, one thoughtful stitch at a time.

Cheers & Stitches,

Crystal

Join me on YouTube and Patreon to hear more about the fiber journey, mindful making, and all the good fun behind the scenes.