Midwinter is a tricky time for us here in the Northern Hemisphere; although it brings much to celebrate, the gloomy days and lack of sunlight can leave many of us feeling a bit low. Coupled with the frantic busyness of the season, it's no wonder that makers can burn out easily this time of year. However, solace and healing can always be found in crafting, and like many of you, we always turn to our yarn and hooks for wellness and the feel-good factor.
This issue is a balm for the soul in that same way with gentle sensory stimulants, such as soft colours and even softer yarns, there's much joy to be found in crochet and engaging our senses in mindfulness. With crochet, this can be the feel and smell of the yarn, or noticing the colours and sound of the fibres as a great way to focus your busy mind.
Lynne Rowe's feature on the power of mindful crochet introduces us to this idea on page 16, and her soft scarf project in the new West Yorkshire Spinners yarn, Re:Treat, really is a treat for the senses with its soothing repetition and squishiness. Wrap yourself in warmth and love with Eline Alcocer's Mysigt (the Swedish version of Hygge) shawl crocheted in luxurious yarns for an heirloom favourite, and Cassie Ward's bobble cardigan with its extended stitches and satisfying texture is a wonderful way to use soft, plump yarn. There's something incredibly luxurious about mohair and silk, and the haze of alpaca in a project, and Emily Platt's soft and airy Balloon Sleeve Jumper and Helda Panagary's Mya Shawl capture that perfectly. So, in the words of Dr Frasier Crane, wishing you good mental health (we recommend watching Frasier as you crochet!) and we hope you enjoy the beautiful projects in this issue.