Here is the next of the beautiful, inspiring, special contributions coming in to the #MandalasForMarinke remembrance project. I am grateful for each and every amazing contribution. You are invited to join; learn more here.
Beautiful Crochet Mandalas
This enchanting contribution consists of three thread crochet mandalas. I love all of the contributions that are coming in but I have to say I’m especially charmed by the little thread mandalas.
Two of these were made using Wink’s free crochet tutorial on Tuts+ and the other is her spoke mandala free crochet pattern. I love their detailed stitching and dark bold colors and I love how the same colors are used in each mandala but in a different order so that the mandalas reference each other without exactly matching.
Meet the Maker
This special crochet contribution comes to us from Jude in Ontario, Canada. You’ll find her as Jude45 on Ravelry. Check out her shop on Etsy to see her beautiful freeform crochet jewelry and other work.
Words by Wink
In February 2012, Wink finished up a WIP, the granny stripe crochet blanket designed by Lucy of Attic24. She wrote:
“I started this blanket way back, exactly one year ago. I had just gotten my order of Stylecraft Special DK from the UK and I couldn’t wait to get started. However, I wasn’t the avid hooker I am today, so after 6 rows I quickly got bored and also overwhelmed! I just couldn’t believe there were actually women out there that crochet entire blankets!?!?!
So I hibernated the project for a long time, until last month, when I decided that it should be time to finish it! And this time, it was a breeze 🙂 Row after row after row of delicious hooky, the stitches just flew off my hook and before I knew it I had the entire thing finished! Then it only took me another two hours to get the border on and it was officially DONE.”
I thought it was interesting looking back at that post because it showed how we all have ups and downs and changes in our own crochet work over time – something I think it’s great to honor. There’s no right or wrong in crochet. There’s just what is right for this crocheter in this time. Be gentle with yourself in your crafting and do what feels right at any given time!
About Depression
One purpose of this project is to raise awareness about depression so each post will end with some facts, thoughts or quotes about depression, suicide and/or mental health. Today I wanted to highlight the physical symptoms of depression, which include:
- Chronic pain. This can include back pain, chest pain, joint pain and muscle pain.
- Digestive problems. Stomach issues of all kinds including indigestion nausea can be a symptom of depression.
- Headaches, including migraines. You may also feel dizzy or lightheaded.
- Issues related to appetite and/ or weight. More hungry, less hungry, food cravings, weight loss, weight gain.
- Issues related to sleep. Insomnia and oversleeping are both symptoms of depression.
- Total exhaustion. John F. Greden, M.D., the executive director of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center, quoted in an article about depression, says, “That 3 p.m. slump you feel when you need your third cup of coffee hardly compares to the drop in energy that occurs when you’re in a depressed state. Because of this lack of motivation, depression can sometimes make you feel like your muscles don’t work.”
It is important to realize that any and all of these symptoms can be symptoms of something else other than depression as well. I, personally, have experienced some of these symptoms in relation to both low thyroid and anemia, each of which also actually cause the feeling of depression. It’s all kind of tied together. I bring this up today not so that you can diagnosis yourself with depression but so that you can recognize some of the taxing physical experiences you might be dealing with when you’re going through depression.
It’s important to be gentle with yourself, recognizing that you may need more rest and more time for basic self-care attention when you are living with depression.
All contributions to Mandalas for Marinke are welcome and will help raise awareness about depression while honoring her work in the same way that this great contribution has done today. Details to join here.