Magical Needlework

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love knitting and that I make things for friends, family and charities as well as for myself.
I like to add meaning to my work and that means knitting with magical intent. I also do cross stitch and sew as well.
Now a word on sewing I am not great at sewing and every thing I make is really easy to do it has to be because sewing is not strong point. I had a Grandmother ( my Father's Mother) who sadly I never met who was not only a Witch but a Seamstress.

There she is back left with her Husband my Grandfather along with the family the tall gentleman at the back right is my Uncle Jack with his wife Aunt Sally on his left, the lady on the end is his sister, my Aunt Martha. The lady stood next to Grandfather and the other gentleman were friends of the family and he was the best man.  Seated in front is my Uncle Charlie and his first wife, my Father took the photo. All the dresses were made by my Grandmother and she added magical intent to all of them.

Now I should explain that my Father was born October 16th 1906 and as you can see the picture is a old one. My Father told me that his Mother would do little things before she started sewing and would add items to the garments for love and protection, very often hiding them in the design or the hems. 
My Father was also a Witch but I did not know this until after his death in 1974. Back then people did not openly admit to being a Witch or Pagan in any way. He told me things that at the time did not mean a lot to me but know I understand what he was telling me.
 ( I was born September 21st 1953 a late arrival and my brother was even later in January 12th 1959. My Mother was born July 1st 1918)

How do I add meaning to my sewing and knitting?
It is easier than you think, first of all I gather all the things I am going to use together lets say I am going to knit a scarf for someone.
Needles, yarn, pattern, scissors, tape measure.
I cleanse everything so it holds no negative energy.
 I do this in bulk whenever possible it makes life easier and then I put the yarn away in a tub so nothing can effect it adding a Citrine crystal to the tub this means the yarn does not need cleansing again.
I use incense, water, salt and a candle.
You can do this within a circle or not it is up to you personally I do not as I work in my sacred space and do find the need to cast a circle to cleanse these things.

Okay I can hear you what is a Sacred Space?
 

Sacred Space is not always within a Circle it can be created anywhere at any time. It is a place where you can meditate or work in that is special to you. It is place of peace and calm and it allows you to interact with the world.

Sacred space is flexible and adaptable so can be created in the home or in the garden.

First chose your space I have two:

1) The sofa where I sit and knit or sew, read and listen to music

2) In the garden where I can sit and relax or meditate.

Both are special to me and I made them my Sacred spaces so that I could be within the area and feel the peace.

Sacred Space Ritual

First of all Clean the area of any clutter and remove any negative energy this can be done with Incense, Water, a Candle and Salt.

Sprinkle some salt in the area and say

May Earth cleanse this space upon this day so negative energy will not stay

Light the Incense and say

May Air cleanse the space for me and remove all negativity

Light the candle and say

May Fire cleanse this space for me and burn away all negativity

Sprinkle some water in the area and say

May Water wash the space and may it be washed clean of all negativity

Consecrate the Space

This is when you bless the area dedicating it the God and Goddess, Elemental, the Fae, Spirit Guides, Guardian Angels it is up to you do what feels right to you.

I use some anointing oil and say a simple chant or prayer.

God and Goddess

Bless this space so it will be

Infused with your Love now for me

All that I do within this place

Will be filled with your Love and Grace

I like to keep something in the space that is a reminder of this simple ritual it can be a stone, a coaster or an ornament, whatever it is use something with meaning to you.

Repeat this simple Sacred Space Ritual and blessing as you feel the need, I do this once a month or more depending on what is going on within the home. Negative energy can be brought into the home from outside so a regular cleansing is always a good idea.

So there you have it a place that is sacred to you were you can work and the cat and people can come and go without disturbing the circle. My cat Dyan will curl up at my side while I knit or do cross stitch or spread himself out depending upon his mood.

Dylan making himself comfortable

So I cleanse my yarn and needles and anything else I will use before I start my project

Sprinkle some salt over the items and say

May Earth cleanse all that I will use so negative energy will not confuse

Light the Incense and say

May Air cleanse all before me and remove all negativity

Light the candle pass the items over the heat of the flame not too close though and say

May Fire cleanse all that I will use for me and burn off all negativity

Sprinkle some water in the area and say

May Water wash away all negative energy from these things right away.

I will then meditate on what I am going to make for whom so that my intent is clear before I begin making the garment.

Now before I begin I decide on what I will make, the colour and sometimes the number of stitches or length if appropriate.
Colours have various meanings so lets go with scarf I made for my Brother

Black for Protection
Blue for Health
Red for Strength
White for Peace
I chose a simple rib pattern of K2 P2

Cast on 30 sts. Needles 5mm. Yarn DK

Row 1: Slip 1 knit wise, k1, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 4 sts, p2, k1, p1.

Row 2 Slip 1 knit wise, p1 *k2, p2; repeat from * across.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until Scarf measures 60 inches, end with a wrong side row (Row 2).

Bind off in pattern.Weave in all ends. 

The slip stitch gives a nice edge to the work. I tie in the new colour loosely then undo the knot later on and sew in the ends when finished.

I changed colours making sure each section was the same size.

Meaning of stitches 30 = 3 this is for Results and growth

Four colours 4 = Security and health

Length was 60 inches 6= Balance

Now you don't have to use all these to add meaning it can be colour only if you like it is up to you but you can see how easy it is to add Magical Intent to your work.

 You can also add meaning by starting a project on a particular day

Weekday correspondences

 You can also use  Moon phases to add meaning to your project

Moon Phases for Magical Workings

It really is not hard to do and it makes the garment extra special as well.

My Grandmother would add a note to the garment wishing the person Good Health, Wealth and Love. She would also add items like a coin to curtain hems or some herbs to a hem of a dress, trousers or skirt nothing that would stain the garment or be seen but something to give it  added meaning.

My Father said he would be asked gather herbs from the garden and when they were dried some were added to jars for the kitchen whilst some were added to sachets and placed in her work basket. He said all her sewing things smelt of Lavender and Rosemary.

Lavender = Protection

Rosemary = Purification

I do the same thing so I suppose I am carrying on a family tradition.