I have always considered myself a lifelong learner. But, from time to time, I resist the challenge of being a beginner again. Fear of failure… Fear of looking foolish… Learning requires a person to believe that the new skill/idea/concept is necessary enough to overcome these fears and anxieties.
Somehow, crochet fell into the category of skills that interested me but never quite enough to overcome the failings of my first few attempts. As it turns out, even alone on my couch, I am prone to feeling embarrassment over looking silly, simply by trying something new. I simply gave up time and time again, a victim to the standard human condition of fear getting in the way of my success.
Recently, however, I decided to take a course from Skillshare.com to pick up the basics of crochet. So, with a few lonely crochet hooks from my craft supplies, I dug in, determined to let go of my ego this time.
The course, taught by Toni Lipsey, included so many fiber art fundamentals, like yarn choice and color theory, that it helped my existing knitting love too! And, for the first time, I completed an entire row of crochet! I feat I never thought I would accomplish!
Ultimately, I am really glad that I gave myself another chance to learn crochet. The class includes a project to make four cute coasters, but with a limited yarn stash, I only practiced the single crochet stitch to make a small bookmark. The teacher really sets you up for success with the project, and I could see myself returning to the class to make the coaster set, maybe as a gift!
The bookmark, now a tiny reminder of my ability to overcome, is a companion to another journey, one of spiritual learning through the teachings of Elkhart Tolle (The Power of Now, A New Earth, and Stillness Speaks).
One of the core messages is about staying present. While immersing yourself in learning something new, it is hard to let your mind wander to the list of tasks you need to finish, the past convo that you wish you could redo, or the future of unknowns that cause you worry.
As my hands fumbled with the yarn, I certainly wasn’t thinking about much else. The words and movements of the teacher were there as a guide, but my chaotic overthinking mind was mainly…quiet.
So, as my skills (hopefully) advance in crochet, I can also see how focused learning creates an opening for me to be fully present in the moment. That opportunity is always there, waiting for us to dive in and learn something new!
What’s on your list to learn?
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