Is it time to fail?

This morning I read an article on trying new things during these crazy times. I encourage you to read it here.

Maybe you’ve been watching my videos, seeing the different types of embroidery I have done, and thinking, “maybe I should give that a go?” I encourage you to do just that! With this worldwide pause that some of us have been given (I acknowledge some are just as busy as ever, maybe just in different ways) it is the perfect time to try something new.

The other night, I was finishing the jumper I’ve been knitting. (Coming to a White Threads FlossTube near you, very soon!) I needed to do Kitchener stitch, which I’d never done before. Kitchener stitch is hand sewing that is used to graft two live ends of knitting together so that the join is completely invisible. It mimics the look of the knitting, but with hand sewn stitches.

I read through some instructions, watched a video, tried to follow the video and made a complete mess of it. With a little more persistence, and an understanding of how it was *meant* to work and of the mechanics of stockinette stitch, I ignored video and figured it out myself. Yeah, I failed the first time. And the second time. And then eventually I got it.

Failing’s ok. I learnt something by failing. I learnt that I need to have an understanding of the process. Following the video, I was blindly following the steps. I had no understanding of how those movements created the final result.

When I ignored the video, I instead used my understanding of how yarn interlocks in stockinette stitch, and tried to recreate that. I used my understanding of the process of knitting to make it work.

My revelation that I needed to understand the process helped me to understand why it is so important to me that I explain the “why” of my methods when I’m teaching. I aim to teach so that people will understand the process. I aim to teach so that people don’t just blindly follow my methods, but so that they will understand why I get them to do it a certain way. I have my reasons, and I want my students to understand those reasons. That’s really important to me. And because I failed at Kitchener stitch, I now understand something more about myself.

So, give something new a go. You might fail. And you’ll probably learn something useful.

PS: until I read the article, I had no idea that cake was supposed to be Jacinda Ardern. Yeah, I think they failed.