Stitching It All Together

  

  Years ago, I had to spend some time on bed rest. I needed to keep my hands and mind busy so that I didn’t lose my wits so I got a video from the library and learned to knit.  I continued to hone my skills with videos and books.  A few years later, while living overseas, I met a fellow expat who taught me to crochet by showing me face to face.  Again, I continued to learn more by watching videos and reading books after we moved apart.

    One of the exciting things about living in another country is the chance to learn and experience another culture and language. I enjoy trying new foods, going to different religious and cultural events and learning about the history of the host country. On the other hand, expatriate life does have its challenges.  Having an expat community helps individuals navigate these challenges by creating a network of resources to help with things such as where to shop, places to go, and sometimes just socialize.

    Not long ago, my husband was part of a conversation with some other expats and the subject of knitting and crochet came up. Several people expressed they would like to learn or were learning but had some questions. My husband mentioned that I did both, which led to a request that I teach a group.  I agreed with some reservations. Nearly all my teaching experience is with young children, preschool to elementary age. Teaching adults has never been a draw for me, in fact it often takes me a while to feel comfortable enough to talk in front of other adults (I have led IEP meetings, but I always had an uncomfortable level of anxiety doing so).

    At our first “Stitching Circle” more than one expressed that they had tried learning by watching videos and it didn’t go well. The more I listened I realized that learning styles aren’t just for kids. Just as with my students, I found breaking the skill into the most basic pieces is beneficial to all learners.  Individuals will pick up the pieces at their own pace. I also need to encourage mistakes. Mistakes are opportunities to learn. In stitching, if a row doesn’t look right it is alright to rip it out and redo it. Becoming comfortable with recognizing mistakes, pausing, and retrying is a life skill that builds resilience and adaptability. We are never too young nor too old to learn and practice this skill.

    By the end of the first night, I reflected on the fact that teaching creates just as many learning opportunities for the teacher as it does the student. I learned so much about myself as a knitter/crocheter and as a teacher that night. Most surprising to me was that I had the composure and ability to actually teach adults, not just young children.