Getting Crafty

Later today I will be having an impromptu knitting session with two of my coworkers. The older coworker has been knitting for over 25 years but the younger coworker is a year younger than I am, yet so much more accomplished. She got married earlier this year, is fit (due to daily runs at lunchtime, and regular visits to the gym), very stylish (she is how I know what is “in” nowadays), extremely intelligent and certainly the best knitter I know around my age, and has even created her own pattern. She made the cutest little booties for a gift basket we prepared for another coworker whose wife had had a baby, and there was genuine admiration that someone could create something so delicate and precious.

She is a blogger too, and on her blog she often showcases beautiful pieces that she’s working on for her family and friends.

Then we have me, whose knitting “expertise” extends to scarves and not much else. I don’t even knit efficiently, as I can never get the needles and yarn to fly through my fingers as fast as others seem to. Needless to say, I am intimidated at the thought of meeting with these ladies and I expressed my trepidation to the younger knitter in an email, saying I would come to the meeting, but just to ooh and aah over their projects.

Her response was to encourage me to bring some yarn and needles, and she expressed an overwhelming desire to share her knowledge and technique with me! I don’t know why it always surprises me that people out there willing to help, but it does. I spend all this time envying those who seem to be able to do things better than I can, often glossing over the fact that it might have taken them some time to master the technique. I figure they are too busy or easily frustrated to teach someone who might not get it at the first try, especially when they are the level of creating patterns. So, I try to learn and master things on my own and when I fail I am so reluctant to reach out a hand for help that I instead settle into the role of cheerleader of other people’s successes.

Thank goodness that some people just see the uncertainty in your eyes, or read the insecurity in your email, and offer to help.

Image courtesy of Missa H