I’m hooked: Reflections on learning to knit

The latest in the round of wholesome hobbies I’ve taken up is knitting (does it show that I work part time and live in the countryside I wonder). As usual I’m doing it very badly and using that as an opportunity to reflect on the learning process

I have the joy of being someone who is increasingly paid to think. Though this sounds glamorous, it really equates to spending lots of time on my computer. For this reason, I’ve been keen develop other areas of my brain and learn skills that are more ‘embodied’. I’m specifically interested in developing my fine motor skills, hence the knitting and potting. Fortunately, I am lucky enough to have a host of willing, passionate (and unendingly patient) Aunties to teach me some of these crafts.

I am finding learning to knit really hard, but also very fun and an interesting window into the learning process in action. I’m tuning into my own motivation, attention, concentration, frustration and satisfaction and experiencing lots of what I know theoretically in practice. I’m and going to try and distil some of these learnings.

Despite being initially very bad at it- I lost count of how many times I had to ask for the same instruction to be repeated and I’ve had to drive over to my Aunties for emergency unpicking on more than one occasion- my perseverance has been second to none. I cannot stop knitting. Honestly, I took my knitting to the pub last night. I am attributing this to three things. One, the importance of passionate and patient teachers, who care about you and encourage you. Two, how the knowledge of the learning process can get you over the hump that is getting started on something new. This could also be described as growth mindset in action. The knowledge that it is meant to be hard (I’m banging on about desirable difficulties again) can help cushion the frustration and inevitable drop in self-esteem that follows not immediately getting the hang of something. And three, the power of long-term goals and short-term rewards. It’s great having a scarf or a jumper in mind (who knows what it will actually become) but it’s even better feeling the little thud that comes when you compete a stitch and the sense of relief when you successfully complete a row. It’s those little shots of dopamine that keep you working towards the bigger goal.

I know of course that schools harnesses all of these elements, but there’s something experience them so viscerally that is very affirming.