I realized this evening that I need to take my own medicine.
I tell my students over and over, “You have a brilliance within yourself, a genius, and it’s up to you to NOT be so hard on yourself that you scare it away…”
I wanted folks to leave my double knitting class feeling on top of the technique; competent, powerful, two sided. But I feel that some students were more confused than I’d hoped. It’s true that after some time to let their minds calm down a bit, empty out, some of the more intuitive stuff becomes clearer. But it takes time – class is limited to 3 hours.
I think I was spoiled up in Banff. I was able to teach folks one day, then see the information really sinking in the next day. A luxury!
One thing I realized was that I started right by having them do double knitting with two colors (easy to see!) But instead of having them bind off the swatch, I should have just continued on in the same swatch to double knitting with one color (then move on to St. st double knitting with one color)
It would have made everything so much easier, I’m sorry I didn’t work it that way.
I change my classes to match the personalities I see in the group. Sometimes I move away from my established syllabus if I feel it’s warranted. This was a case when I definitely should have stuck with the program. It was SUCH a hard working group – so dillgent and SUCH good knitters. But I just couldn’t get myself to be as clear as I wanted.
I do think that folks acquired some very good skills, but I have the nagging feeling I could have done more.
Dealing with the self nagging – THAT will be a goal for the new year!
Human-ness can be rough when your self-expectations are too high.
So live and learn. I’ll try to be honest about it with myself, not overstate the negatives and allow myself to fall into a pool of pity – easy to do! And not be perfectionist about my abilities.
Morning class – wire knitting – was really wonderful. Everyone walked out with a terrific bracelet and skills to make many more. That was gratifying. Yay.
Tomorrow is lace in the morning – always a fun class – and then Combination in the afternoon. I’m really looking forward to that, it’s my favorite class to teach, and I feel that so many folks will really benefit from the techniques they’ll learn in the class.
And, as always, it’s a joy to be able to show a whole new group how to cable without a cable needle. That’s like dinner and a show – a fun time for me, definitely!
I miss Gerry and the kids SO terribly right now – must be the holiday season coming on! I cannot wait to see them. And, added bonus, one of my students volunteered to take me to the airport on Wednesday, so life will be extraordinarily wonderful on that great major travel day! I’m a very lucky teacher – and just about the luckiest person I know!