E is for: Experiment and Learn (the Joy of Knitting)

I’m still stuck on the last post about disrupting the rules. These prompts are really hard for someone who doesn’t like to rock the boat and has no desire to invent anything. But, I recently was able to witness something awesome: 2 young people learning the joy of knitting.00

This past December

My daughter’s boyfriend, Ray came to visit for a couple of weeks. After seeing some YouTubers learn how to knit over a weekend, they decided that they would take up knitting. Ray used chopsticks and Summer used bamboo skewers. Summer warns that this is a bad way to learn knitting because you will get splinters. Nonetheless, they pushed on.

Ray watched knitting how-to videos and Summer read Wiki-How’s. they pooled their new knowledge and within a couple of days they were hanging out like hipster grandmas, knitting up a storm. Their 1^st project was a baby blanket for Ray’s new niece. They each tried to knit squares which would then be sewn together to make the blanket.  Unfortunately, Ray’s squares ended up being smaller than Summer’s because he was knitting them too tightly. So, they decided it was better if Summer finished the blanket alone. Later, when she tried to merge all of the squares into the blanket, she found it was difficult to get “just right.” So, she decided to call it “rustic.”

More Knitting Projects

While Summer was working on the blanket, Ray knitted hats. He made his first hat from the bottom edge to the top, but that looked a little bulky and more like a big kippah. Next, he tried knitting from the top to the bottom edge. This was more difficult to do, but it really improved the result.

Summer began knitting scarves. She learned how to purl which allowed her to follow a nice pattern. The yarn was beautiful! Meanwhile, Ray was now knitting a pair of socks. Socks were right up his alley because he used skinny yarn and a tight stitch. They were beautiful!

It was amazing to me how proficient they had become at a skill they knew nothing about only a week earlier. They experimented and weren’t afraid to make mistakes. It’s also a lot of fun to learn a new skill with a friend.

The A to Z Blogging Challenge

I’m doing double duty this month during the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Here at Heather Erickson Author/Writer/Speaker, I will share ideas for “Thinking Creatively.” I’ll also be doing the challenge at Facing Cancer with Grace, where I will focus on “Avoiding Burnout.” I hope you’ll visit me at both sites. Today’s post is E is for Experiment and Learn.

Thomas Edison didn’t get the lightbulb right the first time.  In fact, he “found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.” Experimenting gives you the chance to fail fast and learn quickly about what works – and what doesn’t. Think about a project you’re working on. How could you test one of your best concepts on a small scale? Have you experimented with anything new, lately?

What Are YOUR Thoughts?

I’d love to hear in the comment section, below. I appreciate my readers as well as the writing community. To show that appreciation, I use Comment Luv. Just leave a comment below and your latest post will get a link next to it. Thank you!

About Heather Erickson

I am an author, writer, and speaker and homeschooling mom of 3. Since doctors diagnosed my husband, Dan with stage IV lung cancer in 2012, I’ve focused my writing and speaking on helping cancer patients and their families advocate for themselves and live life to the fullest, in spite of their illness. My goal is to help people face cancer with grace. My books are available at Amazon.com:

The Memory Maker’s Journal 

Facing Cancer as a Friend: How to Support Someone Who Has Cancer

Facing Cancer as a Parent: Helping Your Children Cope with Your Cancer

I also blog about living with cancer at Facing Cancer with Grace.