We All Have Our Own Ways of Learning
A few weeks ago, I posted a photo on my Instagram account of a book I just got that day and was really excited about. It was a book on sweater design that had been on my wish list for literally YEARS. I was at that time taking a class on grading sweaters and that class confirmed that I needed to bite the bullet and order the book. (And I can tell you I page through it almost every day! I am finding so much good info that reinforces what I learned in that class)
Shortly after I posted that photo with a comment about how excited I was, another designer told me that it was a waste of money, that the (late) author was wrong, and that they would have discussions where the author would concede to her. She mentioned another book that I should have spent my money on (which I already had)
I was taken aback by this negative comment – by a fellow designer no less. While I can agree that as years go by, we all learn and grow and find new ways of doing things. But the comment that made me pause and think about how I teach and how I learn was that “she [the author of the book] is old school”.
As most of you know, I learned to crochet from my Nonna. She learned to crochet from her Nonna in Italy. My Nonna was born in 1903. Her Nonna was born in the mid-1800s. Since we were both taught in word-of-mouth fashion, I would argue that I was taught to crochet “old-school”.
Because Nonna only spoke Italian, I am self-taught in reading and writing patterns. I learned from Leisure Arts Leaflets from the 1960s and 70s. I expanded my knowledge through many of the original Annie’s Attic magazines from the 1980s, and finally, through the internet age, I learned even more from blogs and video, more modern books, taking classes, and just my nature of trial and error in everything I do.
Every one of us has our way of learning. Some are visual learners and need either a person or video to show them the way. Others are auditory learners and listen to someone speaking and do what is being said without looking at what is being taught. Others like books- digital or physical- because they can digest the information easily.
As a teacher, I tend to share how I do things. I have many students like myself who take many classes on the same subject because there is always new and different information to glean from each instructor. I have never said to any student that my way is the “best way”, “the only way” or “the right way”. I share what I feel works the best for me and my style of crochet, but many times I will pull other ways of doing things out of my arsenal to help a student who is struggling.
I hope that as we go forward as a community, you never feel that I think my way is the only way to do things. I do hope, however, that you take what I teach and maybe pull a couple of ideas or new thoughts (which might be old school thoughts) and add them to your arsenal of tools you can pull out when you need to. My hope in every class I teach, every video I create, and in every blog post I share, is that you will gain new knowledge about something or even find a tidbit of information you may have never known before.
It’s all about growing in our crochet knowledge, and I hope that is what I am fostering here at Karen Whooley Designs.
How do you learn? Do you combine what you learn from multiple people?
I am a visual learner mostly. I do pull from books too, but for the most part, I need to see what is being taught and work along side it. After taking one of your classes at DFW Fiber Fest years ago and then following you on your sites, I have learned a lot from you and love the way you teach. Thank you for all your teachings and for future learning!!!
Hi Cheryl! Thanks for the kind words about my teaching! I find most of my people are visual learners like you too! I tend to be that way myself! Thanks for chiming in!
Very well said. The same can be said for learning anything in life. Some valuable nugget can be learned from almost every teacher.
My crochet experience is very similar to yours, except my Grandma spoke English. I still prefer to learn from books, paper and ink, but am open to other mmethods as well. We never stop learning – when we do we stop living!
Thanks for chiming in Audrey! And you are so right! We can never stop learning no matter our age! There are so many new things happening all the time and new trends to see that we might enjoy!
You can ALWAYS learn something from a class/video/blog/pattern. It is a matter of if you are listening. I consider myself a life-long learner. It doesn’t matter the medium, I like to explore. Sometimes, I build off my base knowledge. Sometimes, I replace my base knowledge.
I love this Louise! We all need to be explorers don’t we? No matter from whom!
I prefer learning from books or in person, videos often confuse me since I’m left handed. I m also mostly self taught after my mom taught me the basics as a child
Hi Susan! Thanks for poping in! Leftys have a hard time I know. I am hoping to do more left handed video going forward!
Good article, Karen. I learn new techniques from the internet, Instagram (there’s so many good and upcoming designers), an occasional in person class and through books. After 50+ years crocheting, there is still so much I feel I need to learn and make!
Deb
Thanks so much for popping in Deb! I agree with you on the so many new and upcoming designers!
I learn by reading, watching and listening sometimes I need all three to understand something!
I hear you Irene! I need them all sometimes too! 🙂 Corner to corner picture blankets is my Achilles heel and I work with all three for that!
I love this! I, also, learned from my grandmother and treasure that time with her. She was German and I had to learn my stitches (needlepoint, embroidery, etc) before I could go out to play. The crochet stuck and I still enjoy it more than any other stitching. Our paths seem similar through the old magazines and Leisure Arts…YES! What fun to recall those days in reading your blog. I love your designs and creativity. You have inspired me to create some of my own patterns using different stitches I have found. I learn from pattern books, designers I like, stitch guides, etc. I prefer written patterns to graphs but can read both. Thank you for sharing and keep up your wonderful work!
Thanks for chiming in Diane! I am so glad that I inspire you!That is my goal! I want crocheters to be inspired to go out and do their own projects!
I definitely learn in a variety of ways. I don’t do well with the graphic patterns. Yet if I see a picture showing where the hook goes I’ve got it. I can usually read the written pattern and follow it and my mom taught me to read it aloud if I can’t figure it out. This often helps because I’m seeing and hearing it then I can do it. Lecture puts me to sleep or in my own thoughts so it’s not ideal for learning for me. Thanks for asking!
I love that you read it out loud Cathy! That’s a great way to do it!
I learn in different ways. I taught myself to crochet and read patterns but now if I get stuck on something I can look at a video and get the answer and I can see how they do it and I especially like it when there are lefthanded video. Designers have different ways of writing patterns so it is nice when we have options.
Hi Fran! Thanks for weighing in! I agree, the more options the better! :). And video is wonderful to help learn!
I am a visual and reading learner. I like to read about a new technique, stitch, yarn etc. to see what information is given (whys and hows) and then look for any diagrams or photos that may help explain parts I didn’t understand. I also like to discuss problems I encounter while stitching with someone else who may be able to help. In this case it’s my sister, and although she’s a knitter, she knows enough about construction to help me get through questions I have when the directions don’t make sense to me. I do enjoy reading about technique and learning new things! I also love looking at patterns (and cooking recipes!) to see if I can learn something new from trying new things.
Thanks for weighing in Jeanne! Diagrams and Photos help so much when the words dont make sense! I agree wholeheartedly! Im so glad you have a sister who can help too! That is wonderful!
I learn best through a combination of approaches. I like to watch others and then go all in by trying the new skill out myself. Then I like to dive deeper by reading more about the subject or talking through what learned with another person.
Thanks for weiging in Veronica! This is a really great approach too! That is why I advocate join guilds or online groups too! To talk and learn through each other!!
I prefer a written pattern, but will check a tutorial for a stitch that I don’t know
Deb, When you say written, do you mean actual words or charts too?
Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts. I’m sure you spent many hours pondering how to respond to the negativity. I’ve been knitting for 54 years (self-taught by looking at step by step drawings in 1970’s magazine publications – I’m a visual learner! And that’s why I sight read music so well, btw 🙂 ) and crocheting – taught by watching a friend and my mom for 45 years. I am still learning new techniques and tips and tricks from others in books and online… and have made up a few of my own years ago that I’ve seen others now using, probably discovered through their own creativity. Some people’s techniques do not work for me, some patterns are written lots better than others (for me)… and i prefer old patterns to most of the new. It’s fun to figure it all out. I take what works and inspires me, and don’t take on what doesn’t. We’re all different, but all love the yarn. And we love different types of yarn! How sad that the designer had to build herself up as “best” and “better” than her deceased colleague (or anyone living, for that matter). More and more people tend to expose their narcissism these days, I find. And I’m grateful to find out who to AVOID. Let’s all praise God for this creative spark He instilled in us, and that we are not stamped from a cookie cutter. My mom always used to say, “Why would you want to be exactly like someone else? HOW BORING !!! ”
Onward and upward!
AMEN Christine! Thanks so much for chiming in! That is something that I feel to, why would we want to be like anyone else? And I love to know that there are so many way to do things. It helps me as a teacher when my students struggle. I even taught myself to crochet left handed to help my lefties! Basic stitches and I am SOOOOO Slow but that isn’t always a bad thing.
My Italian great aunt taught me to crochet. She gave me one of her Herrschners catalogs. Later I subscribed to Annie’s Attic and still have most of those little magazines. Nowadays I love watching crochet YouTube videos. So I guess show and tell is my favorite way to learn.
Hi Carleen! Thanks for chiming in! Visual learners seem to be the way most people are!
I’m a visual learner, be it a picture, chart or video. I do use books as well. I’m a self taught crocheter; I taught myself from a booklet when I was very young. I think I was 8. (I didn’t get in trouble for talking in class. I got in trouble for crocheting in class.)
Hi Pam! Thanks for sharing! I love that you got introuble for crocheting in class! Thats awesome! I cant remember ever getting in trouble but I did crochet in class!
Hi, i thought this post was very on point. I’ve been crocheting for over 60 yrs. Taught “old school” by my Great Aunt Opal. I almost immediately saw other ways to do things. She tried to get me to change the way i hold my hook & yarn. I hold the hook like a pencil & yarn like a cigarette (i don’t smoke but my dad did). That odd way worked best for me. I’ve seen things much more recently (like chainless foundation row!) That i love…so to each his own. Stay open minded.
Thank you,
Linda
Hi Linda and thanks for chiming in! I always tell everyone hold your hook the way it works for you! 😉 Im a knife holder but my Nonna wanted me to be a pencil holder!