Category: tips
undoing is a skill
My students are all convinced I knit and crochet everything perfectly from the start. I don’t. The other week at the sisterhood’s blanket group, which I facilitate, a crocheter was frustrated that she was ripping out, again. Her voice was full of exasperation as she remarked to the group, “Penny never does this, she’s an…
tools for trust
“Never underestimate the power of a girl with a book.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg I love books. Those others have written and those I write in for my own use. Books and paper were a part of my childhood; early on I discovered the magic—and power—found in a blank notebook. Technology hasn’t completely replaced the…
rebuilding: learning by doing
As the final days of August wane, I’ve run into several students who sheepishly tell me that they haven’t picked up needles or hook since the start of summer. Life is messy; priorities shift; the heat just swallows the day. As Arthur Ashe said, “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you…
why I write by hand
My brain has never been reliable for the little things I want to remember. Early on I discovered if it wasn’t written down it didn’t exist. In high school, I was gifted my first Filofax and used it to track assignments, what I needed to practice, my PBs1, and more; it worked when my brain…
when swatching for gauge, size matters
I know I’m unique in my love of swatches. Many of my swatches are for fun, aka fundamentals; they’re how I get to know a stitch, a yarn, a tool. I approach them in a manner I believe speed dating might be like. These swatches are often very small and worked quickly; I’ll frequently start…
stitches in the moment
I’m not someone who works only one project from start to finish. It’s not that I’m easily distracted; I want to have the right thing for where I am in any particular moment. Some days I need intricate lace that demands my full attention. Other times I want to zone out with stockinette in the…