One of the best ways to leverage your spare time in the upcoming year is to learn a new skill.

I love learning and am constantly expanding my sewing skills with new projects. I also enjoy learning new arts and crafts.

This week I received an email asking if I would like to teach some craft workshops, at the next Country Living Fair.

These crafts need to be table top 1 hour activities, with no sewing machines provided and limited funds for resources.

Before agreeing, I starting searching for ideas.  Usually my first stop for research is Pinterest, here I found loads of simple craft ideas, so I filled in the application form with 3 different crafts. None of which I have ever done before and now I have signed up to teach them to 100 plus people, am I mad? No, I am a teacher first and a quick learner.

I have decided to teach the following crafts:

• Macrame knots
• Pom pom tassel key chains
• recycled t-shirt finger knit bracelets

My grandmother taught me how to knit, but I have never mastered this and have never tried macrame before, I can make a pom pom, but have seen a way of making one using a fork?

Home learning

Learning is so much easier these days, there is so many resources available online. You don’t need to sign up to expensive courses, there are so many online resources available! I like how you can learn at your own pace, at home. I used a number of different YouTube video’s, and online written resources; reading loads, pausing and rewinding video’s constantly. When I teach sewing I like to keep the class small, as everyone works at a different pace and working in a group can add pressure and anxiety develops. I also understand that when you work with other people around you, you can support each other and over come problems and develop self confidence.

How do you learn best? I learn by repeating physical activities. I think this is called a practical learner?

Learning Styles

• Visual (spatial):You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
• Aural (auditory-musical): You prefer using sound and music.
• Verbal (linguistic): You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
• Physical (kinesthetic): You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
• Logical (mathematical): You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
• Social (interpersonal): You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
• Solitary (intrapersonal): You prefer to work alone and use self-study.

I can relate to many of the list above, so I think I am definitely visual and physical, like to solve problems and have systems and order, so logical, I like to talk, so sometimes social, but mostly a solitary learner.

My latest new skill: Macrame craft

I ordered lots of different string, rope and finally t-shirt jersey yarn. I worked on a small wooden ring and with thick rope to teach myself the different basic knots; square, half square, larks head and spiral knots. The thinker knot made it clear, easier to follow and simple to undue and reuse. I repeated these over and over until I started to feel more confident. Once you know the macrame basics, it’s so easy. I made several samples and then decided to put all the knots together and make a plant pot holder. I used a Wool in the gang tutorial. This was easy to follow and I could stop and start the video, dependant on how much time I had. I have a small clothes rail, this was perfect to work from.

Finger knitting

I used a tutorial on Pinterest to help me here. I used an old vest, cutting it into strips and then wrapping it around my fingers. Once you do this more than once it’s easy.

Recommendations

I highly recommend the Wool and the gang tutorial.

I created a macrame board on Pinterest

I found the t-shirt yarn from Retwist yarns.

You can see the finger knitting tutorial on my Country Living ideas board

To see how you make the pom pom tassels visit my YouTube channel

I have since completed my teaching at the Country Living fair and everyone enjoyed making macrame key rings. I have signed up to do more workshops at the Christmas Country living Fair, so now I am busy making lots of macrame Christmas baubles.

KEEP LEARNING!