It’s time for the next challenge in the 2019 Maker Finish-Along! In April we worked on projects that used some of our most precious maker supplies. The ones we squirrel away & maybe think are too precious to use. We also picked another UFO to focus on that may or may not have used some of those fancy maker supplies. For May, we’re going to focus on learning a new skill! I believe everyone should always be learning, it keeps the mind moving & makes life more interesting. ; )
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By the way, a UFO is an “UnFinished Object”, in case y’all didn’t know. It’s usually used by quilters or crocheters or knitters, but it applies to projects of all kinds. Since this is a Maker Finish-Along, it’s open to makers of all kinds. No matter what fuels your maker mojo, you can join in the fun!
Here are links to the previous challenges >
You’ll also find a printable schedule & UFO list in the Facebook group.
Learning a New Skill
Do you ever feel stuck in a rut with your making? Or maybe you even have some maker envy? Those are sure signs that you need to mix up your making! The best way to get out of a maker rut & conquer maker envy is to learn a new skill. If you see someone making amazing things it’s usually because they’ve been flexing their maker muscles!
Man, do you think I could have added a few more “makers” to that paragraph? : P
Anyway, back to the point of this post – learning a new skill!
No matter what kind of maker you are, there are always more things to learn about that type of making. Someone, somewhere has a new technique to learn. Or maybe they have a new take on a skill you’ve already learned. Even better, you could try a whole new craft!
That can be exciting, but it can also be really scary sometimes. The thing that most people are afraid of is failing. What if you thought about failing like this….
I can’t take credit for that acronym, saw it on Facebook somewhere, but it’s a great way to look at failing differently!
I’ve wanted to learn to knit for years now. When I first tried to learn, I bought a little booklet about learning to knit & some standard straight needles. Try as I might I could not manage to get past a couple of rows without things getting messed up.
It was so frustrating y’all!!
I abandoned it for a while, then tried again. Still wasn’t happening!
Then, this year, I picked up some different needles & watched a YouTube video one evening. I was delighted to find that I was able to knit without wanting to stab something with the needles! Yes!
It really just took finding the right way for me to learn knitting. Everyone learns differently & at a different cadence or pace. The video I watched helped me understand the why of what I was doing. That’s a very important thing for me personally when learning something new. The why of it has to make sense to me.
Just think, if I had given up all together after my first or even second attempt, I would never have been able to do this…
I’m knitting a sweater y’all! Yes, it will probably take me the rest of the year to finish it & yes there are mistakes, but I’m still doing it! Who really does anything perfect the first time? This is perfect to me because when I finish I can say…
I knitted my own sweater!
And that’s worth all the frustrating times I tried before & “failed”! : D
May’s Maker Challenge
So, this month’s challenge is to learn a new skill! It can be related to whatever you currently enjoy making or a completely new craft you’ve always wanted to try. There are so many resources out there for learning new things, no matter what kind of learner you are. Here are some great places to look:
- The library ~> If you learn well from books, this is the place to go! Most libraries have a great section of craft/DIY books as well as maker type magazines. Some of them even have a video section!
- YouTube ~> Great for visual learners! There are so many things you can learn & it’s all free!
- Blogs ~> Most blogs have a combination of book style learning & video learning. I can think of one blog in particular that has lots of learning type posts – heehee! ; )
- Find a maker group ~> Some places are lucky enough to have quilt guilds or knitting nights, so why not join in? I’m sure people in the group would be happy to help!
- Maker classes ~> Places like Home Depot or Joann’s offer classes for learning different types of crafts on certain days. Check out your local store to see if there’s something available in your area.
If you’re looking for something a little more specialized, why not give Bluprint a try? Formerly know as Craftsy, this streaming service offers classes on all kinds of maker things. And I mean there’s a little bit of everything y’all! It’s kind of like Netflix for makers & you can even find supplies to help with your learning endeavors.
No matter what you decide to learn or how you decide to learn it, you will be a better maker because of it. Expanding your maker mind is a wonderful thing! Learning is always a good thing, even if you learn that maybe that’s not for you. ; D
Be sure to share what you’re learning in the Facebook group along with the UFO you’re working on this month. Maybe learning a new skill will help you finish a UFO you’ve been avoiding!
Remember, the most important goal is to enjoy making, so happy making y’all! : )
