Hello 70's and Early 80's
Can you hardly believe it? I know... Macrame is returning back into fashion! My friend Colleen is going to be saying, "I knew it!" and pulls out her 70's LP's.
Can I tell you how much I know about Macrame! I don't know SQUAT!
Daniel has been on me since early 2015 telling me it's going to come back. I'm like, tell it to the judge! Looks like I lost in court! I don't know how to fake cry but if I could, now is the right time.
Now is the time for a dance music break! Stayin' Alive!
In my near future, like really near that I was going to film today. My head spinning in circles! The instructions me to do this, do that... over hand this, what am earth am I doing? So I realized I cannot film and teach people at this moment.
Understanding the Way You Learn
My mother taught me memory hooks as a child. You see that on my YouTube Channel a lot. It contradicts the standards of teaching crochet. However, my memory as a child in learning complex things were aided by memory hooks to make things click in.
So some people, they want the instruction. Insert the hook here, and do this. For me, I explain to insert the hook and tell you why it's important to do the next step. Showing you that each step plays off each other. So instead of leading you like sheep, you are gaining understanding on exactly what your goals are.
A real-life example would be at a former job. "I need you to move this skid from here to there!" I wanted to know why I am moving the skid. Instead of being dictated to, I wanted to be part of the motion with comprehension to know I was part of a step. "We need you to move the skid from here to there so Sandy can unload the boxes!" Suddenly, my step on why I am doing was moving a skid clicked in. It may sound stupid, but I don't like to follow without understanding the bigger picture.
Back to the Start of The Crochet Crowd
Just before I filmed my first video tutorials back in 2008. I watched another host. She referenced the motion of Yarn over and insert hook!. I didn't know what Yarn Over was. I was lost. I realized I couldn't follow her because the language is more than I personally know for skill level. If she would have said wrap the hook, I would have been fine.
So Macrame is my future, in reading a set of instructions to prepare for filming today. It said to do an overhand knot! What is that?
So I have to turn back time and begin to research my way and film the basics of Macrame before I can continue. I realize I cannot teach Macrame if I don't know the basics. I realize others can't learn Macrame if I don't know what I am talking about. Others cannot be expected to learn with lingo that is unfamilar to them.
The Trend is Here for Macrame
More and more yarns are coming out that is trending for Macrame and craft usage.
Yarn that are like cords and have the strength to hold up pots and other things.
I'm not upset I have to learn this, in fact, it's something new. I know some people, including me, get burn out. So this may be a change of pace. I have seen Macrame even up at Michaels for sale as a finished item. I realized, I can Macrame that... but I have to learn how to first.
So I am going to create a mini series of the basics of macrame. Wish me luck! I'm going in girls!
Cindy S says
I learned to macreme back on the 70's, and loved it i knew the knots back then, but I guessed at the amount of cord needed. I am liking that it is coming back in style. A few years ago, I found plant hangers that my mom made. She is gone now.
Mikey, I think my learning process is close to yours, if not the same. I have always needed to understand new things, before I could really grasp it. My example is when I was taking college classes. If I didn't understand, or if my brain had a question about what was being said, my mind couldn't absorb anymore information If when listening to a lecture, and it wasn't clear, or if it triggered a question in my mind, I couldn't just let it go, and go back to it, I had to raise my hand, interrupting, and ask my question once I comprehended the answer, and only then, I could go on to learn and understand more. My only salvation was tape recording lectures, so while my brain stopped hearing, my recording would pick up from that point. I excelled in physiology, as it explained why, but barely passed anatomy, which was pure memorization.
All that to say, after watching your videos, I retain what you taught, because you answer "why." I can understand any of what you teach, which has helped,me become better at reading patterns, and making adaptations
You also make learning fun. I hope that soon, I can begin to create patterns.
Lastly, when taking a class in nursing school, we were given the quick assignment to write down how to make a peanut and jelly sandwhich. Then our instructor, followed the written directions exactly as one of us had written. You would be surprised how many sandwhiches could not be made, or how they were made, (a disaster), because of the lack of clear simple written steps. If you assume your reader knows steps, their first attempt to make a sandwhich (or crochet project) is most likely going to set the student up to fail.
Mikey, thank you for yoyr enthusiasts and love for crocheting and teaching!
Emma says
Yes macrame would be awesome. ???
Dorothy Schultz says
I TOTALLY understand where you are coming from as a learner who needs to know the overall objective of each step to learn efficiently and needs to know specific vocabulary. Thank you for expressing it so well.