It’s always rewarding to watch someone struggle at first to make the knitting needles and yarn yield to their wishes. Sometimes the stitches are big and loopy, while others times the stitches are so tight on the needle that it is nearly impossible to slide them off. As the knitting progresses, holes and extra stitches may mysteriously appear. The knitted piece can at the same time grow wider as it grows longer, and in very special circumstances become narrower, all this to the beginners dismay.

First-time knitters need to take this in stride, since this too shall pass. With practice and persistence knitters will overcome, and eventually become competent knitters. As a teacher you recognize, and come to expect this, and give support, and comfort, knowing that everything, eventually will turn out.

What makes this even more breath-taking is when you can see that this same student derives the same pleasure of creating something as you do. This is a teacher’s dream.

This past weekend I had just such an opportunity to teach a young lady to weave. She knew exactly what color yarn she wanted to work with, and we proceeded with the lesson. She took to it like a duck to water, weaving away on her scarf, enjoying the process. Then she took her project home to finish.

Later that evening, I received a text with a picture of her finished hand-woven scarf, from her proud mom.

Seeing Azria’s big smile was enough to tell me how awesome her scarf really was.