Learning Something New
Art by Carolyn Gavin
We’ve all heard the statistic that it takes about 20 days (new research says 66 days) of doing something new before your neurons form a new groove in your brain to make it a habit. Well that’s fine for something like exercise but what if you are learning a new skill or craft? I know that a lot of us have been trying something new to pass the time during this pandemic. Or if you’re like me, you’ve been dreaming about trying something for years and just don’t think you’re up to it. As we get older we tend to be less adventurous about trying new things - especially if we don’t feel like we’re good at it within a few hours. But many of the crafts that we want to be good at take a lot longer than that to learn and you really can’t tell if you “have what it takes” after only putting in a few hours. This applies to painting, sewing, writing, quilting, pottery - really any craft or art form that you find yourself drawn to.
Whether you are staring at a blank page (before writing or putting a paint brush to it), at that perfect piece of fabric you’re afraid to cut into, that quilt pattern, or your community class booklet - it all comes down to FEAR. As we get older we get more set in our ways and our ego says things like “why would you want to put yourself out there and get hurt?” And it always feels like that ego has a good point. But part of being human is wanting to stretch and grow. Part of what draws us to these creative pursuits is connecting with others or the great unknown, or that little kid who used to love imagining for hours. And I get it - it’s really hard to want to be good at something, buy some supplies, and give it a go only to find out that you’re not Matisse on the first try. The thing about art and crafts is that it does take time to learn them and the chances of you being a savant are slim. So you have to be able to put your ego aside and give yourself a chance to look stupid, ruin that beautiful piece of fabric, or throw things across the room. It’s OKAY!
So here’s how I look at it - learning a new craft is like learning an instrument. Nobody picks up a trumpet and sounds like Louis Armstrong on the first day. It takes time to learn and you have to practice your scales to get good and move on to the next step. I’ve definitely found that to be true in sewing. I’ve wanted to sew for years! I made a few things as a teenager and found it difficult. I read all the Elm Creek Quilters books and tried my hand at quilting a pillow top when I was in my twenties. It was totally wonky so I gave up on that craft! But I always find myself drawn back to sewing. And when I discovered the world of purse and bag making I was hooked! I took a class at my local quilt shop and discovered that part of my problem was the cheap, old sewing machine I had (hey, it wasn’t all my fault!). And then part of it was just learning how to sew a straight line, getting used to how to feed the material through the machine, learning how to iron correctly. These are all things I wasn’t able to do on day one.
The trick is to take it one step (or skill) at a time. It’s like doing your scales. Start with an easy project - a simple tote bag or pouch. I highly recommend taking a class. It might have to wait until we can all do that sort of thing again, but it’s helpful to see what people are doing and get tips from an instructor or other classmates. Just hearing my teacher say that it takes time to be able to sew a straight line made me keep going. And then you learn about things like wash away Wonder tape to keep your zippers in place! It’s like magic! Sometimes these tricks are what make someone else’s work look so easy when you’re struggling. And once you have a few basics down you can move on to something a little harder.
After my class was over I discovered Sew Sweetness patterns and decided to make a really complex bag I had seen a photo of. Of course, it was totally out of my league and looked awful when I was done! So after that I decided to go back to the beginning and pick patterns where I could add a new skill each time. So I did a pattern with zipper tabs, then magnetic snaps, then working with cork, then mesh pockets, then bias tape, etc. Each time the basic bag instructions would look familiar and then I’d really only have one new scary thing to concentrate on. This has been working out really well for me and allows me to feel accomplished while stretching myself each time. And yes, I still hestitate before cutting into the beautiful fabrics but I’m getting more confident.
Other things you can do to support your creativity is setting aside a certain amount of time each day. Even if you work full time and have kids, can you carve out a time for yourself to work on something? What time of day is best for you when you feel like you have the energy to be creative or tackle difficult instructions? You can also make a routine of lighting a candle, putting some essential oils in a diffuser, making a cup of tea - something to set your mind before you start. After a while your brain will associate that smell with it being time to create. I’ve been using an essential oil blend called Cheer Up Buttercup by Now Essential Oils to set the scene before I start sewing. It’s an uplifting blend that makes my sewing space feel inviting and safe. Music is also something that can be an anchor, whether you’re listening to soft spa music or cranking up something that always makes you move and gets your blood flowing.
Are you feeling called to create something? Are you feeling like this time in hibernation is the opportunity and time you’ve been waiting for? Then why not dip your toes in the water? You don’t have to be an expert on day one. Part of the joy of learning a new craft is looking back and appreciating the time you’ve put into getting good at it and seeing how far you’ve come. Maybe after reading this you’ll feel more confident about picking up that project you want to try. I know you can do it - it just takes some time and patience. Be kind to yourself and that little kid inside.
Below are some of my favorite inspirational art pieces from Natural Life. I like to put these up on my wall and my screensaver to remind myself that it’s all going to be okay!
