This winter, I took a pair of knitting needles, a spool of yarn, and my determination down to the local library. I grabbed a the first Stich’n’Bitch book I found, sat myself in the corner, pulled up the Knitting 101 posts from Kelly and taught myself how to cast on. Then, I taught myself how to knit a row. Then I knit another row. And then another.
I suppose, in essence, Kelly and Debbie taught me, but I sat myself down with their instruction and figured out what needed to be done to complete my very first scarf. It feels so wonderful to have completed this scarf: something I’ve been saying I wanted to do for years.
One of the greatest benefits to living in this internet age, if you ask me, is all the knowledge and information we have at the tips of our fingers. The lessons are out there, ready to be learned; it’s time for you to step up to the plate and teach yourself something you’ve always wanted to know, but never made the time.
I ask you this:
What skill have you always wanted to learn that you haven’t made the time for yet? What do you want to master this year?
I’ll go first. This year I will:
Write more fiction. It’s something I’ve struggled with forever, and I am determined to break past the two sentence habit I seem to have formed – I write two sentences, and then stare at the wall until defeat wins. I have a document with 17 two sentence fiction starters. 17!!!! I’ve been soaking in reading about the processes other people have when writing fiction, in books and online. I know my process will probably be different, but I am feeling creatively inspired by learning a bit of other writers’ “how-to”s.
What about you? Set yourself up for success and declare right here that you WILL teach yourself how to do it, before 2012! [you have 9+ months 
]
Heather, stick with it… You are a very talented writer!!
Val – you are too kind! thank you, dear!
DIY home decor is what I want to “master”
And I want to keep getting better at photography, esp of food!
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I really want to master making a “good” skirt. I can throw one together but it looks like it. I want to make my summer skirts this year and enjoy them to the fullest.
i should probably add “sew one thing on my sewing machine” to my list
I want to pick up the guitar again. It’s been years and I’ll be learning from scratch, basically. But summer is the best time to do it
long nights on the porch will be perfect!
oh, Brandi-girl -
Your description of long nights on the porch teaching yourself (re-teaching? re-learning? reminding?) how to play the guitar leaves me with such a delightful, life-romantic image in my head. I am seriously SWOOOOOOOOOOOONING over it. Longing for it. Wishing I could join you, sitting across from you, sipping handsqueezed lemonade and bobbing my head along as you strum and pluck your way through a song we both love.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
well, now that just sounds like the perfect night! if you’re ever in southwest Virginia, we’ll make it happen
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I want to learn so many things! I want to learn sign language, but I don’t think that’s going to happen in the next 9 months. I want to learn how to make a good home-made lasagna. And, for practicality’s sake – I want to learn how to change a tire.
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Ditto! I need to have my dad teach me a little more about cars. Not that I’ll necessarily have a car at school in 2012, but… it’d be nice to know stuff. I know a little, but I think it would be helpful to know more! Maybe this summer I can find time to hang out & talk cars with him–when he’s not running.
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I took American Sign Language classes a few years ago. It was awesome! I’d really like to pick it up again.
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I already learned how to crochet this year and just finished my first scarf last week. Definitely a good feeling. I’ve had this list of things I wanted to learn when I finished grad school. So now I guess I need to learn to play the guitar and learn German. I want to experiment more with photography too. I think I might need more than just 2011 to do all of that!
I’d love to pick up where I left off learning French and Spanish. Romance languages are so beautiful, and I always wish I knew a few more languages…especially when I hear foreigners in America who already know English!
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Now please make me a scarf. Thank you.
I want to learn a lot. Although, i find that there are two categories: Things I want to learn (guitar, how to cook better, meditation) and things I should learn (how to spell, change my own oil and how to manipulate the inner workings of itunes)
you + me + wine + gchat/phone call + itunes lessons? yes? okay. good.
This is so awesome! I’ve always wanted to learn to knit and to use a sewing machine and I’m really impressed.
Kathy @ newlywedindc recently posted..The ABCs of Me
I’ve always said you should write a book.
I can’t think of anything.
Well, okay, that’s not true. The problem is that I can think of too many things I’d like to learn… how to choose! and how to discipline myself to manage and make time for it!
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Knitting Rocks! Yah!