Who is this Greg guy and what’s he doing here?
Kiersten, I have a problem
I was at 40,000 feet flying 563 miles per hour over the Pacific-Kuril Trench and I had a problem.
Sadly, I couldn’t fix it on my own. I was frustrated, intimidated, and feeling completely overwhelmed.
Thankfully, the problem wasn’t with the plane or the pilots. So what was I struggling with?
Before I answer that, let me ask you a question.
Do you ever feel like I did?
Do you ever have similar feelings when you’re learning a new fiber arts skill? Or when you’ve got the task of teaching students something you’re just now learning yourself? You truly want to believe you can do it, but your self-confidence just isn’t there.
If you’re like so many of the wonderful people who learn from my wife, Kiersten, your answer is probably Yes.
You’re not alone if your learning curve feels too steep for you to ever climb or if what you’re trying to teach seems beyond your abilities.
That’s exactly where I was as I was trying to finish my first knitting project ever, a simple dishcloth, while flying to China for my day job.
struggling as a Total Beginner is Okay – and worth it!
Before I started my marathon flight, Kiersten had shown me how to knit and got me started. I’d reviewed and downloaded her incredibly easy to follow How to Knit videos, but I was still stuck.
As I studied my barely started knitting project with only the dim cabin lights to help me (the perhaps wiser passengers were asleep at the time), I knew something didn’t look right. But I could not for the life of me figure out what I did wrong. And for someone who is used to being able to analyze and solve problems relatively quickly, this was a super frustrating experience.
You may also be a veteran in many other areas of your career but a complete newbie when it comes to fiber arts. That’s where I was.
But I knew then and I am further convinced now that my agonizingly slow crawl up my fiber arts learning mountain is worth it.
Why?
Because even though I’m still only a beginner fiber artist, I’m already enjoying the many physical and psychological benefits that Kiersten and so many other experts have told me knitting provides.
Not only that, but I was also able to experience firsthand what almost every other person, and maybe even you, experiences when they want to acquire or teach a new skill.
And that experience clarified my role in the business Kiersten and I are building together.
My role in our two-person business
She’s the fiber arts educator expert and I am the learner.
My role is to learn alongside you and other aspiring fiber artists and educators.
I get to ask Kiersten the questions she already knows the answer to because she’s been a fiber artist and educator for almost 3 decades.
And, when I get those answers from her, I can share what I learn with you through my writing and my input into our educational products like the Beast to Blanket curriculum.
If I’m doing my job well, you will benefit from my ignorance and inexperience. And I’ve got plenty of both!
If you’ve ever been too scared to even think about learning a new fiber art, or if the idea of being confident enough to teach these valuable skills to your students or kids seems out of reach, I understand.
You won’t be learning (and struggling!) alone
I get it because I’ve been there. And I’m still there as I keep trying new things.
So, I’ll do my best to show up and support you. Not as the expert (I’ll leave that to my beloved wife!) but as your stumbling, sometimes fumbling, but always curious companion in learning.
I’ll ask the beginner’s questions, make the rookie mistakes, and share what it feels like to discover these skills for the very first time.
How I Hope to Serve you
Before starting this business with Kiersten, I spent over 30 years in leadership and coaching in the corporate world, helping people grow in their work and in their confidence. What I’ve learned is that growth doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from showing up with curiosity, staying humble, and being willing to try, fail, and keep growing.
That’s the perspective I bring to our business and strive to include in every product and service Kiersten and I create for you.
Kiersten provides the expertise. I bring the perspective of someone who’s learning with you. Together, Kiersten and I built Beast to Blanket to help you feel confident leading your students through the joy of creating, even if you’ve never touched a spindle or a knitting needle before.
So if you’ve ever worried, “Can I really teach this?”, my answer is yes. I’m proof that you don’t have to be an expert to get started. You just have to be willing to learn.
And speaking of learning, what was that problem that frustrated me so much as I was flying to Shanghai?
My problem problems
Well, there were a bunch of them.
I dropped some stitches, included some unintentional yarn overs, and generally made my dishcloth looks like a dog’s breakfast.
And, I added part of an extra row by turning around and knitting in the wrong direction part way through a row!
Of course, the always gentle and encouraging teacher, Kiersten told me my errors did not take away from my dishcloth.
They gave it more scrubbing features!
That’s why I love learning from Kiersten and building this business with her so you can learn fiber arts from her too.
And I’d love for you to join us and learn right alongside me.
Are you curious about where my learning journey (and yours) will go?
Just click the button below so you can stay connected with Kiersten and me.
Greg