Well here we are, I have thought a lot about writing a McWilD blog but never got round to it.
Would people want to read it? Do I have anything worth saying?
Then I thought I have so much McWilD in my head that I could get down on paper, or in this case, on to the website.
Since starting back at classes after the summer break, it feels like there has been one thing after another. The second class back was cancelled due to a fire near Greenbrae Steading, thankfully all's well that ends well. And now I have shingles, so have had to cancel our upcoming class on Tuesday evening and also an upcoming weekend workshop.
What have I learnt from these bumps in the road? Firstly, how to reschedule classes in Shopify...correctly! Secondly, and more importantly, the McWilD community are an amazingly supportive group, quite happy to re-arrange their cherished classes and offering me love, get well wishes and supportive words.
When I started McWilD classes it was always about so much more than teaching folk a new skill, I really wanted to build a community of like-minded folk who could sit round the table, have a good yap, a cuppa and a fancy piece, and make some time for themselves.
To see this actually happening every week fair makes my heart sing. We live in such a hectic world, so to give people two hours a week where they unapologetically make time for themselves is just a blessing. They focus not on their inbox, their ironing pile, their never-ending to do list, their family commitments, but on themselves.
Crochet and knitting are such mindful activities - the women attending the class report sleeping better, unwinding more and just having such a sense of accomplishment as they master new stitches and see their creations come to life. Some folk have been coming for quite some time, and have made friends and connections through the class, and others have just started. Everyone works at their own pace, on their own project, with guidance and support from me. I don't claim to know everything about knitting or crochet, and sometimes patterns puzzle me (that's a post for another day!) but if I don't know the answer I will do my best to find out the solution.
The only thing I do insist on is learning the very basic stitches firstly in rows, back and forth - no jumping straight into granny squares etc. They may look easy but they do require some skill and understanding of what crochet is firstly.
So, if you come to a McWilD crochet class, if you are left-handed or right-handed, you learn how to hold the hook, how to make a slipknot, how to make chains, how to do double crochet, then treble crochet and then on from there. Also...how to count (tell me I'm wrong?!)
I really enjoyed having time off over the summer to work on my own creations and I totally love that sense of accomplishment.
Anyway just a short post to get started...more to come!
Have a lovely Saturday.
Debbie
PS the photo is a throwback to one of the first McWilD Christmas workshops I did at Greenbrae.
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