gotta learn this new thing, what’s wrong with me?!
Fear is a funny thing. It’s a good thing if there’s a bear chasing you; fear makes you run fast. But it’s a silly thing if you’re afraid of learning a new knitting skill. Really, Lori? Afraid of Judy’s Magic Cast-On? REALLY? Come. On. It’s knitting, and I am holding the sharp pointed sticks. I can just stop at any time. Nothing terrible is going to happen; the worst thing would be if I got sweaty and was nervous and not figuring it out and therefore feeling stupid.
Is that it? It makes me feel stupid, like I don’t know anything? I already know that I don’t know all that much! But I’ve become comfortable. I can knit top-down socks with no stress. I get it, I know the tricks, I don’t make mistakes. On the other hand, I also don’t have very much time to knit, so when I do get to knit, I want to be knitting, not sweating with anxiety! But on the other hand, I also want to grow, and challenge myself, and learn new tricks, so as soon as I finish the wedding shawl, I’m going to do it: Judy’s Magic Cast-On and toe-up socks.
YIKES!
two socks at once! Double yikes!
Once I’ve got the cast-on figured out, I’ll learn the little heel tricks you use for toe-up socks. Then, with all that confidence surging through me, I’ll tackle continental knitting. I see big things in my future. 
Read other bloggers talking about new skills they want to learn here: knitcroblo4
Well done getting past the fear! I’m sure your socks will come out wonderful and wish you a good time knitting and learning a new skill
thank you! i’m sure that if i ever just sat down with needles and yarn, and all the great lessons there are on the web, i’d find right away that it’s not that big a deal. i just have to overcome that fear…..
Socks were my choice too for this topic! Scaaaaary : ) I love the way you deconstructed fear, though : )
scaaaaary socks – isn’t that a hilarious idea? especially because we really mean that we’re scared of socks?! it cracks me up, but i’m so glad i’m not alone.
Well done, and good luck. I’ll tell you my scary story about toe up socks once you have achieved yours successfully…
a scary story about toe-up socks! you definitely have caught my interest. OK, as soon as i do a pair toe-up, I’ll ask you for your story.
Hooray for new skills! I think of it as my anti-Alzheimer’s exercise
Toe-up socks are kind of fun, if you’re usually a top-down person, which I am; I always end up going back to top-down, though. I don’t know what that means about me as a knitter…
that’s exactly right – i want to know how to do it (and so good for the dear old brain!), even if i prefer to go top-down. i feel the same way about continental style knitting; i want to know now, even if i don’t always use it. and yes, hooray for new skills and a long-lived brain.
Knitting socks like YOU do is my new skill! Just need to get passed the fear! So many things to learn on my to do list : hope my brain will never give up!
Gosh, you’re such a good knitter, you could do socks so easily! You’re much better than the fear. (and that’s what I tell myself, too!)
Knitting two socks at a time is one of the things I have to learn!!! I’m sure it will save some time! ^^
oh yeah! i want to do that too! For some reason i think i could do that more easily with toe-up socks. anything to save time for even more knitting, you’re right!