Teaching Good Things

Sibyl says:

I love doing handiwork. I sew on a daily baiss. But I have hard time with things that are not mechanical. Such as crocheting, or knitting. In fact I sew and don’t use a hand needle and thread, if my machine doesn’t do it I don’t sew it—but I make just about anything asked with my machine.

Dana says:

What I find most challenging about learning new handiwork is “thinking outside my own box”. For example, I can crochet, but when I tried to learn to knit, my crochet “habits” (how to hold the yarn, etc.) really hindered my process. I also want to learn everything fast and to be good at it NOW–without practice! I guess what’s needed is patience.

Blessings–
Dana

Devildogwife says:

Both my daughter and I have tried to learn to knit, but without someone showing us step-by-step, we’ve failed horribly. I need to be able to watch and do at the same time in order to learn. I think my daughter is taking after me.

Tara H. says:

The most challenging thing about learning a new craft, especially crocheting and knitting, is it is hard to tell what you are supposed to do when you learn by looking at pictures. I have not been very successful at it, and think that a video would help me learn a lot better.

What a great giveaway!

Lynn Cupp says:

I have been trying to learn to crochet for quite some time, and always seem to make everything sooo tight. I need someone to tap my fingers when I start pulling too much LOL.

Janice Papic says:

The hardest thing about doing handiwork is having the time to learn it well and actually completing projects. I truly enjoy learning crocheting, needlework and other beautiful handiwork arts. It is just consistently finding the time to polish my skills and complete the work.

You have a wonderful website.
Blessings,
Janice

Missy says:

Like the lady above, I too require a demonstration to learn these handiwork skills. My daughter and I learned to knit last year and have loved it. She picked it up quickly but I had to have it shown to me several times. We both now really enjoy it.

robin says:

hey I find the most challenging thing about handiwork is the time to do it..
Taylor and I sat down today with your site on of course and started making our new baby a quilt..We had about 30 mins but it was alot of fun. Your step by step was easy to follow..
Thanks for always encouraging us.

rob and Tay

Kathy here:
You’re too sweet!

Tracy Lambert says:

Time is definitely my biggest obstacle in doing handiwork. It seems with lots of littles requiring my attention, there is just not as much time as I would like. Then again, this is just a season. : )

Tracy
http://www.LinesFromTheVine.com

cassie says:

I have always loved, and struggled with craft. I have the ideas, and even some books, but I need to be shown…numerous times. Once someone has patience with me, I get it, but a lot of people just don’t have the time to teach. Now I have five children, and my daughters want to know how, so I am very frustrated. Thankfully one of my daughters can read and do, better than me.
Thank you for your website, we need more like it!
love from cassie

Julie says:

The hardest thing for me is getting frustrated.
I want to learn and have tried many books but I just can’t get it. I have to see someone do it!

Patty Marr says:

The biggest challenge for me in learning handiwork, is the patience required to undo mistakes and redo the projects to make them look good. My attempts never look right, so I give up too soon.

Bev says:

God has blessed me with 6 children, 5 of whom are daughters. However, i have NO natural talent in the handiwork area. I desperately appreaciate any and all mentoring type information. SEEING the instruction instead of just reading it is a godsend.

Terri Clum says:

I am left handed, and have found most instruction manuals for handiwork are for right handers. Also, friends have offered to teach me to crochet, but they are right handed.

Julie says:

I love doing all kinds of handiwork but finding the time at this season of life has been challenging. I find little bits of time to start things but often not enough time to develop a depth of understanding. Yet the blessing has been as I have dabbled in this and that my daughter has developed the love and is learning all kinds of new skills….and doing a wonderful job!

Rachel says:

I think I agree with everyone’s comments so far. Not feeling like there is enough time on top of daily chores to really learn a craft well, wanting to see immediate results, and needing a good teacher who will be patient with me.

admin says:

Dana,

To learn to knit is one of my goals this year, I sure hope I make it! I’ve crocheted for so long I hope I can convert.

Devildogwife :o),

I almost always have to have someone sit and show me how to do anything. That’s just the way God ‘created me’!

Lynn, LOOSEN UP! lol ;o) Yes, tension is so very important. Have you tried a larger size hook, like a I or J?

Janice,
Yes, time is always an issue. I got A LOT more crocheting done before I started quilting and using a computer! We have seasons in life.

Shawna Howes says:

The most challenging thing about handiwork is having to slow down and take things step by step. We live in such a hurried society, we want things given to us in 30 seconds or less, and this mentality flows into all areas of our lives. We want our meals quick, our checkout lines short, and if we have to wait more than 2 minutes, we start complaining.
If you hurry handiwork, no matter how good you are at it, you’ll make mistakes, and either will have to take it out and do it all over again, or you’ll try to ignore it and continue on, which will ruin the look and frustrate you even more.
As I learn to sew, I am having to learn to slow down and take it step by step. It might seem like it takes longer to carefully measure, slowly cut, pin straight, sew evenly, and press neatly, but every time I try to “hurry” things along, I get a mess I have to take out.
Learning to slow down in my handiwork is also carrying over into my daily life. If I can take the time to sew a simple skirt, I can also be patient in cooking (the proverbial watched pot), baking, crocheting, listening to a friend or spending time talking with my husband.
I am a Benedictine oblate novice, a lay member who lives out the Rule of St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism, in my life as a married woman. The first line of the Rule, which is a great 5th century document applicable today for anyone from singles to families, is “Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart.” We have to slow down to do that, and being careful and listening to the ear of your heart working in all aspects of daily life, even when we want to hurry, because it takes time to make beauty, and we appreciate the finished product all the more when we know the time and care we took making it.

Jennifer says:

I am interested in learning handiwork, infact I just finished taking a quilting class. I find I need a LOT of time to observe how the different techiques are done. Of course time is another thing to consider.
I’m finding that I now wish I had been more interested in learning these things from my grandma when she was around and willing to share with me.

Renee says:

I don’t know how to knit and would LOVE to learn how. I learned how to quilt this year and love it. I smock and shadow embroidery. I love to do them both, but time is the problem. I am a visial person, so this would be perfect for me. Maybe I can teach my daughter as well.

Angela says:

The hardest thing for me is not having a teacher telling me what to do next. It can be quite challenging trying to glean that from a book.

Angela

Shauna says:

I love crafts but seem to lack the time to complete them. Also the space for certain ones like sewing and scrapbooking. So perhaps I need to take up crocheting again!

Ashley says:

I have wanted to learn to crochet for a long time. My grandma showed me a couple of times, but I can’t get beyond making one really long chain! I need to be able to see it done several times before I “get it”.

Ashley

Sarah says:

I have been trying to learn to crochet. It is hard I don’t have anyone to teach me and the pictures in books are hard to follow. I would love to learn how to so I can make some things for my family.

Desire' says:

The most challenging thing about handiwork to me is learning how to do it correctly while trying to teach myself. I would love to learn how to knit and crochet, but have not found someone that knows how and could teach me. Being left handed and learning to do handiwork can also be quite the challenge!

Mrs. White says:

I can’t remember all the stitches in crochet. Especially how to round off. I can link pretty good even without a loom but I struggle with finding the funds to learn something new. I am afraid of messing up and tossing away good money and afraid of teasing and seeming very foolish.

God bless your business,
Laurie

Shelley P says:

Just last night my girls and me watched your cake decorating dvd. Its brillent and taught us many tips we have not known before and is challenging us to have a go….I don’t think our cake will turn out quite as well but with practise we should get there. If your crochet one is as good it would be great to learn a new skill, I remember the colourful crochet blankets that my nanna used to make. It would be great to learn how to do that and make my children blankets to pass on to their children.

Thank you again for making such great dvd’s showing how to accomplish skills that will enhance our future generations.

Shelley P
from over the pond

Toni says:

I love to do handiwork. I teach a Keepers at Home class to young ladies that I have enjoyed learning new skills along with them, but I have a hard time taking the
time to do my handiwork at home.

Lisa says:

I think for me–it’s time and having a mentor teach me…..I need to SEE what I am doing or attempting to do–so reading from a book just doesn’t quite do it for me, I need the visual to learn something new like this–so thankful for these DVDs……they make learning a new skill like this, simple!

I’ve been wanting to learn to crochet, and eyeing this DVD

Thanks for the opportunity to win it!
Lisa

Linda says:

I’m finding that learning handiwork isn’t as scary as I once thought. I’m learning that there are a lot of things that I can accomplish - some on my own and others with the help of a good teacher.

Lynne in NC says:

I would like to teach my daughter some of the handiwork skills I did not learn. I am a visual person and a DVD would be great to start both of us crocheting! Thanks.
Lynne in NC

Kerri says:

I am struggling to become creative and crafty. It is so challenging for me. I think the thing that is most challenging is the directions. It seems I read into them too much and come to the conclusion they are telling me something different than they really are! I haven’t given up yet though, and I am getting better at “just doing what the directions say” !! Time is always a challenge too. Living on a farm and homeschooling four children is very time consuming. I do enjoy handmade things in my home and to give and get as gifts. I am struggling at this, but look at it this way… I am learning with my daughter, and even though I can’t teach her certain handiwork skills at this time, I will at a later time. Thanks!

Jessica says:

I love learning handiwork, but the most challenging thing I find is lack of teachers. Most books and the Internet can teach you the basics, but to move beyond that to get “really” good at a craft, it’s next to impossible to find someone to help.

Jess

Amy says:

I actually have a couple of challenges with handiwork… one is completing the projects. For example, I have a baby blanket here that just needs me to whipstitch an opening closed… and there it sits! It would take 5 minutes. The other is when I’m learning, I feel it’s wasteful to practice because I’m using materials and resources, but then tossing them.

Kam A. says:

I find that I tend to forget if I am away from it from too long. I have never learned how to crochet, but have knitted a couple of scarves here and there. I haven’t done it for about a year and honestly would have no clue how to start one if I were to try again. This DVD would be great to help me learn how to crochet and then to help refresh my memory when I need it Thank you for the giveaway!

Vickie says:

I know how to crochet, but my biggest challenge is ending each row and beginning the next one. I seem to put that last stitch into the wrong hole and start the next row incorrectly too often. I need an up-close visual to help me get it, I suppose!

Kathy says:

OH Shawna!!! I had to giggle a little at your comments. :o) You’re not alone in this battle for time and patience. Although I enjoy being still and doing handiwork, my WONDERFUL husband never sits still. He has one speed, OVERDRIVE! lol…

You said:
“…it takes time to make beauty, and we appreciate the finished product all the more when we know the time and care we took making it.”

Amen! You’re right on target!

Elizabeth says:

I love to do handiwork but it is so challenging finding enough time to do all that I would love to do. I have six home schooled daughters, multiple gardens and animals and the work is always there. I hope things will eventually slow down a little for us girls so we can have a few quiet minutes each day to be productive with our hands. Thanks!

Marci says:

The hardest things for me, as well as so many others, is time and instruction. I have bought several “how to” books on crocheting and I remember thinking - how come my grandma taught me this so easily when I was a kid but it looks impossible to figure out from this book! I think videos is the way to go with me!

Julie M. says:

I remember watching my mom as she would crochet, knit, sew and work on other needlework projects. She even taught me how to crochet at one time. But it seems so long ago now. I have wonderful memories of making my wedding dress with my mom. Now, I would like to be able to create some of those same memories with my daughter. I believe that one of the hardest things about learning a new skill is making the time to learn it correctly and then continuing to devote time to maintain the learned skills. I am so encouraged by your website and that I can get your instructional dvd’s to relearn the things my mom taught me years ago and then be able to teach them to my daughter. Thank you for providing these products and helping us to be Proverbs 31 women.
God’s Blessings,
Julie

Rhonda H. says:

I agree with Jennifer. I also wish I had learned at my Grannie’s and Mom’s knee, but they are both now with the Lord. My 11 year old daughter wants to learn to do everything that falls under the catagory of sewing or crafts. I can do stamped and counted cross stitch, and most types of embroidery, but that’s about it. I have a really nice sewing machine and don’t use it (blush!),but my girl has a real desire to learn. Does anyone have any suggestions for books we can use in our homeschool. Daughter and I will be learning together.

Lisa says:

I learned to crochet as a young girl by sitting with my grandma and mom…they crocheted beautiful things while I created really long chains. Once I could make a nice consistant chain, they taught me to make a scarf, purse, and vest — just like they were doing. What I find to be my biggest challange today is that my vision tends to blur if I’m staring at my work for too long. In addition, I’ve developed carpel tunnel which kicks in if I knit or crochet too long. I guess another challange is simply having time to sit, relax, and do my handwork. My youngest is helping remedy that these days (she’s seven). She is eager to learn and enjoys making things to enter into the county fair as well as to give away.

Cyndi Lewis says:

Enter me! Enter me! I love trying all sorts of handiwork but I’m not always very talented at it. I have terrible hand/eye coordination and lack common sense. Learning practical skills comes hard for me. Give me a book and ask me to learn names and dates… easy!

Jeanette says:

I have always wanted to learn different skills (like sewing, cooking from scratch - not cans and boxes :), ect). However, I never really had anyone willing or able to teach me as I was growoing up. Now I have 4 little boys 6 and under and I just can’t seem to find the time or space to learn. I also require step by step instruction. My heart still longs to learn these things because hopefully one day the Lord will bless me with a little girl to pass these skills down to. AND even if I remain a mother to boys, I would still love to be able to bless a young lady that might be in search of someone to guide her along. I guess I see these skills as not only a way to bless others with the fruit of the labor, but also the fruit of the knowledge.

Edie says:

The most challenging thing about learning handiwork is forcing myself to make time to practice it until it becomes very easy. I usually view this as an “extra” which gets placed way down on my priority list - even though I know how very refreshing and satisfying it is to work with my hands. By God’s grace, my children do not have this problem, though!

Dianna from Ft. Campbell says:

My challenge of doing handiwork is having the patience to teach my four daughters. If I have a visual/step by step of the process then I can learn anything. I tried for over a year to teach myself how to knit. No one in my family knew how. I finally learned how to knit from this online tutorial http://www.knittinghelp.com/

In the loving hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Dianna

Penny Raine says:

Enter me please! And you don’t mind is I tell a couple hundred folks about your drawing do you?
blessings, Penny Raine
http://www.pennyraine.com/blog

Belinda says:

It looks like everyone else struggles with the same issues that I immediately thought of, finding the time, and the issue of trying to learn it all on our own. There just aren’t other people around doing these things to learn from, which would have to help. And even though I don’t ‘work’ I don’t find it easy to make the time it takes to try to figure out new skills on my own. I’ve run into a lot of people lately who assume I have nothing to do, so it seems odd to being saying there’s not enough time to do it all… but its true.
I do more hand work (embroidery, etc) than I do using the sewing machine. I admire you ladies who remember how to do things involving machinery each time you come back to it; it seems like I have to reteach myself each time and I’m never very confident I’m doing it right. Come to think of it I’m the same way with knitting and crochet… I’ve discovered knitting hoops and like the way they aren’t hard to figure out and I can tell where I left off on a project. Does anyone else here knit stocking caps on a hoop?
Thanks for a neat site, btw, and for creating your very helpful materials. Belinda, in IL, sahw & hsing mom of 4dc

Angie says:

What I find most challenging is finding time to sit down and learn!

Emily Darling says:

Like many people, I learn best by seeing an action performed step by step with a helper beside me. My daughter and I have tried learning to crochet together but we got stuck just using the pictures and directions in an instruction book. It would be nice if all of our grandmas would pass their skills on, but this is not always the case. We hope to learn knitting from my mother, but for most things, we’re on our own.

Tina says:

The most challenging thing about learning handiwork is that I learn visually. I will learn something better if I see it. I need someone to show me the steps and then I can remember them and do it. I see all these codes in books on the different stitches and they mean nothing to me. If someone shows me, I’m good. The only problem with that is that I don’t remember the name of the stitch and then a pattern is almost impossible to follow.

Mae says:

I’ve had trouble learning to sew and crochet. I think it’s because I’ve been trying to learn from books, and I need to see the movement (over and over and over, lol). I’m afraid that patience is also a bit of an obstacle (or the lack thereof).

V.R.B. says:

My biggest chanllenge with learning handiwork is the lack of teachers or someone who could give you pointers. Learning from a book is okay, but seeing someone in person do it makes the craft easier to learn.

Courtney Wagner says:

What a great giveaway! The hardest part of learning new handiwork skills for us, is not having someone with experience available to teach us. We have learned knitting from library books and was it ever hard to figure it out from pictures! We learned out of sheer force of will I think! ;o) Your DVD sounds lovely.

Blessings,
Courtney

Rebekah says:

Handiwork really impressed me in its importance when I was working as a nurse in a retirement home during my college years. There are many elderly people who think they are no longer of any use to anyone. When they were younger they could accomplish so much, and they measured their value as a person by the amount they produced in a day. Then they had a stroke, or fell and broke their hip, or a heart attack, or just became more feeble as they aged. Suddenly they couldn’t do so much,others had to help them do even the smallest tasks such as combing their hair or buttoning their shirt. Many of these precious people who had so much to offer in the way of wisdom or wise counsel felt they were a waste of others’ time and not worth it. They had never learned that God loves us not for what we do, but because of what and who we are - His creation. I saw my place as one of encouraging them, but this wasn’t easy day after day. Then one day a man arrived who was a Veitnam vet. He was very young compaired to all the other residents. He had one good hand and a stub on the other side, and was confined to a wheelchair because his legs ended at mid thigh on both sides. The first day he was there he asked me to unpack a suitcase for him, and set up his hook set. Then, in the common area he sat there for hours doing this latch and hook thing. He made about two projects per week, and was always talking about who he would give this one to, or send this to, or what it would be useful for. He was the brightest, happiest person who lived in the place. At first his enthusiasm irritated the others, but three months later, nearly every other resident in his hallway began to learn the same skill. They soon founded a club. Then, friends and relatives started to take their projects and sell them and give the proceeds to charity. Those who were paralized on one side from stroke found they could still do many things with their good side to help. I made it my goal to find a point of interest for every one of those residents. As more and more became industrious in working with their hands the morale increased and the whole air of the place changed dramatically. One man who didn’t have use of his upper body began to paint with his feet. Those who were not able to use any limbs found joy in the accomplishments of others, would offer suggestions, or would just bask in the comradarie of it all. Anyway, when I left that facility to return to my home town it was an upbeat place. Recently I visited that place while on vacation. It was a new group of people. All of them just sat around feeling sorry that they were alive. It was a pitifully dreary place. I wished I could stay and help them find something to do with their hands. I whole heartedly recommend handiwork in some genre and thank God for giving us His example, saying that His handiwork was ‘very good.’ Thanks for the reminder!

Rosy says:

I am a highly visual person when it comes to learning something new and so if I don’t have someone to show me, I am lost! The other thing is having time to perfect the newly learned skill so that it sticks in my brain until next time!

Karen says:

What I find most challenging about handiwork is finding the time to do it. There are always rooms to be cleaned, laundry to be done, school to be taught, errands to be done… when it’s all said and done, I find it hardest to find time to do it.

Karla says:

Hello, I think a dvd on crocheting is a good idea. I have a hard time just looking at pictures in a book on the very subject and it tends to not turn out very well.

Thanks for giving us a chance to enter.

Ilissa H. says:

In the past I have tried to learn to crochet and have found it very difficult. I find it most difficult learning handiwork on my own from a book. I find it easiest if someone tries to teach me one-on-one. Thanks!

Lisa says:

What I find most challenging especially with crocheting is finding someone who is left-handed to teach me. I think that even watching someone who is left-handed would be helpful….maybe the fact that I can’t find anyone who is could be an indication that left handedness might not lend itself to crocheting. I hope not!

Maybe a great DVD would be just the answer!

Lisa

Sandy says:

Time… that’s probably the biggest challenge at this point in my life. When I do have the time, I learn much better when someone is walking me though whatever it is I’m trying to learn. I would love for all my girls to learn more skills to do with their hands. Mom’s not likely to teach them how to crochet, so a DVD would be such a blessing! Thanks for the giveaway!

Sandy says:

Oh… and I posted info about the giveaway on my blog as well. Thanks again!

Bethany B says:

My brother was just saying this week that he’d like to learn to crochet. I’d love to win this DVD for him.

I posted a link on my blog.

Tonie M. says:

I learned to crochet as a little girl, but have forgotten everything but how to make a chain. My girls love to make chains too but there is so much more to it. This would be a great tool to have!! I have 4 girls and they are getting old enough to appreciate these things. I want them to learn to be frugal and crafty so they can support their own household one day. It is cool to add to the income with something that can keep you at home as well.

I am adding a link to my website.

Thanks for this opportunity.

Bethany says:

The most challenging part for me is not having some one that can show me how it is done. Reading directions from a book just never works.
Thank you for the chance to win the dvd!

Elizabeth says:

Thank you for hosting this contest. My daughter and I would really enjoy winning the DVD.