Learning New Things Builds Resilience — and Hope

Plus a lesson from my Goat Tubing . . .

There are weeks when a knitting project is just a knitting project. And then there are weeks when it turns into something bigger.

One of the best ways I’ve found to build resilience is by learning new things. Every time we try a new stitch, a new pattern, or a new technique, we practice patience, problem-solving, and confidence. And that carries far beyond our knitting. Each time we have a Learn to Knit class, I stop by and congratulate them on learning something new. How many adults put themselves in a position of trying a new thing and not being great at it to start?

I love to celebrate and recognize all of us taking on a new challenge. Like me starting a business in my late 50s! In this role I often feel like a weeble, remember "weebles wobble but the don't fall down"? A busted ball winder? A broken internet connection? A few slow sales months? Lots of wobbling going on but we get ourselves righted and happily go on. 

Lately, I’ve been working on a piece that’s teaching me a brand-new technique. It’s the kind of project that makes you pause, unknit, try again, watch a video, mutter a little, and then — suddenly — it clicks. And in that moment, you don’t just have a new skill. You have proof that you can figure things out, even when they feel awkward at first.

That’s resilience.

In a world that feels uncertain more often than not, learning something new is a quiet but powerful way to build steadiness. Each new stitch, each new pattern, each small “aha” moment teaches patience, flexibility, and confidence. And those lessons stay with us long after the project leaves our needles.

That’s one of the reasons we love beginner-friendly kits, clear and thoughtful patterns, and tools that make learning easier. They’re not just products on a shelf — they’re invitations to try, to grow, and to surprise yourself. Try out yarns and fibers that are new to you too.

Learning together builds community resilience, too. Whether you can come in and take a class, or are trying one of our team’s projects. that we share on our Facebook Lives and our YouTube channel.

It's important to take care of your tools or they can't help you - I kept my Goat Tubing, great for trying on your garments and reducing disappointment, in my notion bag instead of its tin. Now it's brittle and inflexible, not what we want in our tools, or in ourselves.. I thought that was a great metaphor for this message in resiliency

Whether you’re tackling your very first project or stretching into a new technique, know this: every time you learn something new, you’re building resilience and building hope. One stitch at a time.

Our world needs you resilient, strong and hopeful.