What everybody wants...
This is one project where the bind-off is definitely not the last step. In its un-blocked state, this is too small to be of any use, even as a kerchief. This one needs “aggressive blocking” to take its rightful shape. The way the fiber behaves, I have a sense it’s going to take the blocking beautifully. Those eyelet rows will open up as the stockinette lays out flat and the bind off edge gains definition.
Earlier this week I “auditioned” for a speakers’ critique group I wanted to join as I seek to ramp up my public speaking career. It’s a fine organization, but the mutual critiquing of each other’s presentations means I’ll spend three hours of sitting and listening twice a month. Sitting and listening. Not my strength—I’m far too fidgety for long lecture/meeting scenarios. And yet, I felt I could benefit a great deal from joining this group.
What did I do? As I listed my qualifications and skills, I also asked, politely and professionally, that I be allowed to bring my knitting. I explained that if I am knitting, they will get the best of my attention. I told them what I tell every presenter: “I’m not knitting because you bore me or I think you’re wasting my time, I’m knitting to help me focus my concentration on you.”
Isn’t that what every speaker wants? Isn’t that the exact opposite of what normally happens? You know what I mean—people tune out after 20 minutes and check their phones or tablets, thinking the speaker doesn’t see. Come on, we see. No presenter wants to look out and see what, way back, we used to call “the Blackberry prayer”: head down, hands in lap, but typing, not praying.
They said yes. I joined the group. Knitting will get done, speaking will gain strength. Everybody wins!
No comments:
Post a Comment