30-Day Challenge:: Oops and Sampling

Did I forget to do my entry yesterday? Yikes, minor fail in the 30-day challenge. Well, never mind, I'm back and still committed to the challenge. To tell you the truth, it wasn't that I forgot as I was so busy yesterday that I didn't have a chance to work on it until I came back from my running group around 7 last night and then I was so exhausted from the run it was I all I could do to make dinner and go to bed. It's a good thing I'm a firm believer in the concept that every day is a new opportunity, so back to the original goal I go.
Anyway, one of the things that makes my days so busy is making samples for the classes I teach at Stitch Lab. I really love making the samples because it helps me to imagine the experience my students might have and to think about what points in the process are worth noting and what can be skimmed or skipped over. It's a very different mindset than writing a pattern or tutorial because those are created with the idea that the person following the instructions has as much time to devote to the making as they choose. They could craft the item in one sitting or over the course of days, weeks, or even years if they're fans of amassing UFOs. Writing instructions for a class necessitates condensing that process and determining what must get done in order to bring the item to completion or near completion in the time allotted. It's a different way to teach a technique or project and it requires seeing that project in a new way. It definitely stretches me and takes me a bit out of my comfort zone; a good thing whether you're crafting or just living.