Thursday, April 11, 2013

A silly thought.

I was writing up a short list of the friends I mention most often on this blog. (You can see this list on the right sidebar now.) Since they're recurring characters, so to speak, I figured that there should be some reference point so that I don't feel like I need to periodically explain who everyone is. If you're on the list and object to how I've characterized you, please let me know!

Anyway, I've been playing some Star Wars: The Old Republic recently. And while I was trying to figure out how best to describe my friends in a handful of words, I started thinking about how, just maybe, knitters train each other like Sith masters and apprentices.

Think about it. The master usually chooses who is worthy of being taught, but in some cases a particularly precocious or determined student may pledge herself to the service of a master. In my own experience, I might share techniques or tips with all sorts of knitters regardless of skill level, but there is only one new knitter (at a time) whose training I feel personally responsible for, and only one more-established knitter I consider to have overseen mine. The master and apprentice usually pursue separate projects. In addition, the master isn't required to teach everything systematically and methodically from the very basics; rather, the master provides encouragement and inspiration (and sometimes adjustments of worldview), and the responsibility for going forth and learning is on the apprentice.

Of course, the whole "eventually surpass and kill your master" thing is a minor snag in the comparison. I have absolutely no desire to harm my knitting master, who is a lovely and delightful person. (Although she's never shown me her stash, and has therefore never put temptation in my path.)

For the purposes of my sidebar I use the Jedi analogues because I think the terms are easier to recognize. But I'm not sure which side fits the relationships that teaching knitting produces more accurately. What do you think? Are you a Light Side or a Dark Side Knitter? Are you strong in the Force Stash? Have you ever had a Padawan or a Sith Master? Can you create a yarn version of the Jedi or Sith codes?

(Come to the Knit Side. We have Malabrigo.)

8 comments:

  1. I've mostly tried to teach other people to knit systematically, in a knitting club I started in high school and in a class I taught this summer. But I learned exactly through that padawan model you mention, not really being instructed but having the information available, from my mom. Though she also taught one of my sisters in exactly the same way at about the same time. And I've definitely surpassed her. So ... shrug??? I don't really know Star Wars well enough to make the right analogies. To me this seems more like Star Wars borrowing a familial, mother-to-daughter kind of learning and teaching.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's interesting. My grandmother and then my mother taught me the basics, but I credit Shoshana for giving me actual inspiration and the impetus to grow. Aside from your systematic teaching experiences, have you also served as mentor for someone individually?

      Delete
  2. ~blinks in surprise~ So, I like that I am the Jedi Master, because this way I am not in danger now that you have surpassed me. (Have you SEEN the beaded thing you made?!)

    Personally, I thought it was more like a drug dealer getting you addicted to a thing, only much healthier and better for society. ~nods lots~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I thought the "yarn = drugs" metaphor was a little overused, and also harmful to yarn's reputation. "Yarn = the Force" gets a whole new segment of society to sit up and notice.

      Delete
  3. Heehee, super cute post! I'm certainly "strong in the stash" (best. thing. ever). Now the question on my mind is how do you find the time to play video games as a grad student? Because I haven't been able to pull it off, even with the temptation of Bioshock Infinite.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mostly, I make time for it. Until just a few months ago, when I joined the crafternoon group, every single one of my friends was in a different state, and most of them several timezones away. MMOs are how we do things together, and so gaming was the only way I had any social interaction outside of the classroom.

      Delete