[Nfb-krafters-korner] Friday's question: how to learn a new craft

[Rovig, Lorraine]

Dear Fellow Krafters,
I prefer learning from a living person over trying to figure out a craft
from a book or online information.  After I get my hands into a craft
and my brain knowing a bit about how it works, then I can get some
useful tips and can understand the directions in written materials about
a craft.  Therefore, when I want to learn a new craft, I talk to my
friends in the Society for Creative Anachronism because someone always
seems to be excellent at doing whatever and are very willing to teach it
for free or just the cost of the materials.  

I've had lessons in making shoes from leather (14th century style),
Viking wire weaving, jewelry making, molding shapes from almond paste
dough, making beads with a blow torch and a stick of colored glass,
sewing garb, knitting, making lace with bobbins, making my own early
period fitted linen stockings, Bayeau tapestry embroidery, medieval
dancing (every first Friday of the month), and other fun stuff.  I know
some of these crafts now, but do not know how to do all this stuff well
yet, so if I wanted to become expert I'd have to take another lesson in
that particular craft.  Some crafts, trying it once is enough to get the
hang of it; some crafts I only work off and on; and some I may come back
to later (like Nal binding); and a few I'd say, one time is plenty.  The
SCA group here in Baltimore is a fine group of talented people, very
welcoming to everyone.  But the SCA is very grass roots so whoever the
members are in your neighborhood may be cool with teaching a blind
person or may need some education first.  You may remember that I am a
sighted member of the NFB. A blind friend of mine has gone with me a
time or two and had fun relearning how to knit (having done it many
years ago as a child) and, another time, learning how to turn a metal
hanger into a clock pin.  The SCA teachers in my group had no problem
figuring out how to teach and were totally normal and nice in their
interaction with my friend.  I've gone with another blind friend to an
event camping overnight.  Again, she was treated as anyone would wish to
be treated.  

To find your local group, go to www.sca.org and if you can't figure out
who to contact, email me on this list that you want help and I'll send
my private home email address to you.  I do not want to broadcast it in
this public forum. 
Lorraine

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces+lrovig=nfb.org at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces+lrovig=nfb.org at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Blindhands at aol.com
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 4:15 PM
To: nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Friday's questions

It is only a little late for our questions this week.  At least I sent
it on Friday!
 
I would like to know where you find out and go about learning how to do
a new craft?  Do you take classes?  Do you learn from someone  else?  Do
you research on the computer and delve into it on your own?
 
If you take a class, how are you accepted in the class with a sighted
teacher or sighted students?  If you learn from someone else how do you
find that someone?  If you jump into it on your own where do you find
good  verbal directions?
 
Joyce



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