Sharing the knit - the joy of teaching

I'm a stitch stage...

That means I am a volunteer knitting teacher at Stitch London meetings.

I've just been asked why I volunteer in this way - what do I gain from teaching others - especially when I could just enjoy a chat, a drink and cake and of course some knitting. It did give me pause for thought but really it's about sharing something that makes me happy.

Being a volunteer teacher is about passing on a skill that I really value.

I love knitting for many reasons: 

• the range of beautiful materials I can work with
• the delight at a project growing; in my case this is often lace where there is something really special as a cloud of delicate fabric sprouts from my needles
• the beautiful and individual items I can create that are personal to me or others
• the relaxing and therapeutic effects
• the fact that it brings me into a community of creative and interesting people who want to share their passions and knowledge.

I teach because I want other people to have access to those great experiences and to show that by learning a few techniques a beginner can start to create something that is real - scarf, an iPod cover, a mini sheep.

And because I love the joy on a beginner's face when they achieve an inch or two of "actual knitting".

It's hard to pick out a best moment because so often people are excited and wave their knitting like a flag in excitement but I have been hugged by a returning learner because they'd knitted a gift for a family member since I'd first helped them.

And finally I teach because I can - I am able to introduce someone to knitting so that in a couple of hours they are beginning to find their knitting rhythm and to understand how knitting works, how the string becomes fabric.

If you want to find out more about learning in London or being a stitch sage click here