Mine neither, fortunately. In my last job when I did admin for a science organisation my boss was fond of saying "it's OK,.no one will die". Even after some monumental screwups - not mine fortunately 🤣
Wow! What a fascinating insight! I’m in the middle of a course at work where we’ve talked about a similar concept of interrupting our thought patterns so that we can make a choice about taking action, rather than just reacting, but hadn’t heard of ‘sit on your hands’ absolutely brilliant. I’ll be taking this little nugget into my work and my creativity. Great article 💛
Very wise - and it applies to printmaking too. I am getting better about walking out of the studio and closing the door when things start going pear-shaped, and usually a solution comes to me. In the past I have been like Manuel charging around the Fawlty Towers kitchen shouting 'Fire' while spreading it further, though in my case the flames were ink.
So glad I read this yesterday - made a mess of my WIP last night and as I was about to frog it all, I remembered these words and literally put down my needles and went to bed. Building the courage to come back to it 😬
I'm really starting to embrace this practice. It's not even a conscious decision anymore. Sometimes I just feel something isn't right so I put it down and let my subconscious take over. Then in a day or two I pick it back up again and figure out what the problem is and how to resolve it, usually when I'm a lot calmer.
It's so helpful isn't it. I love that you do it proactively too - taking a step back if you sense something is going awry. That's definitely something I should work on.
I love this. Especially since yesterday I frogged several rows of crochet on a sweater and then realized I had miscounted on the dark yarn. Ugh but I always think it’ll. Work out no matter what
Thank you for this post. I’m having to stop and rethink how I knit and spin. I had reverse shoulder replacement surgery on my left shoulder 4 weeks ago. My physical therapist discovered that the way I’m curving my shoulder when I knit or spin is causing harm to my healing process. So I need to “sit on my hands” while we figure out another way for me to position my hands and back. It is especially important as I’m right-handed and I’m scheduled to have the same surgery on my right shoulder in November. So I’m thinking I’ll take half of the time between now and November to come up with new ways to knit and spin and spend the second half of that time reeducating my body. Sounds like a plan to me!
Fruity knitting recently did an interview with a German occupational therapist who gave all sorts of tips, might be worth a look. Also there a book by Carson Demer in which he talks about posture for knitting.
As I read this piece, I thought of Tom Hanks in the Apollo movie, trying with his team, to solve their problem in outer space. Yes, I have made mistakes that needed “time”. Sitting on my hands is good advice. However, it took me time to learn it.
I am so relieved that I know that no one will die when I experience a "critical situation" in my knitting!! This is sage advice Louise and so helpful. Leaving a mistake alone and coming back to it is something I too practice. A fabulous read, thank you!
Fascinating! I wrote about the value of ‘make time to save time’ yesterday and I love this insight into the idea of sitting on in your thoughts before acting!
Before I graft a sock toe together, I let it sit at least overnight. That way I can be sure that it is the right fit. That I haven't yanked on it in my haste. It's saved me several times.
So are we all the same little robots? I think not. I certainly know people who have acted brilliantly in a crisis. And of course, other who have no clue but may have other worthy qualities like knowing how to walk a baby to sleep.
Absolutely - we are all different, with our own agency and free will. But this widely practiced training recognises that we all fundamentally have the same primitive, reptilian brain. Our amygdala responds first, our higher brain responds second. "Sit on your hands" recognises this fundamental neurological difference between the two, to allow time for the best course of action to be agreed upon.
Loved this and could relate to astronauts squirming in their space boots over a critical decision… though mine are actually rarely critical 😅
Mine neither, fortunately. In my last job when I did admin for a science organisation my boss was fond of saying "it's OK,.no one will die". Even after some monumental screwups - not mine fortunately 🤣
Wow! What a fascinating insight! I’m in the middle of a course at work where we’ve talked about a similar concept of interrupting our thought patterns so that we can make a choice about taking action, rather than just reacting, but hadn’t heard of ‘sit on your hands’ absolutely brilliant. I’ll be taking this little nugget into my work and my creativity. Great article 💛
You're very welcome. I find stuff like this absolutely fascinating - anything to do with how our brains work is just amazing.
Very wise - and it applies to printmaking too. I am getting better about walking out of the studio and closing the door when things start going pear-shaped, and usually a solution comes to me. In the past I have been like Manuel charging around the Fawlty Towers kitchen shouting 'Fire' while spreading it further, though in my case the flames were ink.
Oh no, that does paint a very clear mental image unfortunately 🤣
So glad I read this yesterday - made a mess of my WIP last night and as I was about to frog it all, I remembered these words and literally put down my needles and went to bed. Building the courage to come back to it 😬
I'm really starting to embrace this practice. It's not even a conscious decision anymore. Sometimes I just feel something isn't right so I put it down and let my subconscious take over. Then in a day or two I pick it back up again and figure out what the problem is and how to resolve it, usually when I'm a lot calmer.
It's so helpful isn't it. I love that you do it proactively too - taking a step back if you sense something is going awry. That's definitely something I should work on.
Excellent advice. I should probably frame this!
Louise, the 'sit on my hands' policy is brilliant – I'm definitely going to try it next time I'm tempted to fix things in a frenzy.
I'm an inveterate meddler - I just can't stop myself jumping in. And this really does help.
Wow did that hit home for me ! I wish I had known this years ago.
I love this. Especially since yesterday I frogged several rows of crochet on a sweater and then realized I had miscounted on the dark yarn. Ugh but I always think it’ll. Work out no matter what
Nooo...that's so frustraing. Dark yarn does love to try our patience.
Thank you for this post. I’m having to stop and rethink how I knit and spin. I had reverse shoulder replacement surgery on my left shoulder 4 weeks ago. My physical therapist discovered that the way I’m curving my shoulder when I knit or spin is causing harm to my healing process. So I need to “sit on my hands” while we figure out another way for me to position my hands and back. It is especially important as I’m right-handed and I’m scheduled to have the same surgery on my right shoulder in November. So I’m thinking I’ll take half of the time between now and November to come up with new ways to knit and spin and spend the second half of that time reeducating my body. Sounds like a plan to me!
Oh heavens. It is a real, literal case of sitting on your hands.
I hope you manage to come up with a solution that works for you.
P.S. I’m open to suggestions. If you or anyone reading this knows some different ways to knit or spin that might help, please let me know.
Fruity knitting recently did an interview with a German occupational therapist who gave all sorts of tips, might be worth a look. Also there a book by Carson Demer in which he talks about posture for knitting.
As I read this piece, I thought of Tom Hanks in the Apollo movie, trying with his team, to solve their problem in outer space. Yes, I have made mistakes that needed “time”. Sitting on my hands is good advice. However, it took me time to learn it.
Sage advice
I am so relieved that I know that no one will die when I experience a "critical situation" in my knitting!! This is sage advice Louise and so helpful. Leaving a mistake alone and coming back to it is something I too practice. A fabulous read, thank you!
Fascinating! I wrote about the value of ‘make time to save time’ yesterday and I love this insight into the idea of sitting on in your thoughts before acting!
Oh absolutely, I love how we are thinking along the same lines on this.
Before I graft a sock toe together, I let it sit at least overnight. That way I can be sure that it is the right fit. That I haven't yanked on it in my haste. It's saved me several times.
Also, errors seem clearer the next day.
So are we all the same little robots? I think not. I certainly know people who have acted brilliantly in a crisis. And of course, other who have no clue but may have other worthy qualities like knowing how to walk a baby to sleep.
Absolutely - we are all different, with our own agency and free will. But this widely practiced training recognises that we all fundamentally have the same primitive, reptilian brain. Our amygdala responds first, our higher brain responds second. "Sit on your hands" recognises this fundamental neurological difference between the two, to allow time for the best course of action to be agreed upon.