S2 E3: Test Knitters, Designers and Rocket Launches

This episode is an interesting mix of ideas.

You may not think that each part of the episode works together, but surprisingly, if you join me today you will hear how a unique feature of my island home ties in rather nicely into the idea of test knitters, designers and the test knitting opportunity.

How do all these work together to lift up our knitting community?

Well, have a listen!

Once you have given a listen, feel free to head over to the blog to read and see more!

Transcript Below:

Well, friend, I am thankful that you are here today. Joining me, Mel in Alaska. I am so happy that we are sitting here together for Episode Three. I am knitting on something, actually, as I'm talking to you, and I'm going to share more about it with you as the podcast goes on. But first, I want to talk about something that is really interesting here in Kodiak, Alaska. I think it's something that you may be surprised Kodiak has here. And it is the it used to be called the Kodiak Launch Complex. And the reason I'm bringing this up is because just last week, my husband and I drove to the end of the road with our dog, Sasha. And the Pacific spaceport complex, which it is called now is here. And it's at the end of the road as you go out towards the sag shack, and you go past surfers beach, and you're out there by fossils. And it's just this interesting part of Kodiak.

So before we get into the knitting, I'd like to share with you about the Pacific Spaceport Complex just a little bit. And, surprisingly, it completely ties in to what I want to talk about today. So I hope you have your knitting handy, and you have something to drink and enjoy maybe a hot cup of tea or a nice cup of coffee. And that our time together now can be something of a learning conversation between the two of us. And my friend, in order for it to be a conversation, I need to hear from you. It's all fun for you to hear me in your ears. But you realize that, as I'm talking to you, I'm eager to connect with you. So in the shownotes of today's podcast, you can find the link to encourage better, which is my blog, where this episode is housed under the podcast drop down, menu choice. And you'll see pictures from the outing that I took with my husband and the dog, and how beautiful it is out there, as well as some images of this test net that I'm going to refer to. So here is the deal. The Pacific spaceport complex is tucked out in an area of Kodiak that is literally at the end of the road. You drive out of my driveway, and you make a right and you head in through town which we live in town. As you're driving through the town and out you go towards the Coast Guard Base. And you just keep going. You go out past Bells Flats, and you keep going.

You drive past where I took you camping, if you visit the blog, you'll see a camping trip we took last year. And when you get out to where the road tees, this one road of our town, you can turn left and go to Chiniak which is beautiful. Or you can turn right and go to Passagshak, which is beautiful. Definitely click the link in the show notes to see what I mean when I say beautiful all the way out at the end of the road you've driven along the coast and you see the ocean you've driven up and through and around and twisting roads with beautiful views. You see the hairy Highland cows, and Buffalo and horses, and trees and trees and trees and rivers. Just expanses of ocean unlike you've ever seen from top of the mountain moments to along the edge at the sea level. And as you go through all of this, you wind up at the end of the road where they do test launches. It was a dual use facility as far as I understand where the military would use it, as well as commercial places would use it. And something that's really interesting is it's it's right here on our island and the launching area will it specializes in satellite and missile technology and the launching of things that support that and they are Always in the newspaper, you know, it's it's a part of our Kodiak Island. community. They employ, I think 40, maybe 50 workers, it could be more now. But the idea that something that high tech, sending things into space is right here on my island. Last year, we were at was in September last year, my husband and I were at the beach, out there. And as we went out, and we're driving out there was, it was a clear day. And it was really strange. I think it was September 11, just because it might not have been, but I think it was September 11. I probably should have double check that. But I was just thinking because of the date, September 11 is just very seared in everyone's memories. But I just remember, I do believe it was September 11, there was an explosion. And it was a fiery explosion as we were out there. And it was it was crisp. A clear day like today The sky is a crisp, clear blue. And yet, you know, the rocket. It lifted up, and it exploded. It was on a lot of people's feeds. And you know, local people shared it the next day, it wasn't on the front page of the newspaper. And you know, headlines like rocket launch failed and test launch didn't work, things like that. And it's just so interesting to know that things like that happen here on my island. So something worth sharing. I'll see if I can get some links and put it on the website for you.

But what I really was thinking about as we went to the beach last week, and I was knitting was the fact that I was knitting, I was doing a test knit. And I was thinking about this rocket launch and their tests. And now sometimes those tests go really well. They shoot those, whatever it is, into space from here on Kodiak Island, and it goes into outer space. And it's there for the world, right? for whatever purpose it is that it serves. And it just kept just recycling through my thoughts about how this test net that I'm doing is well, let me unpack it. And let you see how the two correlate. So I am doing a test net right now. What drew me to this test knit is the fact that because it's a pair of socks, and I know it's so funny, I sand on a sock knitter and I have been knitting socks lately. I've been knitting not pairs, but I have been knitting single socks. But what drew me to this test net is the fact that I really enjoy the designer. Her name is Summer Lee, her brand is Summer Lee Knits. I am not being paid to tell you that. I like her patterns. I like her vibe. I like her attitude. I'm knitting this sock right now as I'm talking to you. And I'm thinking about how I enjoy her. She's a lot of fun. She had a call out for a particular sock called the amber wings sock, which I will put also the hash tag for that. So you can go and explore and look at that. The pattern is not released yet as of today. And the recording of this is you know mid-January to the end of January and 2021. So depending on when you hear it, just keep your eye out for it.

Here's a here's a little chance for you right now. You can win a Summer Lee Knits pattern collection from me. I am excited to share one with you. And here is how you simply leave a five star review along with a written explanation of what makes you happy. When you listen to this podcast. You have to leave a written review because I won't see your name if you don't, and I am going to share someone else's review later on at the end of this podcast and they are today's winner of a collection of socks from summer It during the month, I will randomly draw a reviewer, someone who left a review to win a free sock pattern collection from summer right now, that is the featured pattern that I'm going to be sharing. As it changes, I'll let you know. But right now it's it's a really fun collection of socks, that I have the pattern and I enjoy it. But what's really awesome is all the winners and everyone who leaves a review, whether you're chosen or not, you're going to get entered for a grand prize drawing to win a free year long membership to the knitters project bag collective just for leaving a review. And I'll tell you the winner later on.

But now back to the test knit that I'm doing. And test knitting is the focus. I like community. And if you've known me for any length of time, you probably recognize that now test knit groups, when done properly, can become a terrific source of community for knitters. Now, it does take a little extra work for designers to cultivate that. But the rewarding yield from that work is invaluable. And not just for the merits of the pattern mechanics. But also it becomes it being the test knit group becomes a micro hub where designers can honestly dialogue, learn and grow from feedback, as well as instill confidence into the knitters that are working on the pattern for them right. Now, it's also worth mentioning that investment on the part of the designer can be a problem solving Control Center, kind of like the Space Center, you know, they're shooting something up into space, they have a control center that is handling all the mechanics of it, right? Same thing with a test knit group. So think about it. Let me slide this stitch over for a second. There we go. If the designer invests a little extra energy in explaining steps and methods to those in that group, what has she done? Well, from where I sit what she's done, and I'm going to say she because I'm in this test that I'm going to I'm putting the sheet name to it, it could be a he you can be in a test net group with hate for my my story today on the podcast, she's uh, she, she's developing a skill set for that knitter. Now, that knitter is able to execute that technique properly now, right, which is a definite win for the knitter. That knitter can now help other knitters in the future with this technique, specifically, when knitting this designers pattern,which is another win for the knitter. And it's also a win for the designer, right? The designer has now invested in a person's skill, they've invested in enriching this person's ability to be a better knitter, which is good for other knitters. Because this knitter can share their experience. And I, I stand firmly I want to say I would like to argue the point, but I stand firmly on the belief that when we take time to mentor others and encourage them to success, we not only help them find success and what they're doing, but we are building into those a desire to replicate that. It's not just a ripple effect. It's a value effect. When you take the time, as a knitter who knows something, or a crochet or or a quilter or a spinner. You take that time to invest your knowledge and your understanding in someone else. That value that they feel because you've poured into them as well as the value they realize from being lifted up and educated. Girl boy, man, whoever's listening to this, that valuing just ignites inside of a person, and it makes you want to pass that on to someone else. So it definitely is a win for the designer.

Now, back to the scenario, the knitter knitter is connecting with the designer. And that makes the designer the designer has it just that accessibility to the designer makes their thoughtful approach to the creation that they've made. As well as hopefully the designers nurturing attitude, and willingness to help. Something that becomes something that the testator is going to experience firsthand. And the test knitter can then speak confidently about the designer with real first hand knowledge. That's a huge win for the designer, as the kindness and dedication to the growth of the test knitter has instilled a sense of understanding, of course, but a bit of loyalty to the designer. You know, they've, they've now had a history together of working on a project. If you're a designer, and you're listening to this, don't lose sight of that. When a test knitter can speak confidently about the designer, it's a win for the test knitter because they're being trusted with the behind the scenes in are working. And it's fun. Oh, my goodness, it's fun. It's also something again, that is it's affirms your value. That test knitter knows that they are it's not that they feel but they know that they're a valuable part of the pattern. So what does that do for the designer, my friend, if you're a designer, and you take the time to really mentor your test, knitting group, and really pour into them for that season that they're with you. You now have someone who not only created your pattern, and made something that they are excited about. But they are now invested in the success of that pattern. They're now going to be an ambassador for your pattern, and your brand, your work ethic, and your community building approach. And best of all, when the designer sees the test knitter as a human worth investing in their time, the designers time to train and give attention to the questions that they're asking or an awareness of their struggles, and even coaching on how to respond to the pattern. So the designer can say: Hey, you know, what about this specifically? What are these things? So how do you feel about the way I wrote this? Do you understand this?

When a designer really engages that way, and listens to how they're responding and coaches them through the process of making the pattern better, to maximize the perfecting of it. These thoughtful, mentored engagements, build the test knitter, into a better test knitter. And my friend that helps every one, whether you have never tested it anything, the value of a test knitter is so important for you as a knitter. The test knitter gains useful, valuable skills, and the designer does to the designer learns that serving the test knit group with attention with encouragement, and pouring into them bits of their design process and the story. It teaches the designer, I think, better customer service. And it improves their ability to teach and ultimately design. The key principles I think, to be mindful about in test knitting, whether it is to be a sweater pattern, or I don't know a color work cardigan knit. It could be hand knit socks, or a lace weight shawl, no matter what your test knitt is.

Be willing to learn, both as a designer and as a knitter.

As soon as I switch the button in my thinking process that allows me to see that there are so many ways I can learn the possibilities to me prove a thing. Well, when I flick that switch, it's just the possibilities become magnified, exponentially magnified. I mean, just you're like right now and a gogue. just the sheer number of ways that I can improve, I can speak options I have, I just have to switch the button to let me recognize there's more than one way to think about something, there's more than my way to think about something. And this is not just with my patterns, but with relating to, and encouraging people, as well as in my business. Having a test net, if you will, mentality, actually helped me completely restructure a project that I spent over a year making. Originally, I offered Knitters Project Bag Collective as a course, one that you purchase, and you worked over seven weeks or so just like you would a pattern, right? Like you buy a pattern, you knit it up. And if it's big, you know, if it's a big undertaking, like a sweater, it may actually take seven weeks or more. Only the thing is, I hadn't created a pattern. I had 10 patterns. And I also was teaching organization and mindfulness and knitting everything from yarn for a project to customizing the knitting that you wanted. I was putting my idea out using a template that my knitting korum those that really engaged with my work, oh, they gave me feedback. And I had to flip that switch from, I know what I've built, designed created. To, I know what I've designed and created is worth sharing. Let me listen to those that will be plugging into it. They are seeing it with fresh eyes and a user perspective. So that's the thing that's really worth paying attention to my knitting friend. It is so important to know how to best create a framework for knitters you serve. You may be a designer serving knitters, or a test knitter serving a designer. Either way, allow yourself to know what you know from your side of the needles. And be willing to be humble enough to be taught by those on the other side asto what serves their needs best. And my friend, humbling myself looked like having to work so much harder, creating not a pattern, but rather a structure for a membership. And it was oh my goodness, it was hard work to redo it. And I will say it was a mixed bag of it was a mixed bag of frustration. Kind of like ripping back your knitting.

So here we go. Let's play imagination for a second. Imagine, oh my goodness, imagine that I have just lost track as I'm talking with you and I have just gone on and on. I need to switch colors now. Imagine a lace weight, lace weight color work. A lace weight color work with beads, beads on every single row. Okay, are you imagining this? And let's stretch ourselves and say that this lace weight, lace-work with beads is a cardigain. No, it's a pullover! Now imagine you've been knitting this and knitting this and all that work that goes into the intricacy of knitting a sweater and laceweight yarn, doing lace motif with beads on every single row. And you're an inch from the hem an inch from the hem. Did you hear me my friend? Please visualize this me. This is how I was feeling... an inch from the hem and you realize you've got to rip back to the yoke. It's it's not a pleasant thought. Oh, it is so not a pleasant thought. Test knitters know what it's like to have to rip back and redo. They honestly know that feeling. It's not intentional. It's just it's a work in progress.

And so that's part of signing up to be a test knitter designers of the pattern know what that feels like. And it is a feeling of, it's that feeling of I screwed up. What are they going to think all these other thoughts, but at the end of the moment, at the end of the journey, not only is your thought, Oh, I screwed up, it's, I have to fix it. Now, I have to fix it. Why do we have to fix it? Well, we fix it because we are proud of the work that we create, right? And we want to honor the investment that we began making and see it through to its best self. We want our idea and our dream, our creation, we want that to be worthy of our work.

But also, there's another aspect that we want: others attention. We want their participation.

Now, for me, I'm gonna be real with you. It was the most unfun thing at the time.

I got their feedback:This is was a good idea, a great idea. But the execution, the design the format that you've made it in, nope, doesn't resonate with us. Friend, that was so hard to hear. Luckily, it was said to me by everyone gently and with an eye towards improvement and a heart towards making the creation its best.

So test knitters, be mindful of your critiques. Your words are so weighty to designers that actually care, your suggestions and your ideas to correct problems and catch mistakes. Those can be so useful. So speak up and share. You're helping to build and improve.

Now a side note here, I have to move my I love this sock. Oh my gosh, you guys. Why do you see this sock it is such a mash up of fondness and joy. And I really felt like I was vibing off of summerly I don't know if she's gonna ever listen to this podcast. But summer, I took a detour with these socks. And it's been completely because of you.

So side note here on the test knitters, and me personally, I took Knitters Project Bag, the online course, and I turned it into Knitters Project Bag Collective Membership. It's now a journey, actually an adventure. That's what I call each of the modules. I call them an adventure. And the sole purpose of knitters project bag collective membership is to to begin to gather a systematic approach to really exhausting the joy and the delight and being a mindful knitter aware of the beauty they knit, but also the incredible story of self that they create.

Now, was that hard to fix? Yes, yes, it was.

Did I want to curl up under a rock out of frustration and discouragement? Um, you know, to be honest, and since we are trying to be honest one with another? Yes, I did for about 72 hours, I just was miserable.

But then I realized, I've only failed if I stop.

So I got up and got to work, and got to re work and work, work, work, work work. And was it worth it? Well, I'm gonna let you tell me. If you are on my email list, and you have a history of engaging with me, you've probably already seen by now a special invitation to try out the membership for free.

And when I say “engaging with me”, when you open up your emails from me and you click on things, and you go to different places that the email shares with you, that bumps up your engagement, and it triggers things on the back end of the email platform. And so I know hey, this group of people love when I share stuff with them.

Now, if you haven't seen that email with an invitation to try out knitters project bag collective, for free, do not despair, do not worry, absolutely no worries here, I'm going to be offering it again soon.

So be sure to get on the email list and get connected.

There's some links in the show notes. But now circling back to test sites and rocket launches, and out of this world test knit groups. Whether you're a knitwear designer, or a test knitter, or someone like me, who is also trying to create something to share with our knitting world, consider number one, our investment of time and teaching. Clarify and clarifying the instruction to others, to get them to their next level. It is so valuable, that investment cannot be punctuated enough. Is it hard to invest in others? Yeah, sometimes. But oftentimes it isn't. That just takes being humble and sharing our friend. And that my friend is something I know knitters do really well. So if you're a designer, or you're a test knitter, or you're a knitter that doesn't design and you don't test it, your input in our community is so, so enriching. We can lift up our friends, our patterns, our opportunities. And I think that's so important to recognize you, my friend, my knitting friend, or a powerful human, I'm imagining you like a rocket over at the end of my island, that just shoots up and it glows and brightens the sky as it just lifts off and lifts up. I hope that you see yourself as that too.

Now, before we go, I'm kind of excited, I am going to pull up a a person who is a a person who has left a review, and I'm going to share with you that review and the person who left it because they are going to win this week's pattern collection of socks from Summer Lee Knits, and it's not the Amber Wing one that I'm doing. But I do want to take a second and tell you about this sock. This sock I am knitting in fingering weight yarn, and I should remember the yarn... it is it's Space Cadet yarn. And it's the one that she has it's sock yarn, and it's super sparkly. It's got this stellina in it and it's just beautiful. I don't remember what the base is called. So my main color is this beautiful blue. And my contrast color is gray. And you know how I feel about gray. The sock is really interesting. It starts off with a simple cuff, and then as the cuff transitions into the body, so it is cuff down I know is that not amazing? I'm doing a cuff down sock. Can you hear me? I knit a heel, not an afterthought heel, I started at the cuff and I worked down and I knit a heel. Like on purpose. Anyways, after the cuff right below the cuff is this really fun Latvian braid. I've done Latvian braids before and I just think there are a lot of fun. You knit a little bit and then this really fun motif begins. It's akin to, if you're doing color work, and you have floats that you carry, you generally carry the floats on the wrong side of the pattern or the inside of the pattern. Well, my friend summers design has the floats on the outer part. The pattern explains what these are called. And it explains a little bit about them. And I don't want to give that away. I think that's something that's really interesting about the pattern is how much work she puts into sharing with you about it. I knit all the way down through 1...2...3...4...5...6! of these little dragonflies and girl or boy, there is A heel that I knit! So you have this this heel thing that you're working back and forth. Is that the heel flap? Or do you pick up the stitches for the heel flap, I think you knit the heel flap, and then you turn the heel is what it's called. It was interesting. And I will say, it was not as daunting of a task as I have made it out in my mind to be, which just goes to show that sometimes we just have to do the thing. When I went down the foot of the construction towards the toe, I'm almost to the toe. I decided that no more no more of their really adorable dragonflies because I'm going to wear these I already have the shoes planned in my head and the outfit what I'm wearing these socks with. And so now I'm striping them. It may not sound like the coolest idea ever, but my friend, go and check out the the blog post and see a picture of it.

Okay, now let me read to you the winners comment.

Are you ready?

Okay, you guys. This one makes my throat tight. Because it's so sweet.

Here's the review.

Mr. Rogers of knitting… I'm like looking around who is she talking about? And if she's talking about me, I just, I can't even!

Mel is a warm, welcoming, positive soul who loves to knit and create, but who most of all values others and their unique individuality. She's so encouraging to help you find a path that best suits your own needs and talents. She really is like a Mr. Rogers of knitting.

Pacer Knits, girl! Pacer Knits, you need to contact me at Melissa at encourage better dot com. And let me send you your free pattern bundle. Oh, that's so sweet.

Now, you guys, we could substitute My name for YOU.

You, dear knitter are a warm, welcoming, positive soul who I know loves to knit and create. And I know you value others and their individuality.

And my friend, that's why I shared what I did today.

I think it's so important for us to see the ripple effect and the value effect of being a knitter on purpose.

And I want to just take a second before we go and let you know, if you feel like your knitting doesn't have the purpose that you want. Email me and say Mel, I didn't get your email. I want to try out knitters project by collective and let me let you have a free trial. You may just find that you have more purpose, and more gifting and more amazingly powerful ability to teach yourself and to grow yourself than you ever thought possible. You just need to recognize it. I am nothing special. I just am good at recognizing how special other people are. And you are a special person. I'm delighted and humbled and so thankful that you've joined me today. I look forward to chatting with you again next week. So until then aloha from Alaska, and may joy and happiness follow you around all day long.