13. Learning Environment

13. Learning Environment

Where do you learn best? When I think of cherished learning spaces I think about my primary school; the Isleburgh Community Centre in Shetland where I’ve taught + learned at Shetland Wool Week, and my studios in Reading and now here in St. Leonards-on-Sea: The KNITSONIK School HQ. I also think about the old red sofa in Reading where I worked all the swatches for my Sourcebook, learning how to turn everyday life into stranded colourwork. My optimal learning environment includes a comfy chair, nice light (I’ve put diffusion fabric over the window which I love), peace and quiet, my favourite coffee mug and coffee, a playlist with no lyrics (LoFi, study beats etc.)

Nothing makes me happier than a nice clear table, though it is a constant job to try and maintain this!
Just now, my lovely table is covered, for example, in the knitted speakers which I am currently repairing (more of this later).

I quite like other people in my learning space, but must confess that I do not enjoy group tasks. I like one-on-one conversations for working through ideas.

As a kid in Brownies, my happiest memory is of achieving my artist badge. Deputy Owl (or was it Brown Owl?) made me sit in the kitchen and draw a spider plant that was on top of a filing cabinet. I could hear everyone else playing in the hall. It was a comfort to be near them but alone, deeply absorbed in my task of trying to place and position each leaf of the spider plant on my piece of paper. I love spider plants, but especially since that early learning experience and its happy associations.

In primary school, while studying planets, Mrs Jenkins let me go off alone + make the surface of Mars with papier mache, paint + lentils. It was a joy to explore how to create the pock-marked planetary surface we had studied in photos and to try and mix the signature reds of MARS.

When I lived in Oxford, Liz Fiander ran some legendary felt-making sessions in Aylesbury where I learnt loads about wool. We’d chat at the start about my plans for the session, then I’d just get on with it, enjoying the presence of others, but deeply absorbed in my task.

At Shetland Wool Week one of my best learning experiences was pin-whittling with Cecil Tait; I was so happy with my bit of wood and shaping it. Thanks to my KNITSONIK Bullet Journal and the notes I made at the time, I know the wood I used was from an old organ in Burra; was given to Cecil by Donna Smith’s dad, and is from a walnut tree. Hurrah for messy notes and keeping records.

What is your preferred / optimal learning environment? Who is there? How does it sound? What is the light like? What comforting objects or useful tools do you enjoy having in that space?