Touchy feely

Back when I was studying secondary education, I vividly remember when I learned that visual and audio learning styles were not the only options. Enter tactile-kinetic. One identifying question was, “When deciding how to spell a word do you a) write it to see if it looks right b) spell it out loud to see if it sounds right c) write it to see if it feels right?”

This was an Aha! moment for me because I will often use my finger to write on my leg or other surface to see if a spelling feels right. Once the penny dropped, I noticed myself showing tactile-kinetic preferences everywhere. I fidget with my fingers and can’t resist fiddling and playing with things.

In this context, no wonder I can’t put down my crochet hook, but it goes beyond that. The touch and feel of the yarn itself is like balm to my touchy feely soul. Some are fuzzy and funky, playful and poppy, or durable and practical (looking at you, my machine washable wonders - mwah). It means yarn shops are seductive and the whole experience is an indulgence for the senses.

In general, I’m all about natural fibers. Wool, cotton, alpaca, silk, modal and mohair. But there are times for acrylic. Sometimes, it’s just about taking what’s in front of you and making it work.

I’m very spoiled at the moment because I got some birthday gifts that enabled me to triple my stash. Now im trying to marry my new found loves with ideas that have been percolating (FYI - I’m an impulsive decision maker rather than a planner). Stay tuned - I can’t wait to share some projects that I haven’t even thought of yet.

Do you feel like your leaning styles and personality preferences show in your creative pursuits?
What are your favorite yarns/fibers to work with?