I like being a beginner. It's a unique time in the journey of learning - everything is a curiosity and an exploration. Each new thing you learn is a little thrill, a win you can celebrate. You don't yet know how much you don't know. You don't know the rules, which means you aren't restricted by them, and the possibilities are wide open. 

On the flip side, the things that make the beginning wonderful can also be what make it stressful. If everything is so wide open, how do you know where to start? How do you figure out what you need to learn? What should you focus on? And once you start finding out all of the things you don't know, it can seem overwhelming instead of exciting. 

So how do you make sure your learning is a positive experience? Here are some things I've learned about learning that have helped me enjoy being a beginner weaver - I hope they help you, too.

Try not to compare your beginner's work to the work of established artists who do this full time. I really like finding inspiration in other artists' work. It's neat to see how many different techniques and approaches there can be in weaving! Let yourself be inspired, but don't fall into the trap of comparing their work to your own. 

Get comfortable with not knowing. Learning journeys often go through the four stages of competence. The second stage of this is conscious incompetence, when you start realizing how much there is to know about weaving - and how little of it you actually know. It's when you start to recognize the mistakes you're making. And frankly, it can feel awful.

Try not to let it feel bad! Accept that it's a common part of learning we all go through, and that making mistakes is one of the ways you learn to do better.

Find the learning opportunities in your work. As a beginner, sometimes I'll make a weaving that I don't really like - but I don't really know why. Instead of shrugging it away or letting it bring me down, I try to figure out what feels off about it. Is the pattern uneven? Is it too symmetrical, or not symmetrical enough? Does the color palette need work? Is the ratio of fringe to weaving off? Learning to think critically about your art is a useful skill to build.

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Embrace being a beginner. Enjoy the freedom of exploration. Lead with your curiosity, search for inspiration, and use your mistakes as learning opportunities. I can't wait to see what you make!