Whether you returned to your painting or left it to beautifully languish, you learned something. Perhaps you remembered that new Lego set needed your attention or your mum invited you to learn to bake cookies. You also likely had plenty of unfinished work lying about as you moved from one creative adventure to the next. More probably you eagerly grabbed a crayon or splashed your brush deep into the water jar and started spreading colours across the paper.

It’s unlikely you stared at those colourful objects, refusing to touch them, wondering if you could create a masterpiece. Think back to the first box of crayons or set of paints you had as a child. And you don’t have to finish every piece you start. Each workshop you do or technique you try helps lay the path for more in-depth work later on. Dabbling is an investment in your creative future. Why not return to that childhood approach of exploration and play for a while? Regardless of whether you’re stitching for fun or on a more dedicated pursuit to find your creative voice, dabbling can get you there.

And it’s more than okay to dabble! That’s how you’ll find out. Like a soon-to-be graduate, we bombard ourselves with questions like ‘what style of textile art do I want to create?’ or ‘which techniques or materials best suit me?’ Instead, we pressure ourselves to commit to a particular endeavor. Unfortunately, as adults starting out on our creative journey (or coming back to it after years of not picking up a needle and thread), we tend to forget the joy and benefits of dabbling. Emphasis was placed on trying out and exploring new things, and little pressure was placed on ‘choosing’ or ‘perfecting’ a particular activity. There was a good reason behind all those options: all that ‘dabbling’ helped us discover our passions and strengths. Arts programs presented both visual and performing opportunities. Sports programs offered a variety of competitive experiences indoors and out. Music programs encouraged us to try out various instruments and vocal singing styles. Especially with non-curricular activities. How being a textile technique butterfly can enhance your practiceĪ key benefit of our early childhood education was the opportunity to try new and different things.

Dabble and stitch