In February, I set up a stall at an event, where a foreigner visited and inquired if I could teach macramé at her home. I happily agreed, but since she was expecting a baby soon, she mentioned she would contact me after her delivery.
Not long after, she reached out, expressing her interest. I provided her with all the details, and she was happy with the plan. We coordinated a suitable date and scheduled the event. That’s when I learned she was from Germany.
The program was set from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, covering the creation of a plant hanger and a key tag. I planned to arrive early, had breakfast on the way, and reached her home before nine. Kim welcomed me warmly into her beautiful home. I greeted her and her little one, who looked like an absolute doll. I quickly set up my workshop area and awaited the participants.
Once everyone had settled in, we introduced ourselves, and I discovered the participants were from various countries, including Germany, the U.S., Belgium, and one from India. For most of them, this was their first experience with macramé. Some hadn’t even heard of it when Kim mentioned the workshop, with a couple having to Google it. One participant even thought it was related to origami!
We started with the key tag and then moved on to the plant hanger. The conversations were lively and enjoyable, and we even had a little boy joining in the fun. As everyone worked at their own pace, I moved around the room, checking progress and offering encouragement.
As the session progressed, one participant asked if I found macramé therapeutic. I shared that macramé demands my full concentration, allowing me to focus solely on the knots and set aside all other thoughts, which I find incredibly therapeutic. She agreed, noting how the repetitive nature of the knots had a calming effect on her. As the session continued, the participants realized that if they didn’t focus on each knot, mistakes were inevitable. While the conversations flowed, everyone became more attentive when knotting, ensuring each knot was done correctly.
By 1:00 PM, most participants had completed their plant hangers. We waited for the last few to finish up, then gathered for a group picture.
Conducting a macramé workshop is more challenging than it might appear. As a macramé master, it requires intense focus and patience to guide everyone effectively. It reminds me of the days when I used to conduct soft skill training. However, to be honest, those programs didn’t tire me out as much as these macramé sessions do. Focusing on each participant’s work and ensuring everyone receives the attention they need can be exhausting.
But in the end, the rewards are worth it. One participant, who initially found macramé challenging and wasn’t sure it was her thing, was the first to send me a picture of her plant hanger proudly displayed on her curtain rod. Receiving happy messages from all the participants truly made my day. I look forward to conducting more macramé sessions in the future.
-Archana Harish
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