YouTube is what I’m talking about. Those of us who grew up before the internet existed, do marvel at the miracle of this technology. The first personal computers came around while I was in junior high but the world wide web as we know it didn’t exist in any useable fashion until I was out of college. I wrote my masters thesis using sticky notes and index cards though I used a computer for word processing.
Shortly thereafter, the world changed. And now we can teach ourselves how to fix a leaky toilet by watching YouTube videos. I love this aspect of the internet, though a plumber might prefer I couldn’t replace my toilet innards myself.*
Rebecca Mezoff, It was a Strawberry Mango Daiquiri (in process). www.tapestryweaving.com
YouTube is something of a miracle. Sure, it is full of misinformation, but if it can teach me to fix my leaky toilet, it can also help me learn the kitchener stitch in knitting** or how to decide what tapestry yarn to purchase.
And of course it isn’t YouTube that is teaching me but the smart people who are making videos about how to do these things and uploading them. In some respects I’m trusting the algorithms and if someone who has a fantastic set of photography videos and a high ranking suddenly makes a toilet fixing video and they’re wrong about their method, I might regret trusting the photographer-turned-plumber with my attention. But generally, the hive that is the world wide web does a pretty good job ranking the content that is going to work for me.
My own YouTube channel is of course all about tapestry weaving. I am slowly building a broader collection of videos there and I invite you to take a look. Please do subscribe so you’ll know when the next new video comes out.
The latest addition is a channel trailer to welcome those of you new to my space and to tapestry weaving. The video also includes a short demonstration of tapestry weaving. You can watch it below or click over to YouTube to see it.
There are many reasons to weave tapestry from wanting to use it as your primary art medium to having a wonderful hobby to pursue while at home or traveling. Tapestry weaving allows us to express ourselves using the most seductive art medium ever: yarn.
*And the first leaky toilet video that insisted I had to take the toilet tank off was clearly wrong and I had to ask my dad… after which I did further googling and realized no, it was not necessary to take the tank off. Dad’s are still very useful especially where toilet-related self-confidence is involved. Even when you’re 48 and run your own business and just published a book. Toilets are necessary but since they upgraded the insides, a little less familiar.
**Repeatedly it turns out. I think I’ve finally got it, but it took years of watching YouTube videos about how to do it.