My Affair with Martin Storey

First time experiences are so often memorable -- and not just the big moments, but small-scale triumphs as well, like roasting a turkey, fixing the sink, rolling out a a pie crust, or repairing a bicycle tire. 

Rowan Softknit Cotton

As a child you leave these matters to the grown-ups and as a teen you start building some basic skills. But if you sew you still might leave those difficult buttonholes to your Mom. Or you might delegate the use of the power drill to your brother, defer to your Dad on the fallen bookshelf, or ask your sister to wire your sound system. 

"Killarney" by Martin Storey

And that only covers the household.

Let's take sports and recreation. Whether child or adult, you may learn to ride a bike, swim the backstroke, ace an overhead tennis serve, ski parallel, paddle a kayak or master a back walkover--all of which I've loved. 

Rowan Big Wool cowl

But who can say what is the tipping point that leads you to step up to the more challenges and advance your skills? 

It's a wonderful thing to go ahead and master the butterfly, add more powerful software programs to your toolkit, or perfect a sublime chocolate cake. 

"Fiona" by Martin Storey. Rowan Baby Alpaca DK. 

I can remember the very day I first mastered elbow stand in yoga class and the first time that I stayed in a long head balance. I remember the joy of stepping from the cliff wall and rappelling down my first rock face.

"Bonnie" by Martin Storey. Rowan Wool Cotton.

What makes you decide to rise from the bench and get off the sidelines? What drives you to take things to the next level in everyday pursuits?  

Glass bead embellishment

And who? Because there is almost always a partner, teacher or coach. That person leads you onward, injects you with enthusiasm, and, most of all, arms you with confidence.

In knitting, that next level for me was cabling, sometimes known as Aran knitting. Knitting gorgeous, perfect, complex cables in stunning patterns was always the territory of my mother and grandmother. It was an entirely different matter altogether, a whole new complicated skill. 

Something I never thought I could do.

And then, in the Liberty of London store on Regent Street I discovered British knitwear designer Martin Storey, and I was smitten. That was my tipping point.  

I jumped into the deep end of the pool and started swimming.