Taking a Step Back

"Take a step back and think."

That's what my professor, Alex Juhasz, suggested I do to finish up the semester. It was during a class dinner for another course I am taking of hers (MCSI: Archive). She suggested I think about my DIY Learning course objectives, and what has changed. What have I done? What have I learned?

To start, I learned I don't need the online communities to be able to create, but they do help. In the end, I found I had to log off Pinterest and YouTube and just do it. I could pin as much as I wanted and watch the same videos or new ones and still I would not be in any better shape to finish the project. There is research and knowledge, and then there is creation.

Online communities are so powerful. Think about #BlackLivesMatter. Imagine the kind of impact a group of individuals was able to create simply by reaching out and starting an Internet movement.

Our lives have changed with the online environment, but the act of creating has not. We use online communities to feel less alone, but when I am knitting a scarf, it does not matter to me if 10 other people have knit this same scarf and taken photos of it and posted them on ravelry. None of that matters during the act of creation.

Before, when I am planning the project, and after, when I am showcasing the project, the online crafters are awesome. They post thoughtful comments and add a +1 to my google post. Which is all well and good, but the gratification has never come from others.

I create so that I feel proud of something I made with my own two hands. Whether other people think it's cool or if I find like-minded individuals-- that is a whole other playing field from the act of creating.

I love the online crafting communities, don't get me wrong. But I have realized that these communities are just that-- communities. They do not hold your individual potential and they cannot cultivate the sense of gratification you reach when you know you have made something all on your own. The act of creating is an individual experience. It can exist in a larger community. You can go out and brag. You can type out the pattern. You can give it away to a catfish you met online. I don't care.

But never forget that crafts are an act of creation. Whatever the book or website that helped you was only a stepping stone. Because YOU were the one who did this. You should be proud, online and offline, in real life and in digital spaces, alone and together.

As always, stay creative.

Much love,
Rebecca "Rivi"

Summary...

Okay. Okay. I got this.

I'm trying to think of the best way to start this post or reflection, because honestly, there's a lot that I've learned. There is a lot to reflect on.

Parks and Recipes: 
This was a fun project. I really enjoyed coming up with ideas for this, and the research I later did on fan art was fascinating. Creating and blogging about these recipes took way longer than planned and did not achieve as attractive of a result as some of my other projects.

Review Video of Circular Knitting Workshop:
This was a hard project to begin but relatively simple to complete. Filming the video itself was pretty fun, and being on camera felt much more natural than I originally thought.

The process of reviewing was interesting, because I was able to share all my thoughts and observations about my projects with anyone who may be interested. Little things, such my vest neckline, could be watched and evaluated by other people, unknown to me, who also understand my frustration.

Also a super fun fact: I mentioned in the video that I would like to be sponsored, which was pretty much just a joke and a cute way to address the fact that many of these types of videos and craft bloggers are sponsored and promoted by bigger companies. I have to assume only a small number of crafters take the time to spread their knowledge online without any compensation whatsoever.

The fun fact is that I was actually contacted by a family friend who owns a small knitting store! Not sure what this means for future lucrative potential of my online crafting stuff, but it is pretty awesome.

Blog Posts:
This was probably the most tedious of all the work I have done over the semester. It involved breaking down all the knowledge I already understand about online crafting communities and writing it out in an organized and logical style. It did give me some time for reflection.

I have discussed this with friends and with Professor Juhasz, but there is a collective thought process on the online crafting communities to be constantly on the go. We are making and creating but we are not considering the complexities of what we are doing. We are focused on the initial idea and on the final project but we forget to contemplate what it means to create.

Required Readings:
I read a few books, but I didn't blog about them as much as I probably should have. For one, it's harder than one would think to connect books and traditional materials to the digital sphere. It almost seems pointless in a way. I read paper books and make highlights and notes in the margins; I read online crafting articles and I write an online crafting blog post in response.

This was a basic overview and summary. Don't go away, I'm adding one more on the philosophical thoughts on what I've learned.

Stay Creative!

Final Project: Random Acts of Kindness

For my final project, I am going to be getting off the online tutorials and actually do something in the real world.

Project: Random Acts of Kindness

Here is my Pinterest Blog

Rant about this project:
I really hate it when people use the online/digital space to brag about all the good they are doing. While I guess it's good that people are doing something, usually it is to boost their own popularity or aid their own selfish agenda. So I will not be documenting my random acts of kindness, but I will post which ones I do and how to do them so you can spread the kindness.

Other notes:
I will be posting a final reflection piece on everything I have learned over the semester

Stay creative!

Project 3 Video

CHECK IT OUT

Project 3

I will be making an un-boxing/review style video for the book "Circular Knitting Workshop". No, I was not sponsored in any way, shape, or form-- but if knitting companies see this and want to sponsor me I'm right here. Sitting by my laptop, ready to be sent free stuff. Waiting to hear from you. :)

Checking in

So, I was checking the syllabus. Of course I have made my adjustments to it and everything, but I figured I have to update my fans on where I am at as the semester comes eerily close to an end.

Schedule (Meetings and Projects)

Week 1: Create Syllabus, purchase books, first meeting with Professor Juhasz

Link to my syllabus post:

http://diylearningpitzer.blogspot.com/2015/10/syllabus.html

Week 2: Blog Post 1; create personal blog for tracking Independent Study activities

Link to the blog: http://diylearningpitzer.blogspot.com/

Link to the first blog post: http://diylearningpitzer.blogspot.com/2015/09/what-is-this-blog.html

Week 3: Project 1 proposal due, read chapters 1-4 of Video Nation, Blog Post 2

Reading Video Nation: http://diylearningpitzer.blogspot.com/2015/10/what-im-reading-video-nation.html

Project 1 Proposal: http://diylearningpitzer.blogspot.com/2015/10/flip-flopping-syllabus.html

Week 4: Project 1 due on September 27 (extension due to Jewish high holidays); Blog Post 3; Finish reading Video Nation

Project 1: http://parksandrecipes.blogspot.com/

Blog Post: http://diylearningpitzer.blogspot.com/2015/10/parks-and-recipes.html

Week 5: Read chapters 1-3 of Craft, Inc.; Submit proposal for Project 2; Blog Post 4

Project 2: Reflection on the effects of DIY Learning; an online tutorial

Blog Post 4: http://diylearningpitzer.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-reflection-on-online-tutorials.html

Week 6: Project 2 due; Meeting with Professor Juhasz

Project 2 (online tutorial): http://diylearningpitzer.blogspot.com/2015/11/reading-old-fashioned-knitting-pattern.html

Week 7: Read Chapters 4-5 of Craft, inc.; Blog Post 5

Blog Post 5: http://diylearningpitzer.blogspot.com/2015/11/parks-and-recipes.html

Week 8: Read Chapters 6-7 of Craft, inc.; Draft Proposal for Project 3; Blog Post 6

Blog Post 6, Reflection on the topics of "Craft, inc.", fan art, legalities, and the culture of online selling

http://diylearningpitzer.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-legalities-of-fan-art.html

Yes, I am a little behind. Here was the original plan:

Week 9: Project 3 due; Meeting with professor Juhasz

Week 10: Read and review one book from niche craft books list; Blog Post 7

Week 11: Proposal for Project 4 (Austenland); Blog Post 8

Week 12: Project 4 due

Week 13: Proposal for Final Project; Blog Post 9

Week 14: Work on final project; Meeting with Professor Juhasz

Week 15: Final Project due; Blog Post 10

Updated plan:

Project 3 proposal due Wednesday, November 25

Project 3: Thoroughly review one project or book. This can be made in a video blog (un-boxing/review style video) or in written blog form with pictures.

Project 3 due Friday, November 27. Project 3 will include a review of a craft book and a review of a niche craft book

Project 4 (fan culture) has been completed. Blog post on the legalities and effects of fan culture artwork is already done. 

Watch 'Austenland' or a similar movie and write an online blog review due Sunday, November 29.

Blog Post on Friday, November 27.

Blog Post on Friday, December 4.

Blog Post on Friday, December 11.

Proposal for final project will be posted on the blog by Friday, December 4.

Final project progress update on Friday, December 11.

Final project is due Tuesday, December 15, 2015

WISH ME LUCK!!

The Legalities of Fan Art

Apparently, since this is an academic class, I still have to do work?? :/ What is this madness?

So to start off my research based part of the posts I will be referencing my fan-based craft tutorial blog, Parks and Recipes. 

This blog was created out of my need to connect with Parks and Recreation outside of the TV set. My sister is a huge fan of the show, and for her birthday I bought her two shirts from the NBC Universal Website 

These are the shirts if case you were wondering:

Here is where issues start to come in: Copyright. Parks and Recreation and all its related products are licensed by the NBC Universal company. I learned all about this in my Introduction to Media Studies as well as Learning From YouTube. It is a huge problem for fandom crafters, especially within the online environment.

I tried to avoid these issues. My first step in sneaking around this issue was to put in "inspired by". This suggests that the idea was from the copyrighted work, but the project itself was original and only inspired by, not taken from, the copyrighted material. This is my version of putting "unofficial" in front of my fandom projects.

Update: I messed up. Using "inspired by" does not save you from copyright issues

(https://www.etsy.com/teams/7718/questions/discuss/14552307/)

After a pretty quick google search, I found this wikipedia-type page that details the legalities of fan art and profit. Basically, you can't profit from copyrighted material if you are not the copyright owner. I'm pretty safe in a lot of these terms because I am not profiting from these blog posts, nor will I profit from any type of fan craft I design.

However, once an artist starts profiting off of a trademarked product, they are breaking copyright laws and treading into illegal territory. Even using the name in the title or the tags can result in copyright infringement if you are profiting from the project.

Good luck out there...the issues are murky and big companies can be cruel in regards to personal work with their trademarked symbols. In the end, these companies are after profits and they can and will shut you down for entering their territory. Tread carefully.

Further Reading:
 https://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2010/05/13/the-messy-world-of-fan-art-and-copyright/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2044685/i-almost-got-sued-for-knitting-a-firefly-hat-the-legal-risks-of-pop-culture-fan-art.html

http://www.craftsandcopyrights.com/faq.html

Parks and Recipes

Hi all!

If you remember way back to my first project, I worked on a fan-based online tutorial. It was based on Parks and Recreation, and was a blog of recipes inspired by the show. Just wanted to keep my followers (both of you... :D) in the loop about that. I am updating the blog and my attempt at a video tutorial will be for the most recent recipe. Stay creative!

parksandrecipes.blogspot.com

Reading an "old fashioned' Knitting Pattern with DIY Learning

I am super excited because today I will do starting to knit my second sweater! It's a big undertaking but I have my yarn and my pattern. This pattern is from a magazine that I love, not only because it's named "Rebecca" but also because their patterns turn our quite nicely. I made a scarf over the summer from a "Rebecca" pattern and it was very simple and ending up looking really pretty.

However, knitting patterns are notoriously difficult to read. 

So, today I am going to walk you through this sweater pattern and how I do my online crafting research. I could do this for every part of the pattern, but that would make an unnecessarily long and rather repetitive post, so I will just be showing you the basics of my online craft searches and how ridiculously simple it can be to clarify your crafting confusion. 

Title: Raglan Sweater in Half Fisherman's Rib

I want to know what a raglan sweater is, what it will look like, and what makes it different from knitting other kinds of sweaters. A quick google search should fix that.

Interesting. I am now curious about the sleeves, because they have a different style than the ones I am used to. I can skim this article from craftsy: http://www.craftsy.com/article/understanding-raglan-sleeves

Also, I have never heard of half fisherman's rib before. I'm going to google that. 

My Google search came up with an explanation right away. Simply clicking on the images tab will show me some examples of what this stitch may look like. 

This image search can also help influence my color and yarn choices. Different types of yarn and different colors of yarn will look different, even if you are using the same stitch. This can show me the basic design without my knitting an entire swatch. 

Finally, YouTube:

I hope this post gave you a bit more insight into how the online environment can really benefit the average crafter. Feel free to comment if you have any questions and as always, stay creative!

Rebecca

A Reflection on Online Tutorials: Knitting Edition

What is DIY Learning? That is what I created this class to discover. I have thought about it a lot in the past few weeks, and started noticing that a lot of things I take for granted are a result of online learning.

For example, let's take knitting. I am a huge knitter. I just finished my first sweater, which I am very proud of. When I tell people I knit, they always comment on how "cute" or "sweet" it is. Yes, I know knitting is mainly thought of as an activity grandmothers do to pass the time in their rocking chairs. But there has been a lot of research on the effects of knitting on mental health plus my friends and family are always really touched by my hand-knit gifts.

I have been knitting for a little over a year now. To be fair, I learned the basics of knitting in elementary school when my mom started knitting. But once my mom had made about 15 scarves and could not seem to follow the VHS tutorials she stopped knitting, and so did I.

My best friend Rachel, on the other hand, started in third grade and has been knitting ever since. Instead of late night high school parties she spent her afternoons at her local knitting store, where she was the youngest member there by several decades. She tells me how these women, retired or stay at home moms, spend their lives at the yarn store, sitting at the table, buying yarn, and getting help from more experienced knitters.

Rachel has been knitting for over a decade. I have been knitting for a year. Here's the paradox: Rachel comes to me when she needs help. Why? Because ironically I know different skills and I am not afraid to learn a new technique.

This, I think, is why online learning appeals to me so much. It has made me more adventurous and less fearful of failure.

A particular example of this is with the knitting technique of learning to cast on. There are multiple ways to cast on to start your project, and almost every educational knitting book has a diagram or explanation. But teaching yourself a new skill is not a "one size fits all" deal, especially with creative minds. My mother could not figure out how to cast on, and always had the woman at the craft store start her project (I assume she annoyed customers in line more than once). She had beginner knitting books and a few VHS tapes but still, it's a hard technique to learn without a specialized lesson.

A quick YouTube search shows me:

If you have specific problems, there are videos for that

I hope you enjoyed this blog post. I will hopefully be adding another soon. Here is my personal favorite cast on video, but feel free to find your own lesson that works for you. Isn't that what online education is all about?

Stay Creative,
Rebecca

Future Video

My first video tutorial will be based off this project I made a few days ago:

Stay tuned!

Parks and Recipes!!

My first blog post tutorial is up!!

Project 1/Online Tutorial Project: Ann Perkins' Eggs

I'm very excited about this. Hope you all enjoy!

http://parksandrecipes.blogspot.com/

Flip Flopping the Syllabus

I think one of the nice things about designing my own course is that I am in control. I have lots of ideas that will come at any random moment (ask anyone who's ever met me, it's been commented on many times). I am in process of creating a video, but I need to order supplies that won't be here until Wednesday, and I have a new tutorial idea I want to try out.

My lovely younger sister Shayna (who is younger, despite popular opinion), will be turning 16 on November 1. I love gift giving, and I wanted to find something this year that she would really appreciate and use. This past year (well, since January or so), she has become a big fan of the TV series Parks and Rec. (For the record, I introduced her to it. Then she convinced me to go back and watch the series, which I did. It was fantastic.

My DIY Learning Project 4 was geared towards fan culture and fan-produced DIY art and pop culture- inspired crafts. After a quick google search, I couldn't find any Parks and Rec Inspired recipes that had nicely written tutorials. So I DIYed it!!

For my first project, I will be creating an online tutorial blog for Parks and Rec inspired recipes. So my video project will now be project 2. Try and keep up :)

Stay Creative!

Rebecca

What I'm Reading: Video Nation

Hello my fellow creatives! Sorry I haven't been in touch-- it's been a long week and I've been sick. But I'm committed to bringing you my thoughts and ideas on the DIY Learning culture of the Internet. Starting...NOW!

The first book on my required reading list is called "Video Nation: A DIY Guide to Planning, Shooting, and Storing Great Video." 

Syllabus!

Follow along my journey...

Friday marks the end of Week 2

Rebecca Dollinger

Pitzer Class of 2018

DIY Learning

Independent Study Syllabus

IS Professor: Professor Alex Juhasz

Detailed Description

The DIY artistic independent maker age has reached an all time peak, and it has the Internet to thank for that. From Pinterest to YouTube to Stay-at-home mom blogs, the wealth of tutorials for the everyday crafter has reached an all time high. How has the Internet changed the DIY and “artsy” community? What has been made possible that could not have been possible ten or even five years ago? What are we learning? What are we gaining? What are we losing?

For my independent study, I plan on researching the rise of craft blogs, as well as handmade goods sites such as Etsy, the benefits of craft tutorials from websites such as Pinterest and YouTube, while creating a semester long blog series, including videos, text posts, and photo tutorials. I will explore the most successful craft blogs and YouTube channels, occasionally attempting to emulate their education styles, documenting the pros and cons of different digital teaching techniques. I will also explore the connection between the media corporate and fandom influence in craft projects, especially in regards to knitting and needle crafts.

Required Reading List

Craft, Inc. Revised Edition: The Ultimate Guide to Turning Your Creative Hobby into a Successful Business (Meg Mateo Ilasco) 

YouTube: Online Video and Particapatory Culture (Jean Burgess)

Video Nation: A DIY guide to planning, shooting, and sharing great video from USA Today's Talking Tech host (Jefferson Graham)

Jane Austen Knits OR AUSTENtatious Crochet

Niche Craft Books for Week 10:

Geek Knits: Over 30 Projects for Fantasy Fanatics, Science Fiction Fiends, and Knitting Nerds

Geek Chic Crochet: 35 retro-inspired projects that are off the hook (Nicki Trench)

Knits for Nerds: 30 Projects: Science Fiction, Comic Books, Fantasy (Toni Carr)

Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter

Knitting Wizardry: 27 Spellbinding Projects

Once Upon a Knit:

Vampire Knits: Projects to Keep You Knitting from Twilight to Dawn

Woodland Knits: over 20 enchanting patterns

Literary Knits

Fairytale Knits

Recommended Readings

The Knowledgeable Knitter (Magaret Radcliffe)

Circular Knitting Workshop: Essential Techniques to Master Knitting in the Round (Magaret Radcliffe)

2015 Crafter's Market: How to Sell Your Crafts and Make a Living (Edited by Kelly Biscopink)

The Handmade Marketplace, 2nd Edition: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and Online (Kari Chapin)

YouTutorial: Knitting: Your Guide to the Best Instructional YouTube Videos (Tessa Evelegh)

Craft Activism: People, Ideas, and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You Can Join In (Joan Tapper, Photography by Gale Zucker)

Schedule (Meetings and Projects)

Week 1: Create Syllabus, purchase books, first meeting with Professor Juhasz

Week 2: Blog Post 1; create personal blog for tracking Independent Study activities

Week 3: Project 1 proposal due, read chapters 1-4 of Video Nation, Blog Post 2

Week 4: Project 1 due on September 27 (extension due to Jewish high holidays); Blog Post 3; Finish reading Video Nation

Week 5: Read chapters 1-3 of Craft, Inc.; Submit proposal for Project 2; Blog Post 4

Week 6: Project 2 due; Meeting with Professor Juhasz

Week 7: Read Chapters 4-5 of Craft, inc.; Blog Post 5

Week 8: Read Chapters 6-7 of Craft, inc.; Draft Proposal for Project 3; Blog Post 6

Week 9: Project 3 due; Meeting with professor Juhasz

Week 10: Read and review one book from niche craft books list; Blog Post 7

Week 11: Proposal for Project 4 (Austenland); Blog Post 8

Week 12: Project 4 due

Week 13: Proposal for Final Project; Blog Post 9

Week 14: Work on final project; Meeting with Professor Juhasz

Week 15: Final Project due; Blog Post 10

Breakdown of Blog Post Topics:

1: Initial thoughts going into Independent study, plans for the semester, hopes for the outcomes

2: Plans for Project 1; General reflections

3: Thoughts on the reading of Video Nation, Thoughts on YouTube as a Video platform for teaching and craft tutorials

4: Plans for Project 2; Personal thoughts on the growing appeal of the handmade marketplace

5: Mid-semester reflection on independent study

6: Plans for project 3; list of links to the best websites and tutorials I have found so far this semester

7: Review of one niche craft book; Difference between niche craft books and niche craft projects online

8: Plans for Project 4; learning outcomes so far

9: Plans for my final project and how I chose this project; what I hope to create

10: Final reflections on independent study as a whole

Loose Guidelines for Projects:

Project 1: Create a YouTube video teaching a craft skill

Project 2: Create a digital tutorial for a specific craft project

Project 3: Thoroughly review one project or book. This can be made in a video blog (un-boxing/review style video) or in written blog form with pictures.

Project 4: Watch film “Austenland”, write short personal reflection on fan culture, and create one niche craft project (preferably Jane Austen-themed but not necessarily so) with a tutorial included

Final Project: Create a tutorial or video that displays the knowledge gained during the semester. This project must include a 2-4 page double-spaced reflection on the choices made for the project (i.e. choice of social media platform, choice of skill to teach, choice of project to create, etc.)

Grading:

Project 1: 10%

Project 2: 15%

Project 3: 15%

Project 4: 15%

Final Project: 25%

Blog Posts: 20%

Projects will be graded based on creativity, originality, and mainly, attention to the prompt and how well you followed the guidelines.

Blog Posts will be graded for completion

What is this blog?

Hello my fellow DIY-ers (and also friends of mine who found this blog by chance but don't consider themselves crafty)! This blog is going to track my progress through my Independent Study at Pitzer College that I have lovingly created and nurtured: DIY Learning.

This is a Media Studies Independent Study with Professor Alex Juhasz, focusing on the growing culture of craft tutorials on the internet.

I will include my syllabus in the next post. Stay creative!