What Cross-Stitch Taught Me About the Art of Learning
- Gaëlle Miani
- Oct 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 15
I’ve shared many analogies about learning before, but this one came to me quite unexpectedly — one quiet afternoon, as I was working on the project you see in the photo.
It all began with a choice and a motivation. I started this pattern for my son — he’s the one who chose it — and also because cross-stitching has always been a way for me to unwind and recharge.
Just like with any kind of learning, the first step was to take stock: to see what materials I already had and what I needed to find.Then I simply got started. Day after day.
In the beginning, the progress was barely visible, and what I had on the fabric didn’t look like much. But slowly, something began to take shape — a pattern, an intention — and with it came a quiet sense of satisfaction.
The Front and the Back
On the right, you can see the finished work. It’s not perfect, but it looks pleasing, even beautiful.On the left, there’s the back of the embroidery — the part we don’t usually show.And even that doesn’t reveal all the times I had to undo stitches, start over, fix mistakes, take a breath, and keep going.
You can probably guess where I’m going with this: learning works exactly the same way.
What Cross-Stitch Reminded Me About Learning
Learning means:
making a choice,
finding a motivation,
taking inventory of your resources,
finding what’s missing,
dedicating time every day,
having patience — progress takes time,
celebrating small wins,
letting go of perfection,
remembering there’s always a back side to every story,
accepting mistakes,
and carrying on, no matter what.
The Thread of Progress
At the end of the journey, there’s deep satisfaction — the joy of seeing your work completed and knowing how much effort went into it. But along the way, there are also many small victories that keep you motivated and connected to your purpose.
Because learning — whether it’s a language, a craft, or any new skill — is really about weaving your own story, one stitch at a time.
And you — what’s your favourite analogy for learning?
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