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The DIY approach: Self-taught string playing

2024-09-27T09:06:00

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Can you teach yourself the violin? Violinist, teacher and author Celia Cobb believed it to be impossible – until a new book made her re-evaluate some of her assumptions

Machine sewing is my latest hobby, and I recently learnt, with the help of some YouTube videos, how to wind the bobbin, thread the machine, and sew in straight enough lines to create a simple bag. (I’ll be moving on to pyjama bottoms next, if you are interested.) I’ve never previously had any interest in – or aptitude for – handicrafts and the like, but the sense of achievement I have gained from learning the skills needed to accomplish these mini-triumphs from scratch has been considerable…

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