In woodworking, there are two kinds of mistakes—physical and mental. Mistakes of the hand fall into the first category. I jerk my chisel the wrong way and it creates a gash that can't be fixed. I angle my handsaw a half-degree off and the joint doesn't fit. These errors are unfortunate, but I’ve learned to tolerate them. My hands are my most loyal employees, so when they go slightly wrong, I forgive them.

Mental mistakes are harder to live with. I misread a dimension or mess up because I haven’t completely thought through a process. I follow my plans (such as they are), and feel chuffed at my perfection when I've competed the task. But then I try to fit the piece and discover that I've made it backwards, or too small, or upside down.

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