Sunday, March 6, 2016

Update to “What Would You Have Done?” Find Out What I Did! AND the AtoZ Blogging Challenge

In my last post, I wrote about a dilemma regarding how I should advise a beginner crocheter on an obvious mistake she made on her first project.  She was making a baby blanket for her pregnant daughter.  I felt somewhat responsible since I was the one who taught her how to crochet.
Should I have instructed her on how to fix the mistake?  It would have involved ripping out quite a bit of the blanket.
Or was the better option to smile encouragingly, praising her progress?

I posed the question, "What would you have done?"

Betty, commented:
"I'm thinking you offered to take the blanket from her and to fix it and finish it for her. What you regret is that you should have ripped out what went wrong, showed her that so she could learn from it and then have her continue making it."

Una said:
"I expect correcting that side would mean ripping back the whole blanket. I think I would have tactfully mentioned how I used to struggle with turning at the end of crochet rows. Maybe the blanket can be used when the baby visits you. But if it is meant as a gift, your friend will probably prefer it to be straight. However, she has already said that she doesn't think it matters. That's a difficult quandry."

And Liz responded:
"Well, I have to know what you did before I can know if it's the right thing. Because if it was me, I'd probably say "how lovely" and let it be. She's a beginner. It doesn't need to be perfect."

Interestingly enough, I reacted in a combination of all three comments.  
Betty, I am going to finish the blanket for her by crocheting a border around the whole thing. But, I do think it would be beneficial to explain what the mistake was and the correct way to finish a row. 

Una, I wish I would have thought quickly enough to tell her about my first-time crochet struggles.   That is a regret, but I appreciate your good advice and intend to mention this to her at some point.  

Liz, I agree most with you.  Involved in my split second decision was the thought that she is a beginner and no, it doesn't have to be perfect.  


So, I smiled encouragingly and praised her progress.  She was so excited about the fact that she finally learned this craft after many failed attempts that I did not want to discourage her. 

I hope that I can manage to "hide" the little blip with a pretty border. 

I'll post a photo of it after it's all completed. 

Also, on my last post I talked about my March goal to make and donate two baby blankets and four hats to charity. 

I believe it was fortuitous that I happened to drop into the "Nimble Fingers" group in our community where I found out that they were all knitting baby blankets and hats.  They will be  donating these items to CHOP, the "Children's Hospital of Philadelphia".

I am almost done with my first blanket.   Photo's next time. 

Oh, yes and I also signed up for participation in the "April 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge".  I will be posting every day, except Sunday, in the month of April using the alphabet. The topic of the first post will start with the with the letter A and the last post's topic will begin with the letter  Z.





8 comments:

  1. Glad you signed up for A/Z! I like how you solved the problem with the blanket and that you helped someone learn how to do a craft she was trying to do for a bit :)

    Good job too on the projects you are making to donate!

    betty

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    1. Thanks!
      I’ve been thinking about a theme for the A-Z. I guess I should hurry up and come up with one :)

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  2. I've found that beginners just want encouragement. Frequently, students will ask me to read something they've written. I always say something nice about it. If they wanted me to critique it would be completely different.

    Glad you're doing A to Z. I'm signed up, too.

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    1. That’s how I felt about this beginner. She was so enthusiastic. I wanted her to keep up her interest.

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  3. So pleased you've signed up for the A to Z again - I'll be seeing you there :) I am also persevering in my learning how to crochet and I find it SO hard whereas I find knitting easy so I think how you solved your dilemma was perfect - your friend will continue to learn and get better and you will salvage the blanket and turn it into an heirloom - well done you! Special Teaching at Pempi’s Palace

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    1. Thanks! See you around the challenge, I’m sure :)

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  4. Hey Lindagrace - I look forward reading your A-Z blogging posts next month. I'm not going to do it this year.

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