This was going to be a post about the pattern for this crocheted basket. I developed it after a couple of patterns I found on Ravelry. It is also the first time I have ever completed a full crochet project.I learned how to crochet when I was young--my mom crochets, and she taught me the basics. I have to say that I was never very good. I blame it on my left-handedness. My poor mom, as a righty, was trying to teach a elementary school child who was awkwardly trying to hold the hook the same way as her mom--let's just say that my skills with my right hand has improved with age.

Fast forward over 25 years, and I've picked up the crochet hook again. I love the look of crocheting in the round, as well as crocheted flowers. This little basket was one of the projects that I did while at the beach at Easter. It's nothing special--just single and double crochet in the round. I was pretty satisfied with the project...until I tried to photograph it to share with you. Let's just say it looks better in real life, and leave it with that. If you want a pattern, search Ravelry for baskets--there are oodles of them.

But this basket isn't what this post is about. While I was working on this project, my 4-year-old was fascinated with it. She's seen me knit lots of things, but this was new to her. She loved it! As a matter of fact, she loved this so much that I gave her this basket. As I was finishing up the basket on the car ride back home, she informed me that she wanted to make things with "string"--just like mommy.

I asked her if she wanted to knit or crochet. When she wasn't sure, I asked, "With one needle or two?" She said one. A few days later I was trying out a new pattern and she asked again if she could have some string and a hook. I could have shot down the idea as too messy. I could have thought how awkward it was learning from a righty (my daughter is a righty and since I am a lefty, you can just imagine the confusion). I could have shot down the opportunity because I know she doesn't have the fine motor skills to crochet yet. But she has seen me do crochet (or my rough attempt) and seen my sister and oldest niece work on crocheted pieces as well. So I sat her down and helped her make a chain. Then I let her just sit and mess with the yarn. I can remember being not very much older than she is now and messing with yarn. Maybe it has made me the crafter that I am today, maybe not. But I know that she enjoyed working with the yarn, and was very proud to show her daddy what she had made.

After that, I decided that it was okay if she didn't like crocheting. It was okay if she got frustrated with it. It is okay that I had to keep reminding her how to hold the hook. It was okay if I never made anything cool by crocheting.