ZPD

I promise this post is about quilting, but I need a moment to explain my thinking. See, in teaching we have this theory called ZPD, zone of proximal development. Long story short it is a theory that Vygotsky came up with, that basically has to do with what child can do by themselves and what they can do with help/practice. So let's think of it this way, if a child can ride a tricycle, then with a bit of help and a bit of practice the child can ride a bike, but don't expect that said child to be able to ride a motor cycle.

Now you are probably thinking by now, what does this have to do with quilting/crafting/you know the things you usually write about?

Well, here it is I have a sort of finish. I finished the Kaleidoscope quilt alongtop.  After much frustration, it is pieced together, and I have come to the conclusion that the skills necessary to complete this task correctly are out of my quilting ZPD.

I have a pretty good set of quilting skills, I would even say I am probably in the intermediate range. However, this task, well I need some more quilting practice before I try anything like it again. The directions were well written, the task was straight forward. My skills were just not to par, but the top is done now and I just have to quilt it.

Now on to some things that are closer to my ability level (right in that ZPD) some were a bit harder than others, but I have a whole set of mug rugs for my husband's office mates.

I really hope they like them, I still need to work on my machine binding skills, but I am pretty proud of each of these little mini quilts. 

All I know is next time I decided to try a pattern, I will take the time to think to myself, is this too easy or too hard. I don't want quilting to not be fun and either of those situations have the same effect. Frustration with myself. 

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