Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef

At the museum,

1. Two little girls - ages about 6 and 9 years, and their mother watched me crocheting.  I asked if they crocheted.  They shook their heads - "but this one [the eldest] has just learned to knit" said the mother.  The girl nodded.  I said "if you can knit, you'll be able to learn to crochet - knitting is much harder".  They stayed a few minutes but didn't want to try at that time.  I suggested they give it a go with some easy directions downloaded from the internet.

They were walking away when the littler child walked back to me, took her thumb from her mouth and said, wide-eyed "Did you know - my sister can knit!"  She was so proud - and when I said "You should watch her - you'll be able to do it soon, too" she looked amazed.  Her face lit up and she followed her mother and sister with a look of awe that just lit up the room.

2. A boy of about 10 came to watch me crocheting.  He said nothing - neither did I.  He was very tentative.  He walked around the table with my samples of crocheted coral, first looking, then picking them up, one by one.  He replaced them then came back to me.  I asked him "What do you think of those?"  He thought a moment, then said "I think they look rather complicated".  I showed him how crocheting was done - explaining its simplicity, then we had a long conversation about the mathematics of the hyperbolic planes.  After quite a while he said - my Nanna does that.  I suggested he ask his Nanna to show him - and gave him a sheet of basic instructions and shapes.  The look on his face was magic.

3.  Three girls around 9 or 10 years old - 2 sisters and their cousin - tried patiently to crochet for several minutes.  They each managed to make a small curl.  One tied it together to make a bracelet, one twirled her 'curlicue' and said - you could hang that up.  The third became very excited - they left discussing how they were going to go home and make a whole lot to hang in their rooms - them they would pretend to be dolphins swimming underwater.  I hope they do it!

4  A young Japanese woman asked about uses for the shapes we were making and giggled as she placed several of the samples on her baby's head.  We had a long conversation about wool types and how she could make a warm hat for her child, where to buy the best wool and how to crochet - she left determined to do this.

5.  Another mother delighted her children by picking up a crochet hook and just doing it!  She looked so proud as she explained that her grandmother had taught her - they are going home to share her skill - her daughters are so happy (as is she) that she can teach them.  She is also very surprised to find she has a skill she can share with them.

6.  A grandfather was thrilled - and relieved - that his very active and enquiring grandchildren were happy to sit and watch him crochet - using a skill he had remembered from school lessons many years ago.  He appreciated the break from trying to stop them touching everything, and they were very impressed (as was I) at his expertise.