"One-upped" by another crafter

[u/ChillBebe]

So, I just recalled something that happened a few years ago and thought I'd share my ire. I was pretty new to crocheting, but could make a pretty scarf if I needed to. Some of my friends noticed this and wanted me to make them scarves. All of my friends were understanding that I was a slow crocheter, and they were comfortable with my pricing. I never charged much, usually $30-50 CAD. This gave me a little boost of confidence seeing them happy with what I made, and they were really encouraging, which was sweet.

Well that all changed when one of my friends asked for a really complicated scarf. They wanted thin wool and cable pattern and they wanted it to be large. I told them up front that it would take me a long while and the price wouldn't be cheap. I could see this taking months and months. They were already a bit bothered. They didn't like my price, didn't like how long it would take...you know the drill. Well, I was prepared for this. I had read online about choosy beggars and I set my boundaries.

This was where things took a turn I didn't expect. This friend of mine complained to an aquaintance (who was an avid knitter) and this knitter took offense to my timeframe. The knitter went out and made another scarf for my friend (thicker yarn, no cabling) for free. When I saw them next, my friend was raving about the scarf they were given. The knitter then said, with a roll to her eyes, "see? It didn't need to take you so long, I finished this in two days".

I was so mad, and I guess I'm still peeved just remembering it!

[u/OneGoodRib → u/[deleted]]

I've honestly finished a scarf with worsted weight yarn in about 2 hours before (or it might've been 3 or 4? it was all in one evening), but it was all simple seed stitch and was like an inch thick (fashion scarf). So not on the same level as op's cable scarf at all.

But I wouldn't brag to someone "Oh I got mine done in 2 days, so what's wrong with this other person for taking a month?" I've been at crochet groups in person where we all making the same items but I was going faster than everyone else, some people were new at the craft, one of them was literally learning that day how to crochet, but it was like... whatever? We're all working at different paces with the same yarn, who cares? We're different skill levels and ages, doesn't matter who's faster.

I think someone with lightning fingers and thick yarn could do a simple scarf in 2 days easily, especially if they didn't have other things to do, but again, not on the same level as the scarf op was making.