“Crochet Doctor” Cures Cute Overload
By Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 8 CommentsHere it is: One huge THANK YOU to everyone who read and commented on my last post. It’s so much fun connecting with you all this way! Let’s get right to it, shall we? It’s time for more unsolicited crochet advice.
Crochet Problem: You Want to Crochet a Million Things. We are so fortunate to be around during this fabulous time for crochet. Never before have there been so many diverse and inspiring patterns all so accessible to us at a moment’s notice. How many times have you gotten lost in Pinterest for hours just taking in all of the beautiful options for crochet projects?
And what about Ravelry? Do you have over 200 projects in your queue? And you already have a billion favorites, right? Don’t get me started on Rachel’s patterns. With so many awesome patterns right here on the blog and also in the Crochet Spot store, we could be busy for years just crocheting through this blog alone!
Why is everything so darn cute?
We all should be very proud to be a part of the crochet community at this very special time in crochet history. It is perfectly natural that we’d want to enjoy every pattern and yarn there is to offer. Yet with this wonderful abundance comes a tough truth: You can’t crochet it all. I know. It’s a bummer. The upswing? You can crochet a lot and you can crochet each day! How do we select our projects?
Solution: The solution is actually a lot of fun and consists of these three steps: Scan, Limit, Plan.
Scan: Set aside a nice chunk of time when you can really focus. Grab a cup of tea, put on a comfy outfit, and gather your crochet books and magazines, and also your computer. You may need a notebook and pen as well, or whatever you use to organize your ideas. Now, just take that moment to look at all the crochet patterns you’d like and allow yourself to dream.
Limit: As you are going through the scanning process, you will notice that you are naturally drawn to some projects over others. Maybe it’s a type of garment you’d like to add to your wardrobe, or maybe it’s a certain type of home accessory. Choose whichever category stokes your inspiration and decide to focus on that category this time. (Don’t worry! You can repeat this process as often as you like!)
Plan: Once you have your category, focus in on patterns of that look feasible in the short term. Your goal is to take stock of the practical aspects of each pattern. As yourself: Which yarn would I use for this? Is this going to be financially comfortable for me? Do I want to expand my skills or stick with something simple and comfortable? Do I have (or can I easily get) all of the required materials for this pattern?
After you go through this process, you will be able to choose a pattern that you absolutely love and can start right away! Cute Overload is a serious problem and it can be cured by working on a carefully chosen and adorable project!
Have you ever experienced Cute Overload? What do you think of this process? How do you decide to limit your crocheting endeavors? Which topics would you like advice on in a future Crochet Spot post? Please leave your thoughts and ideas in the comments below!
Thanks for the tips. I expect to be facing this problem later in the year as I have just learned that someone very close to me is expecting their first child. How on earth to choose from a plethora of baby patterns. Your guidelines above are a good start.
JB, Thank you so much for your wonderful comments! Yes, baby items are super cute, but one really great thing about them is that they are also quick because they are so small! Have fun and keep us posted on your crochet endeavors!
I’m going through extra cute overload at the moment. My brother’s fiancee is pregnant, so I’m crocheting baby items for the first time ever and finding it very overwhelming to choose which projects to tackle and which to bypass. There are so many amazing baby patterns floating around the web, and a very unrealistic part of me wants to try them all. This process will be a great way to filter all my options and find the projects I’ll truly enjoy. Thanks!
I suffer from cute overload but I don’t have a problem choosing which projects to make. I always have “orders” placed by my daughter. She sees a project and says “Crochet that next!!” I never run out of “orders”.
I admit it. I am a pattern junkie and am a copier not a scanner. While working a pattern on my clipboard I can make revisions, note any corrections or misprints, the yarn style and color used, who it is for, the date made and any changes or additions etc. I also keep a journal while I am working. Hint – Choose an easy pattern that you enjoy working to keep in your favorites file, especially if you are like me and have to make a gift quickly or one for each best friend. When you need to stop, stash it in a gallon size zipper plastic bag and pop it in your tote. I have several baggies in process at the same time.
Now that I have retired, I have so many projects that I put aside when I was working that I doubt that I will live long enough to use all the yarn, cardmaking supplies, and patterns to finish everything. The year before I moved, I banned myself from all craft stores (with the thought that I didn’t want to move anything else). I also banned myself from all craft sites on the computer. Oh, all the fabulous stuff to make. Now, I give myself an hour to be on the computer, and I only make one trip a month to a craft store as most now are 45 minutes away from me. I have to use my creativity to use the supplies that I have stashed away here in my own little mini store.
I have cute overload all the time as I get excited with patterns but can work on symbols quickly.often I have numerous unfinished projects so to try a new pattern I started working smaller projects like caps, stoles, handbags, coasters.In india the availability of various yarns is limited so larger projects are difficult.
Planning to make a baby blanket in various stitches in squares of same threads /different colours.
Crochet spot ever inspiring!!!
I like your suggestions. I have many lists of patterns I want to try and they keep growing. I have also committed to starting a crochet and knitting club at a local library, and keep saving patterns for that too! I am going to give your idea a try!