How to Crochet… Even When You Don’t Feel Like It
By Candace – 4 CommentsRight now, this topic is near and dear to my heart. You’ve probably been there, too, or maybe you are now. Maybe life got in the way, and once it settled down enough for you to crochet, you just couldn’t. Or maybe you crocheted too much (gift-making overload, perhaps) and are just a bit fatigued. Either way, you come to a point where, even if you have a WIP, you just can’t crochet. So how do you get back to it? Well, there’s no one true method, but here are some things to try.
Shop
This could mean go to the store and buy new yarn, patterns, and findings, but you really don’t have to spend any money at all. Try shopping your stash to see if a long-ago purchase is begging to be worked up. You can also browse free patterns to see if any jump out at you.
If only I were looking to start another shawl.
Try Other Hobbies
Sometimes it helps to fill a break with a different activity. Working on a knitting project or spinning up some yarn is often just what I need to refresh my mind and put me back into crochet mode. Sometimes drawing helps, too, and I get a new design idea out of it if I’m lucky. Maybe your crochet slump is telling you to break out the sewing machine or lace up your hiking boots. Writing about not crocheting might even help as well.
My knitting needles need love, too.
Swatch
Even if you can’t bring yourself to do a full project, swatching during otherwise idle time can help you find inspiration. With little or no regret, your results can be ripped out and worked into something better if you don’t like it. Remember to block! Even a light blocking can make a world of difference.
I wasn’t so happy with the unblocked swatch.
It shows promise after some water and light manipulation.
Get Social
Social media can be distracting when you’re trying to get work done, but going out and meeting up with your local yarnies provides a great environment for starting something new or working on a languishing WIP. The lulls in conversation are perfect for getting focused on what’s in your hands.
These are only a few things to try out, and I’ll probably share more tips at a later date, but for now I think I’ll go do some crocheting.
How do you get your crochet motivation back? Leave a comment below to share!
I hit a crochet slump, since I start my Christmas crocheting in July and finish a couple days before Christmas. I had a slew of presents for everyone, but I was so tired of making all those hats, scarves, shawls and wristers.
How did I break my slump? Well, my husband and I bought new recliners for Christmas. Our old furniture was over 20 years old and in desperate need of replacement. The new recliners arrived a few days after Christmas and I felt a need to make antimacassars* and armrest covers. I just started making half double crochet rectangles, super easy and mindless. Two antimacassars, and three armrests are done, one armrest left to go.
While I was crocheting my chair covers, I decided to make a little plarn waste basket that I could line with a plastic grocery bag. It was fun to pick out brightly colored grocery bags and cut them up for plarn. I hadn’t played with plarn in a couple of years and it is great fun making my waste basket.
It rejuvenated my love of crochet because there was no pressure, and I had the rare opportunity to make something for my husband and I. Plus, making plarn and designing my basket is a fun change of pace. Not that I can do too much at a time with plarn, it is hard on the hands. Still and all, it is a good way to get out of a rut.
Hope my story helps someone else to revive their love of crochet.
*Antimacassars: I was curious about the origin of the word and did a bit of research It turns out that macassar oil was used to groom and style hair in the 19th century, mostly by men. Hair oiled with macassar caused stains on the headrests of furniture. Thus, the need for a covering for the headrests, appropriately named antimacassar.
Thanks for sharing your story! And the note on the origins of the antimacassar is interesting. Now I’m off to Google where macassar oil comes from!
You’re welcome, Candace! Gotta love having information at our fingertips!
I used to crochet and knit on a daily basis. After completing the last two double blankets for people I’m done with it, even though I used to love it. I’ll try to force myself to use up the old odds and ends in my stash for small charity projects and then that’s probably going to be it for me. Fatigued by it, it becomes like a full time job making Birthday and Christmas gifts for everyone with the pressure of getting them all finished on time. I’ve started to hate the very thing I used to love!