Rewards
Written by Jordan Lemley
Some projects can be frustrating, how many of you have frogged a project just because you bit off more than you could chew? Or maybe one of your little ones, pets, or partners frogged a project for you and you ninja chucked your needles/hooks into the wall (hypothetically of course)? I honestly couldn’t tell you how many running projects I have right now, but it's more than a few. It can be really hard to feel the motivation to go back to a project that’s caused you so much woe.
So, what do we do when we feel so frustrated that we would rather binge watch Adventure Time than work on our project, or any project? When our little crafting nook turns into a corner of despair and self-doubt? We make like a Kit-Kat bar, and take a break.
It’s important to center yourself again, if you’re not crafting out of love, then your project is going to reflect that. It’s also important to know when enough is enough and you’d rather not endure the stress of a frustrating project. It’s okay to frog it, and it’s okay to never ever look at that pattern again in your life.
It really is okay.
However, Sometimes the project you're making was the ask of someone you love or a customer to your business, and you really don’t want bad reviews (from either party). In this instance you might be in a time crunch, and you promised this project would be finished by the end of the week. No one likes making excuses for themselves, especially when it means they might disappoint someone. If this is the case, take a sip of your coffee (it’s probably cold by now), brush off your shoulders, and take a little break. Be honest with yourself about the trajectory of this project, and figure out a way to push through. You can do this!
It's ok to step away, watch some bad TV, read a book, listen to some music, or take a walk. However, one of the best ways to cool down is to indulge in a little retail therapy, grab some cute buttons, some fancy hooks, and of COURSE buy more yarn to get back into the groove and feel inspired. You can also start on another project that isn’t giving you so much anxiety, and take the opportunity to step back and return to that project with a fresh perspective. Some projects require a few steps in creations, move on from the tricky part to something a little simpler like an applique, a hood, or matching mittens.
When I need a different outlook, I scroll through patterns, and it serves as a reminder that there are tougher projects than this one out there, and I am dying to try them all. I remind myself that this is art, and not everyone knows how to do it. I pump myself up, and tell myself that I am a master of my craft and I can do this. This project won’t get the best of me, and when I’m finally done It will be so worth it.
Don’t force yourself to create, allow yourself to take a break every now and then. It’s important to love what you do, so it doesn’t become a chore. Creating art is a labor of love, and it should feel that way with every stitch. Don’t let hiccups in the creative process, pull the love out of it. Be kind to yourself!
Enthusiastic Crocheter of Unique and Creative designs since 2017