Good Morning! It is going to be a beautiful day, and all I want to do is sit outside and crochet. Oh, I wish I had such luxuries…maybe if I hurry and get my work done I might be able to take a break outside (a girl can wish, right?).
Today I wanted to talk about fear. Fear creeps up in many life situations. It is so easy for self-help books to say that it is all in your head, and you have to re-train your thinking, but for the person going through the fear, it isn’t so easy. I never thought I would be afraid while crocheting, but last night I had butterflies in my stomach and self-doubt lines running through my head.
“This is the front, what if it isn’t big enough? What if I hate it and never wear it? Did I really do this right? It doesn’t look like the professional garments,” and on and on went the running commentary in my head. My thoughts paralyzed me from crocheting last night, and that ain’t right. So here are five ways to beat the fear that creeps up when working on a project.
1. Read the Entire Pattern
I don’t always do this, but I am going to start. When beginning a big project from a new pattern, read the entire pattern first. This includes the notes, special stitches, and different parts of the garment. There is a reason teachers told us to read the question and ALL the answers before choosing the right one, you aren’t going to be successful if you don’t have all the variables. Oh, and although I hate this, we always have to check the gauge.
2. Make a swatch with a bigger, cheaper yarn
This goes along with Plan ahead, but it can be helpful nonetheless. If the pattern you are using calls for 2 miles of alpaca, and you love how it looks, but is a complicated pattern with different stitches, give it a try with a cheaper yarn. This way, when you finally use the “nice” yarn, you’ll feel more confident on how it works out.
3. Walk Away
A break is never a bad idea when you are having doubts. Sometimes the time away will give you a new appreciation of your project, sometimes you’ll decide you don’t want to go further, either way you’ll look at your project from a new perspective. Oh, and don’t feel guilty about not finishing something right away, crochet should be fun, not stressful.
4. Frog it
I hate frogging pieces. You put all that work into it and it just doesn’t look like the photo, plus it fits lousy in all the wrong places. If you are at a place in your project that you know you will never wear it (and there is no guarantee someone else will wear it), then frog it and save the yarn. No harm, no foul, you learned something knew – maybe that the chunky acrylic doesn’t drape as well as the merino, yes, I’m writing from experience.
5. Push on through
Sometimes you have to push on through to see your results. I’m at this point now, with my Irish Crochet Top. I can’t try it on to see if it will fit, so I just have to finish the back. If it doesn’t fit, I can still frog it and salvage the appliqués, but I’ll never know until it is complete. Plus, clothes, can be altered, unraveled, or complete, but you’ll never know the results if you don’t try.
Do you ever feel stuck in a “fear” rut? What do you do to move passed it and succeed? Hope everyone is having a great start to the week! Happy Crocheting!
Well, first, let me start by saying the top is looking great! Now on to fear! I don’t usually feel fear in crochet when I’m making something for myself or just trying out something new. I have no fear or problem undoing something that I didn’t think came out right, even if I’ve spent months on it. But let me tell you, the fear does settle in when I’m working on something someone else requested. Then everything you mentioned comes into play. I worry about whether they will like it, if it will meet their expectations, if they will now think I’m actually terrible at crochet! If I make something I want to make and people love it, yay! But if they request something, well now I have to meet an expectation and that’s different. Sometimes what they picture in their mind is different from what you picture in your mind. Your suggestions are great. I don’t let my fear stop me from trying to fulfill a request. I just push through and if they don’t like it, I try again. OR, I take the chicken way out and totally dodge the request and say I have no time (which most of the time is true 🙂
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Thanks for the vote of confidence, Yolanda! I agree, it is way more nerve racking to crochet for other people. Especially because I want the recipient to be happy and wear what I am crocheting! To be honest, I have a hard time frogging pieces, but sometimes it is for the best🙂.
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I’m just like Yolanda – for myself I am fearless with my hook. I have the crooked lopsided sweaters to prove it! I always stress out when I’m making something for someone else and think they are going to hate it – and it doesn’t make sense because I only crochet for friends and family so I should feel more comfortable. I love the way your lace top is coming out and I think you were really brave to start it, I’m not sure I would have attempted this. 😀
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Thanks Tami! I think everyone gets a little nervous about creating for other people. Hopefully we can continue to encourage each other to keep creating (even through the hard times).
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Great advice! I think creative people tend to be harder on themselves anyway but I tend to just shy away from sharing my work, I was always afraid people would laugh at it. Now though I just share anyway. A break is definitely important, that’s how I managed to finish my slippers.
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Thanks! I agree that a break can do wonders. There has been so many times that I’ve stepped away from a project only to be really happy with the results after a second look. And your slippers were worth a second look!
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Thank you, I’m glad I went back to them 😊
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Some excellent points Brenna! I think the Irish lace is stunning!
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Thanks Kathy! I plan to keep going!
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Hurrah!
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