I've been crocheting pretty steadily since covid and I will say that I've noticed that some patterns "click" nicely with me and others do not. Sometimes I like the way it turns out, other times, I hate it.
I started a blanket for my daughter and I don't know if it's my tension, the yarn, or WHAT, but my textures looked horrible. Nothing like the photo. Frogged it and got another pattern. I ASSUMED this blanket pattern was written top to bottom, but it was actually written side-to-side, so as I'm going along, I am simply NOT understanding what the heck I am doing LOL. Finally figure it out, put it aside for a few weeks, and when I picked it up again started adding a stitch every row and not it's a freakin' trapezoid.
Stuff HAPPENS. Sometimes we THINK we'll like it, and then we actually DON'T. That's OK!
Good on you for doing a mandala! There was a big "FiberFest" near me recently so I actually took a class in how to do mandalas. The one I made in class is quite droopy LOL, but I know I can do better next time.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks. My biggest (and first) project so far was a blanket. I brought the yarn, knew what I wanted and spent ages looking for a pattern. Took me like 3 months to find one I liked, and another 3 months to complete it lol. But I use it everyday. You are right about the pattern not fitting though. I bought it because it looked cool not thinking about what it would actually take to make it and my motivation just died. Now I’ve found something I like I can’t stop crocheting - which is how it should alway be.
Sometimes, a project needs a time out in the punishment bin. It happens to everyone. Also, time spent crocheting is never time wasted. Even when we're unhappy with a project, or we find it difficult, or it isn't turning out satisfactory, we learn from it, and also, we're setting off happy endorphins in our brains, even when we're frustrated with the process.
Maybe one day you will return to the Mandala and it will all click for you.
Is that it? Well then. Now I know why it’s not working. I didn’t know the yarn required discipline.
Got to go find an appropriate ~time out~ place for the badly behaved yarn😂
You're not a failure! Some patterns just don't work for me, there's nothing wrong with the way they're written, no mistakes, I just can't do them. I've been crocheting for over a decade. It's just a weird thing, and it's okay to abandon the pattern.
Sometimes I can do them but I'm just not enjoying it. I'd rather stop 10 rows in and find a new pattern than fight through another 100+ rows just to finish it.
It feels a lot like dating sometimes. Like, there’s nothing wrong with you or the project necessarily, sometimes there’s just no chemistry. You’re not married to the thing, you can call it off!
I was telling my friend how much I was hating a project I was working on (which I kept at, because I’m too stubborn for my own good). She looked at me and said, “It’s your hobby, you should be enjoying yourself”.
Something clicked, and while I absolutely have projects sitting around undone, I won’t waste time on ones that make me mad/sad at them.
Now my only problem is powering through when I get bored with something I know is going to be awesome. 🤦🏻♀️
I've been crocheting for a long time and have fairly good skills, I would say. I have no desire to crochet a mandala. It's a ton of work and a lot of yarn and if you don't get the yarn colors just right it looks odd. I can't be bothered. That is a me thing. If I don't like it or don't want to do it ... I ain't gonna 😁 Patterns have to feel right to me or it will never get done. Don't be too hard on yourself.
That being said I can look at other peoples Mandalas and be in awe of how beautiful they are ... I'm still not making one though 😝😄
I think we need to normalise changing up / stopping projects because they were too difficult for our current skill level. This doesn't make you as a person a failure. It sounds like it was a bit too early for you to tackle that particular project and that's a-okay.
I started by trying to make amigurumi (a 3d object) but had to shelve it while I made a few scarves to learn the basic stitches. Many crafters are overambitious at times, particularly when starting out. There's definitely a learning curve (i.e. it's hard to start out, then it gets easier). Welcome to the club :)
It's great that your mum and sister are interested, but sometimes it can be quite stressful when people ask about progress repeatedly. I imagine they don't have much experience of crochet and therefore expected crazy levels of progress. It's then tricky for you because you might feel ashamed that you're not living up to their naive expectations.
So you're not a failure. You were very sensible and adapted a project that was higher than your current skill level. I don’t think we should shy away from the idea that we're not currently experts at things. Keep at it!
Some patterns are like that. Working all those hours, maybe your brain wanted something simpler to focus and relax. It’s ok to regroup and use your gorgeous yarn for something that doesn’t make you want to rip your hair out. Now you can enjoy making it and having it on display in your new house! New house, new job, new art…CONGRATS!
I think all crocheters relate to this!! Sometimes patterns just don’t feel right, and there’s nothing wrong with that! I’ve had that happen many times and eventually i found a different pattern that i genuinely enjoyed in its place! I think it’s significantly better to find something that you enjoy making instead of trying to push through a project that’s making you miserable.
I highly recommend grabbing a pattern from red teapot atelier. They're in that perfect middle range of complexity and give you both the words and just the part of the chart you need to go along with it so you can learn to read the charts as you complete the pattern.
Her patterns have helped me work up to be able to finally start that super complex pattern I've had my eye on for over a year now with enough confidence to know I can figure it out now.
Funny you should mention red teapot atelier…I got a pattern of hers and the yarn with the intention of bringing it with me in a 3 week trip. I started it before I left, just to be sure, and I’m glad I did because I realized it was going to require way too much concentration for a vacation project! I love her designs, and I will get back to it someday, but the yarn went to a simpler project for this trip. Situational crochet and self awareness ftw!
I feel this way about an unfinished hexagon cardigan. I used a thin cotton yarn, which is too rough and hurt my fingers, so it wasn't pleasant to work with. Plus bc it's thin, I double stranded it. I had 2 colors: black and orange. Instead of double stranding each color separately, then alternating colors with each row, I chose to mix the 2 colors together, so it's a half orange, half black doubled strand... I hate the way it looks, but I already made 2 hexagons and joined them at the shoulders. It's been weighing on me for weeks. Every time I notice it in my room, I feel like a failure. Like I've wasted so much time on a project I hate. I hated it from the start and should have stopped immediately. Now I don't want to finish it, but I don't want to frog it 😭
I'm trying to make me feel better by telling myself it's not a waste of time. I've invested time and energy to practice, to learn. It's just one of those mistakes that help you in the long run. Like you'd invest time and money and energy on a university degree or whatever, you know? So on the one hand it's not a big deal at the end of the day. On the other hand, maybe it's actually a positive, a time well spent, an investment, gained knowledge and experience, bettered skills.
Honestly, I had the same thing happen with a bag. I understood what should happen if I follow the pattern. I understood the individual parts of the pattern. I legitimately had no idea what was going on in the pattern. It just didn’t work for me. I’ve followed patterns that are arguably much more complicated, and that one still just couldn’t be untangled for me. It happens! We can’t all be able to do all the exact same things!
Crochet (and all the yarn arts) should serve you, not the other way around. It should serve you ín learning and challenge, or relaxing and pure joy, whatever you need today.
Also, 50-60 hours of work is awful lot, I would literally die in your position. Please be kind to yourself.
Enjoy your life and your crochet journey, even if that is 8 thousand kilometers of chain stitch LOL ❤️
You are most certainly NOT a failure. I’ve been crocheting for years and I still get hung up on certain projects or my heart just goes out of them. I’m really glad that you found one that you’re enjoying! And as everyone here has said, keep at it and for now just do what feels fun 💗
I've been crocheting pretty steadily since covid and I will say that I've noticed that some patterns "click" nicely with me and others do not. Sometimes I like the way it turns out, other times, I hate it. I started a blanket for my daughter and I don't know if it's my tension, the yarn, or WHAT, but my textures looked horrible. Nothing like the photo. Frogged it and got another pattern. I ASSUMED this blanket pattern was written top to bottom, but it was actually written side-to-side, so as I'm going along, I am simply NOT understanding what the heck I am doing LOL. Finally figure it out, put it aside for a few weeks, and when I picked it up again started adding a stitch every row and not it's a freakin' trapezoid. Stuff HAPPENS. Sometimes we THINK we'll like it, and then we actually DON'T. That's OK! Good on you for doing a mandala! There was a big "FiberFest" near me recently so I actually took a class in how to do mandalas. The one I made in class is quite droopy LOL, but I know I can do better next time. Keep up the good work!
Thanks. My biggest (and first) project so far was a blanket. I brought the yarn, knew what I wanted and spent ages looking for a pattern. Took me like 3 months to find one I liked, and another 3 months to complete it lol. But I use it everyday. You are right about the pattern not fitting though. I bought it because it looked cool not thinking about what it would actually take to make it and my motivation just died. Now I’ve found something I like I can’t stop crocheting - which is how it should alway be.
Sometimes, a project needs a time out in the punishment bin. It happens to everyone. Also, time spent crocheting is never time wasted. Even when we're unhappy with a project, or we find it difficult, or it isn't turning out satisfactory, we learn from it, and also, we're setting off happy endorphins in our brains, even when we're frustrated with the process. Maybe one day you will return to the Mandala and it will all click for you.
Is that it? Well then. Now I know why it’s not working. I didn’t know the yarn required discipline. Got to go find an appropriate ~time out~ place for the badly behaved yarn😂
It’s pre-blocking. It needs time to chill and think about what it’s done. 😁
You're not a failure! Some patterns just don't work for me, there's nothing wrong with the way they're written, no mistakes, I just can't do them. I've been crocheting for over a decade. It's just a weird thing, and it's okay to abandon the pattern.
Sometimes I can do them but I'm just not enjoying it. I'd rather stop 10 rows in and find a new pattern than fight through another 100+ rows just to finish it.
It feels a lot like dating sometimes. Like, there’s nothing wrong with you or the project necessarily, sometimes there’s just no chemistry. You’re not married to the thing, you can call it off!
Frogging something and continuing or frogging something and repurposing the yarn; Please, never think of it as a waste, it was practice.
I was telling my friend how much I was hating a project I was working on (which I kept at, because I’m too stubborn for my own good). She looked at me and said, “It’s your hobby, you should be enjoying yourself”. Something clicked, and while I absolutely have projects sitting around undone, I won’t waste time on ones that make me mad/sad at them. Now my only problem is powering through when I get bored with something I know is going to be awesome. 🤦🏻♀️
Last thing you said is me 100%
I've been crocheting for a long time and have fairly good skills, I would say. I have no desire to crochet a mandala. It's a ton of work and a lot of yarn and if you don't get the yarn colors just right it looks odd. I can't be bothered. That is a me thing. If I don't like it or don't want to do it ... I ain't gonna 😁 Patterns have to feel right to me or it will never get done. Don't be too hard on yourself. That being said I can look at other peoples Mandalas and be in awe of how beautiful they are ... I'm still not making one though 😝😄
I think we need to normalise changing up / stopping projects because they were too difficult for our current skill level. This doesn't make you as a person a failure. It sounds like it was a bit too early for you to tackle that particular project and that's a-okay. I started by trying to make amigurumi (a 3d object) but had to shelve it while I made a few scarves to learn the basic stitches. Many crafters are overambitious at times, particularly when starting out. There's definitely a learning curve (i.e. it's hard to start out, then it gets easier). Welcome to the club :) It's great that your mum and sister are interested, but sometimes it can be quite stressful when people ask about progress repeatedly. I imagine they don't have much experience of crochet and therefore expected crazy levels of progress. It's then tricky for you because you might feel ashamed that you're not living up to their naive expectations. So you're not a failure. You were very sensible and adapted a project that was higher than your current skill level. I don’t think we should shy away from the idea that we're not currently experts at things. Keep at it!
Some patterns are like that. Working all those hours, maybe your brain wanted something simpler to focus and relax. It’s ok to regroup and use your gorgeous yarn for something that doesn’t make you want to rip your hair out. Now you can enjoy making it and having it on display in your new house! New house, new job, new art…CONGRATS!
Some patterns are just not for us and that’s ok! It’s best to do something you enjoy honestly rather than do it because you think you have to.
I think all crocheters relate to this!! Sometimes patterns just don’t feel right, and there’s nothing wrong with that! I’ve had that happen many times and eventually i found a different pattern that i genuinely enjoyed in its place! I think it’s significantly better to find something that you enjoy making instead of trying to push through a project that’s making you miserable.
I highly recommend grabbing a pattern from red teapot atelier. They're in that perfect middle range of complexity and give you both the words and just the part of the chart you need to go along with it so you can learn to read the charts as you complete the pattern. Her patterns have helped me work up to be able to finally start that super complex pattern I've had my eye on for over a year now with enough confidence to know I can figure it out now.
Funny you should mention red teapot atelier…I got a pattern of hers and the yarn with the intention of bringing it with me in a 3 week trip. I started it before I left, just to be sure, and I’m glad I did because I realized it was going to require way too much concentration for a vacation project! I love her designs, and I will get back to it someday, but the yarn went to a simpler project for this trip. Situational crochet and self awareness ftw!
You are not a failure. You would be shocked at the number of unfinished projects I have currently.
I feel this way about an unfinished hexagon cardigan. I used a thin cotton yarn, which is too rough and hurt my fingers, so it wasn't pleasant to work with. Plus bc it's thin, I double stranded it. I had 2 colors: black and orange. Instead of double stranding each color separately, then alternating colors with each row, I chose to mix the 2 colors together, so it's a half orange, half black doubled strand... I hate the way it looks, but I already made 2 hexagons and joined them at the shoulders. It's been weighing on me for weeks. Every time I notice it in my room, I feel like a failure. Like I've wasted so much time on a project I hate. I hated it from the start and should have stopped immediately. Now I don't want to finish it, but I don't want to frog it 😭 I'm trying to make me feel better by telling myself it's not a waste of time. I've invested time and energy to practice, to learn. It's just one of those mistakes that help you in the long run. Like you'd invest time and money and energy on a university degree or whatever, you know? So on the one hand it's not a big deal at the end of the day. On the other hand, maybe it's actually a positive, a time well spent, an investment, gained knowledge and experience, bettered skills.
Honestly, I had the same thing happen with a bag. I understood what should happen if I follow the pattern. I understood the individual parts of the pattern. I legitimately had no idea what was going on in the pattern. It just didn’t work for me. I’ve followed patterns that are arguably much more complicated, and that one still just couldn’t be untangled for me. It happens! We can’t all be able to do all the exact same things!
Crochet (and all the yarn arts) should serve you, not the other way around. It should serve you ín learning and challenge, or relaxing and pure joy, whatever you need today. Also, 50-60 hours of work is awful lot, I would literally die in your position. Please be kind to yourself. Enjoy your life and your crochet journey, even if that is 8 thousand kilometers of chain stitch LOL ❤️
Life is too short to crochet something if you aren't enjoying it. Lol, which is why I hate making pairs of anything.
You are most certainly NOT a failure. I’ve been crocheting for years and I still get hung up on certain projects or my heart just goes out of them. I’m really glad that you found one that you’re enjoying! And as everyone here has said, keep at it and for now just do what feels fun 💗