Motivation
Crocheting is more than just an enjoyable hobby; it is also an effective way of taking care of yourself. Crocheting turns ordinary string into tangible memories and masterpieces by taking the 'rhythmic' and 'repetitive' motions of the craft to provide a 'meditative escape' for the crafter. These motions also help to calm the mind, reduce stress and provide the crafter with a 'sense of achievement' as they complete their project. Whether they create something quick like tiny animals or pour lots of love into something large like a hand-made blanket, their motivations to crochet include a 'sense of belonging' to the global crochet community and connecting with fellow crafters by sharing their progress and celebrating small achievements together to keep the creative spirit alive, especially during periods of lack of inspiration. Regardless of whether you crochet to ease your depression, keep your hands busy, or give a 'gift of love and hugs' to a family member, crocheting will give you a 'grounding and healthy escape' and meet you exactly where you are.
Goals
Creating goals can help take an overwhelming amount of yarn and create a series of accomplishments that will be very rewarding as you accomplish each step along the way. In particular, taking one large item you want to create such as an afghan, and breaking it down into smaller, daily or weekly tasks (for example - creating two squares a day) will allow you to stay on track with completing your goal without getting burned out in the process. Additionally, creating goals will help you strike the balance between developing new skills as an artist and enjoying the relaxation of creating your normal styles by establishing one new stitch that you will learn every month. The creation of goals can also help you achieve both your objective to "stash-bust" and create a specific number of handmade gifts for the holidays; ultimately providing you with guidance ("roadmap") to help you maintain your "crojo" (crochet mojo) and provide you with a sense of purpose each time you use your hook.
Create for Yourself
Through the process of creating for yourself, you free yourself from the burden of perfectionism as well as the expectations of other people’s desires. When you crochet solely for the pleasure and joy it provides you, it gives you the opportunity to try new things, such as flashy colors and wild textures that may not be appropriate for gifts or commissions, but still represent who you are as an artist. Viewing your crochet creation as "self-centered" allows you to turn each stitch into your own "inner dialogue" and process through this form of "creative liberation" rather than focusing on how fast you can finish the item; instead concentrating on the "sensory experience" of feeling and touching the different colors and textures of yarn. By making yourself comfortable and providing yourself with an aesthetic pleasing to you, you create a "sacred space" to express yourself through your crochet, no matter what you create, such as a warm sweater or even just a dishcloth, they will be a symbol of your own "worth and artistry."
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