A Creative Funk – part 2

Following on from yesterday’s post “A creative funk”. This is part 2 of 3. I’m listing all my unfinished projects and figuring out what obstacles are getting in the way to help me get back on track. If you’ve not already read part one, you can read it here.

WIP 2 – Hinterland Dress

WIP 2 – is my Hinterland Dress. I’ve wanted to make one of these for years. I’ve admired so many of them on Instagram, and in the grand scheme of things it’s a straight forward sew. However I have PROCRASTINATED so much. I have a real metal block with sewing at the moment.

I think having listened to lots of sustainability podcasts recently, I’m viewing fabric as a much more precious commodity as usual (I’ve always been precious over it, but now even more so). My Hinterland toile is made of a very old bed sheet from my Grans attic which wasn’t in a great condition. I dyed in and cut around the holes. So I’m making good use of it, but still something is preventing me from finishing. I’m about 70% there!

I’ve made time to work on it and then just don’t feel like it. I also set myself deadlines and then just didn’t try and meet them. There’s always the worry when sewing garments (particularly in woven fabric) that once they’re finished they won’t fit or they simply don’t suit you. This always makes me procrastinate.

However I am going on holiday soon (maybe too soon). Though it would be nice to finish it to take with me, so hopefully that will spur me on, maybe even setting myself a small task at a time… pin pockets in place today…. Failing that, I am attending a jeans making workshop next weekend. Hopefully that’ll build my confidence again so I can tackle more sewing.

WIP 3 – Crochet hexagon Cardigan

WIP 3 – Crochet cardigan. This was an idea I had rattling around my brain for sometime, to make a cardigan out of crochet hexagons. Then when I was looking through my yarn, I discovered I had some left over bamboo cotton in 3 colours that looked great together. Navy, teal & grey so I thought a summery cardigan would be great. I almost talked myself out of starting it several times. However I was enthused by the idea so decided to go with it (despite not being on my #MakeNine list and adding another WIP to the list). I initially made good progress and I was enjoying it, but then I stalled. I think in part it’s because I knew I wouldn’t get it complete for summer. Also having made the majority of the hexagons (the fun bit) sewing the hexagons together is fiddly. It also works best sat at a table, with it spread out. But I like to crochet/knit while sat in my lounge on the sofa and the coffee table is not the best height for that. Really it’s just a practicality and mentally preventing my progress here.

I can use my sewing table in my spare room. However my sewing my machine is set up with all the pieces of my hinterland dress waiting for me to finish it. If I clear that away that’s one more barrier to not completing WIP No.2. So this will just mean that I will have to do WIP 2 before 3, then I have the table space and I can just watch something using my laptop. Simple practical solution there (hopefully). I am totally ignoring the fact that I’m not using a pattern and I’m making it up as I go along (as an inexperienced crocheter)… I’ll cross any other bridges when I get to them. I’ve already resigned myself to the fact that it’ll be ready for spring/summer 2023!

WIP 3 – Ilha Sweater

WIP 4 – Ilha Sweater by Tête Bêche Designs. Well I started this over a year ago. We had a uniform at work, a casual uniform of a black top. So I decided to knit myself a black loose fitting 4ply jumper I could wear with lots of different things. We then scraped our uniform just after I started this project and we can wear what we like (excellent news for all my other knits). However I don’t think I would have knitted a black top otherwise. Undeterred I decided to persevere. I discovered after splitting for the sleeves, it was way too big for me (after adjusting for my different tension). So I ripped it out and started again. This time the fit looks alright, but the more I knit of it the less I can imagine wearing it. The lack of enthusiasm has definitely slowed my progress, also black yarn is not good to knit with in rubbish light. I have decided I will finish it, however I may end up giving it away when I do… time will tell. This is a relatively good mindless knitting project, now I’m on the body, though I’m already not looking forward to the sleeves…

Would you just let this reside in the WIP pile forever, persevere or rip it out and use/gift the yarn for something else?

Thanks for reading.
Steph Xx

A creative funk

I’ve been in a little bit of a creative funk lately. If you read my blog you might think it’s lasted a very long time due to my lack of posts. It’s not been that bad. But lockdown and the pandemic did strange things to us all and in particular my motivation and how I spent my time. I’ve still making (I always am) however during the lockdowns I was spending much more time behind a computer screen for work. Which meant I didn’t feel like doing the same in my spare time too. I documented most things over on my Instagram account. Even then it was sporadic.

However I am probably in my worse creative funk EVER. I’ve lost focus and because I’ve not completed much I’m lacking enthusiasm/inspiration for a lot of my creative pursuits. This is due to several reasons, I think. It peaked at the worst of our UK heatwave (I’m the opposite of solar powered – the sun and heat zap my energy) and I’ve struggled to get going again. I’m working really hard in my day job. Often working late which usually means I’m exhausted when I get home and do very little (make tea, cat cuddles and watch some TV). Then my days off I’m resting and recuperating and doing some general house stuff (food shopping, cleaning life admin etc). Then before you know all your spare time has gone. Then there’s the actual projects that could be part if the issues. I also have lots on the go so that’s tricky to balance too. I think it must also have a little to do with my age and energy levels too (maybe).

Mia – my lovely procrastination buddy

I realise this is normal for most and I don’t have other constrains on my time (kids/other dependants/commitments). However this is very much out of character for me, I’m usually reaching for a project at every opportunity, so I always felt productive too.

It’s not all doom and gloom

I’m not as down as all my ramblings might lead to you conclude. But I am keen to get myself out of this funk and find my creative oomph again. I’ve also been frustrated my things more easily and I’ve lost my nerve with some things (like cutting into fabric). However I always used to find writing blogs posts quite cathartic. So when I mentioned to my friend Jem that I was going to document all my WIPs to try and get my making mojo back, she asked if I was going to write a blog post. I thought, YES! And here it is.

I always used to be a fairly monogamous knitter, start a project and finish it before moving onto the next, maybe I’d have 1 big project and a smaller one on the go and that’s worked for me for years. However last year, as things felt a little strange during lockdown 2/3 (winter 2020 into 2021) I decided to make myself a Make Nine list, which I’ve done before. However last year I did one for sewing and knitting. And I managed to pretty much complete all 18 projects. (side note – you can read notes on this on Instagram). It was great, (though ambitious) it helped me focus and I felt incredibly productive. However I occasionally found myself frustrated by the limits I’d put on myself. As a result I gave myself more free reign this year. I made a looser plan for my make nine this year so I could do additional projects that just took my fancy too. I think this might have been a contributor to my unravelling… so to speak.

My “Make Nine” projects for 2022

I think I like the structure of lists and occasional deadlines (like finishing a particular garment for a certain occasion). However I’ve had several of these bench marks that have been and gone this year. I’ve also had days where I’ve planned ahead to be able to make set some time aside for sewing on a set day and then just didn’t fancy it. I then felt disappointed with myself that I’d wasted the time & not been productive. I know deep down it doesn’t really matter and I should be easier on myself. However making and creating things is such a big part of my life I feel a little broken when I don’t want to do it.

This has turned into more of a stream of consciousness than I thought it would. However writing this has helped my think about how to help myself. I think lists definitely help me. My Make Nine list of projects for 2022 is still relevant. However I am also going to document all my current Work In Progress projects to help me be more realistic and decide what to focus on.  I’ve decided to note down what each project is and what obstacles are preventing me from just getting on with them and maybe set myself a realistic go for completing them.

A have 7 significant project on the go at the moment. If I list them all here now this might turn into a ridiculously long post (even more so), so I’ll start with one and split the rest into 2 more posts;  

WIP 1 – First up are socks from my #MakeNine list. I wanted to knit some socks with a little more interest as most of my hand knitted socks are quite plain. These Dancing Skies Socks by Emily Joy Rickard caught my eye last year. They’re striking with a nice amount of detail. However now I’m knitting them, I don’t always reach for them. Sometimes I just want a simple mindless knit to have on the go, that I don’t have to think about (the irony is not lost on me).

That said now I’ve got into them a lot more (as of last weekend) they’re coming along nicely. I feel there’s always a point in socks when they feel like they’re taking ages and you’ll never finish. I’m hoping I’m now past that. I have a long car journey soon (as a passenger) so hopefully they’ll be a good travel project and I might even get onto the second sock and then it’s plain sailing from there…

Thank you for reading, the next instalment will be shared tomorrow.
Steph : )