Ruth’s Crafterly » Blog Archive

September 27, 2006 | Filed in: Thoughts

Let me start off with an apology and a warning - beware, this is a depressing post.

I haven’t posted here in awhile because there hasn’t really been anything terribly exciting in my world of crafting. In fact, it’s just been downright discouraging. I have up to 10 WIPs in my hands, and alot of them have been stalled mostly because something is wrong with it, and either 1) I don’t know how to fix it or 2) There are too many problems and I’m not motivated to do anything about it. Sad, huh? I’ve casted on for new projects, hoping they’ll jump start me, but alas, they ended up sad little WIPs as well, making things more discouraging. {sigh}

I’ve never been in a knitting funk before, but I know others have experienced it. The joy of picking up my needles, the excitement and anticipation of a project, all that is gone. Yes, very sad.

So I decided to do a little triaging here. Damage control. This is what I’ve told myself as of late:

Rule #1: Absolutely, do NOT cast on for any more projects.

Rule #2: If you are to pick up the needles (which I know you will), your current project will be a WIP.

Rule #3: Your goal is to knock down as many WIPs as you can, and shrink it down to a manageable size (I haven’t determined what a manageable size is, but 10 WIPs is definately overwelming and NOT manageable size).

Have you been in a funk before? How did you get there, and how did you get yourself out of it?

16 Comments so far
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I have been in a knitting funk and I just kind of went with it and it went away on it’s own.

By that, I mean I didn’t force myself to knit. If something didn’t grab me, I put it down or frogged it. If no knitting made me happy, I did something else.

This too, shall pass. :)

I didn’t knit for nearly 6 months once, I blogged mostly about my dogs, and then about quilting as I took up a new craft. Interestingly enough after learning to quilt I then picked up knitting again and havn’t stopped for nearly 1 year :)

it has it’s phases, it’s okay to not knit for a while. Sometimes it means you come back with a fresh fervor when it does.

I have 4 sweaters waiting for sleeves and I’ll do it when i dang well want to, forcing myself might make me stop knitting. I know when I want, what I want, how I want. No Knit-Alongs with dates, no swaps no secret pal. No stress or pressure to finish.

Also spinning is fun when I’m not in a knitting mood.

I have definitely experienced knitting funks before. I don’t know exactly how I get into them — I think my attention just shifts to other things. I’ve gotten to the point where I just allow myself to be in the funk — I don’t push myself to knit. I leave the needles alone until I’m ready to pick them up again. I’m also more willing to frog a WIP. If I am simply not interested anymore or fixing it is beyond me, I will rip the entire thing. If I am never going to work on it again, I don’t see the point in having it hang over my head. But that’s just me. =) Remember, knitting is supposed to be fun!

I’ve been in a knitting funk before. When I was first pregnant I didn’t feel like knitting at all. I was just tired and didn’t feel like doing anything but sleeping. But, I think what got me out of it was reading blogs and seeing what others were doing. Seeing them be creative helped me to feel creative. And, there isn’t anything like FO jealousy to make you want to knit something fabulous for yourself.

You will get out of your funk, it takes time. It is supposed to be fun and something you enjoy doing, so don’t feel pressure to knit.

I get in funks quite often, especially when I have too much going on. Recently after a major funk I decided that I really needed to concentrate on being a one project at a time knitter. So I put all my projects with their appropriate yarn, and their appropriate pattern each in their own rubbermaid clear box. And I put them away in my dining room. now I only have one project that I take with me and knit on, or knit on at home. And it’s going much better. I see progress on what I’m working on and I feel some accomplishment. If I decide to quit working on a project, then I make myself frog it or if there’s some problem with it I can’t quite deal with right then, well then it can go back in it’s tub and put away. But so far that issue hasn’t come up.

I think most of us have had some sort of funk or other. Mine usually comes when I am tired of working on a project and want to start on something else. Or when I finish a big project and don’t really know what to do next. I usually overcome the funk by getting inspired by a pattern that I just have to make.

I hope you (know you will) get over your funk soon.

I hit a knitting funk when I was just knitting stuff for the shop. A little selfish knitting got me out of it.

I’m pulling for you!

Amy

Oh yes, this has definately happened to me too. I usually try to take a break and try something else for awhile. I like needlepoint and cross stitch. So sometimes I use those to get away from it all. Other times I just pick one project and forget about the rest. I focus on something I really want and just work through the pain. I hate it when knitting gets like that. Good luck to you.

I agree with what Kathy said - don’t let a knitting funk stress you out, and it wil just go away on it’s own.
Personally, I read knitting blogs long before I actually started to knit, so I was aware of the option of accumulating WIPs. I have my own rule about it, which is probably impossible for most knitters - I try not to have more then one WIP at a time. If I started something, I knit only that until I’m done. If I decide I don’t like it, I frog it and start something new..

I suggest you take a look at your WIPs and sort them: decide which ones you want to fix and which ones you (truthfuly) will never get arund to fixing. Then just frog them. The bright side is that you’ll have more yarn for new future projects! (but only after you’re done with the current ones.. :))

I try very hard not to let crafting become a chore. This is something I do for me (even if others get most of my FOs) because I enjoy it and feel the need to have more creativity in my life.

What about another craft as pixie mentioned. Doesn’t have to be a huge commitment. Make some brownies. Whip up a tote bag.

The yarn will call to you soon enough.

ouch! Sorry u r in a funk now. Take a break from it and try other stuff? It works for me. After a while I’ll just go back to it cause it starts ‘calling’ me back. :) I’ve just stopped for a couple of mths again.

Hope you feel better!!

Hey girl. I’ve been in a funk before…exactly like you were talking about. either everything was wrong, or i just wasn’t motivated to knit. I just stopped knitting alot for a couple of weeks. it went away. :) maybe knitting simple things like preemie hats or something will make the funk go away :)

Like everyone, I’ve been in a funk too. I sometimes get too stressed with too many WIPs. For me, it helps that I don’t knit for a while, do something different - like reading or keep my knitting focused. I usually get inspired to knit again after buying more yarn or patterns (not a recommendation!!) Sometimes, to make me feel better I knit something small and easy, just to feel that I can accomplish something.

Hope you get your groove back.

Ps - if you need help on some of the fixing issues, just shout. The internet world is full of very helpful bloggers.

So sorry to hear that. But a little break may work wonders for you. WIP piling is a scary thought and I guess completing before casting on for new one is the best option. And of course, frogging the ones, you know you never will work on again.

But give yourself a break, good food, good movies, good company and you’ll be happy and raring to go in no time…(at least I’m hoping so very fervently)

Good luck!

Hi Ruth, not being able to solve my gauge problem has put my knitting dreams in the closet for a long time. Several things jump start me…just picking something very very simple to make.~~ Having someone else interested in my project or make the same thing at the same time. My friend & I started adorable cross st projects at the same time (my idea, she insisted she did not have the time!) Well, she is on the third chart, I completed the first only. That doesn’t bother me though, my cello time is important and I have found I love spinning!!! Plus, I am working on a darling redwork pattern that is very relaxing. You are blessed to have so many girlfriends to knit with …my husband just doesn’t equal up to girl-power enthusiasm over things….grin.~~You don’t know this, but I have bragged on your knitting more than once or twice! I’d love to have made the beautiful knitted items you have accomplished and posted pictures of!! So, I hope this bit of post helps to jump start your interest again in your knitting…you are very talented! I like to see the pictures of your yarn purchases too. My only skeleton in closet right now is that little baby sock..when I got to the heel, 3 tries and you’re out is what happened to me. The tv channel DIY just had a show on doing sock heels and I taped it and will hopefully have success. What a sweet moment that would be…smile.

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