"Mind-full to mindful. Crochet can be your best partner in this journey."

Priya Asthana

Ah, the allure of shiny object syndrome in the world of crochet patterns. It's a familiar sensation for many crocheters—being captivated by a seemingly endless array of beautiful and enticing patterns. From intricate lace shawls to adorable amigurumi creatures, the choices are limitless. But with so many enticing options, it's easy to fall victim to the irresistible pull of starting multiple projects without finishing them.

This phenomenon, known as shiny object syndrome, can leave us surrounded by half-finished creations and a nagging sense of guilt. It's important to recognise this pattern-hopping tendency and find strategies to maintain focus and discipline. By exercising restraint, prioritising projects, and cultivating patience, we can strike a balance between exploring new patterns and achieving the satisfaction of completing our crochet projects.

Eighteen months ago I released a YouTube video called Drowning in Wips. I was determined to get these projects finished or frogged (ripping out the stitches to reuse the yarn on something else). Did I manage it? Heck no! But I did manage to get the stack of project bags organised, decided which projects I really didn’t want to finish and made some headway into finishing some of the easier ones. I REALLY hate sewing, so often my projects just need to be joined together and I let them fester, unfinished just because I don’t want to do sewing…I’m working on getting better at this.

So if you are drowning in WIPS yourself or you recognise yourself in my description of shiny object syndrome, here are some tips to help you stay on track.

Selecting a Pattern

Be realistic about your skill level. I’m not saying you shouldn’t challenge yourself with new techniques and stitches, but if you are still learning the basics, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by a complicated pattern and give up.

Is the pattern something that interests you?  It’s no good making a lacy shawl if you would never wear it

or have someone in mind to gift it to.

Consider the time required and the complexity of each pattern - are you able to commit the time to complete the pattern? I started a Sophie’s Universe blanket at the beginning of 2020. I was all gungho to get started. I bought the yarn pack and the pattern book and was doing really well crocheting a few rounds a day whilst the house was quiet. No one could have predicted the pandemic that year, but I had to put it on the back burner. I think I’ve managed to do 3 rounds since then because I need to focus on the pattern and life has been crazy busy since then.  I will finish it one day but in this current season of life…it’s not the project for now.

If you like to collect crochet patterns (and let’s face it, most of us do in some form: magazine stacks, crochet books, Pinterest boards, I see you!), why not make a pattern queue? Prioritise things like holiday gifts and decor, birthday or other gifts which have a definite deadline. Maybe set yourself a challenge of completing in a set time frame…and make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to finish them…but that's for another blog.

Get Yourself Organised

Make sure you have all the things you need for your project on hand. Do you have enough yarn, the right-sized hooks, stitch markers, row counter etc? If you always crochet in the same place at home, consider setting up a crochet basket to neatly hide away your work but easy to access if you need something. You don’t want to waste valuable crochet time by hunting down your 4mm hook (by the way, it’s probably in a bag with one of your WIPS!)

Download the Conquer Crochet Project Folder Inserts which has a page for organising your WIPS to add to your project bag. This will save you time in the future.

Declutter Your WIPS

Gather all your project bags and boxes in one place. I know for some of us this may be a marathon task but it’s useful to see everything at a glance. Open up each WIP and take a really good look at it then ask yourself these questions:

• Do you still like the project?

• Do you have a place for it in your life or someone in mind to gift it to?

• Do you have enough yarn to finish the project?

• Can you remember what size crochet hook you used?

• Do you still have the pattern?

• Do you have the time to finish the project?

If you answered no to one or more of these questions, then you’re probably better off frogging it and using the yarn for another project.

“But Karen, I’ve spent hours on this project and it will all the for nothing!”

Will it? Let’s think about this argument for keeping a WIP. When you started this project you were really

excited. It probably gave you a great dopamine hit and made you feel really good about yourself. You then spent hours of mindful crocheting which has been really good for your mental health - that’s not nothing.

What will happen if you keep the WIP? You’ll feel guilty every time you come across that WIP bag when you’re searching for something else. Or you force yourself to finish the project but you don’t really enjoy the process and in the end, you have a finished piece that, possibly, no one wants and you’ve used up the yarn and time you could have used on an exciting project that will boost your mental well being.

Top Tips

• Limit the number of ongoing projects to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

• Complete one project before starting a new one, unless you're comfortable working on multiple projects simultaneously ... then go and read tip one again!.

• Track and document your progress - mark off where you are on a pattern, take photographs of your progress.

• Keep a crochet project folder or use digital tools to record your progress, including patterns used, hook sizes, modifications made, and any challenges faced.

• Take photos of your finished projects to showcase your work and inspire others. Why not start an Instagram account?

• Participate in CALs (crochet-alongs) or challenges to stay motivated and accountable.

Remember, the key to managing crochet projects is finding a system that works best for you and adapting it to your personal preferences and needs. 

Think Twice before starting ANOTHER new project.

Happy hooking!

Karen x