Sometimes I get into a funk and wonder why I’m spending time and energy making things that don’t seem to have a specific purpose. I also sometimes get down on myself about the mountain of yarn, yards of fabric or tubs of supplies. I know I'm not alone in having an occasional moment of despair about the money spent or the lackluster response of someone to a gift made for them, or just a periodic cycle of “blah”. Thankfully, these are generally transient, but they can be difficult all the same.
I have also, on occasion, walked into a craft store and stared at walls of yarn or rows of fabric bolts and felt frustrated and uninspired. Those episodes are rare, but they still descend on me now and again.
Then there are times when I double down my seeming lack of inspiration and begin to question myself for spending time making “silly little things” or “yet another shawl”. When I slip into these funks, it can be difficult to snap out of it. Luckily I have a bag of tricks that help me recover during these periods.
Recently, I’ve found myself stalled in completing 3 different shawls and have been playing avoidance behavior by searching for patterns to make small critters. This past week, I found a no-sew crochet fish pattern and spent time learning it and then making one.
I was pleased with the end result, but found myself falling again into that chasm where I questioned why I wasted time making a silly fish. The mood persisted and would have crept into other areas of my life but for a trip to a local amusement park with my 3 year-old granddaughter and her parents.
The next day I tapped into my bag of tricks for these “blue spells” and went for a long walk. The air of Summer has begun to shift to that “back to school” energy, and the flowers aren’t at their best, but there are still some that are happy and bright.
As I walked, I began to think about flowers - the ones we intentionally plant as well as those that emerge on their own. While I am aware that they are important links in the food chain that support the flora and fauna on earth, I also pondered their beauty as potentially secondary to their purpose (I know that they use their colors and shapes to attract pollinators, but I’m working on a metaphor here so bear with me).
Flowers, through their colors, shapes and scents, bring a lot joy into the world and bring a multitude of positive experiences to the people who interact with them. While we may be tempted to question their purpose in peppering fields with color, or popping up through cracks in the sidewalk along city streets, most of us can agree that we appreciate them on some level.
While I don’t believe there’s an exact one-to-one comparison between flowers and crocheting, knitting, sewing, (etc.), I believe there’s some wisdom to be gleaned from considering them.
Not every action, expression or outcome needs to be purpose-driven. We can, and I suggest we should, regularly engage in activities for the sole reason that they make us smile, or bring us joy.
The next time I feel like making a “silly little fish”, or a smiley face keychain, or an octopus - or anything else - I’m going to channel my inner flower and just enjoy the ability to express in the color, shape and uniqueness of each piece, “just because” - and you should too!
Keep on stitchin’ !!
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