Ditching Perfectionism & A Finished Scarf

Spring Crochet Scarf made for my Mom

One of the biggest things that holds me back from creating is my perfectionism. While I have so many ideas and unfinished projects that stem from being overly excited about my hobbies, the need for perfect execution inhibits my ability to finish much of anything. I get caught up in small details which deters me from even wanting to continue whatever it is I’m working on and unfortunately this is consistent across the board, not just with fiber arts. And further still I tend to call attention to my mistakes within my finished works when gifting or showing my projects.

While it is easy to say that nothing and nobody is perfect, it is difficult to internalize, especially regarding what I create. My perfectionist mindset believes there is no excuse for mistakes if I am pouring so many hours into a project. This isn’t healthy or conducive to creating, and frankly, I should be proud of the things I make regardless of how long it took me or if there are any mistakes. I’ve come across a mantra from Irish Folklore that resonates with me, specifically challenging perfectionism in fiber arts. The idea is that since artists put their souls into their crochet works, a mistake should intentionally be left in so that your soul can escape and return to you (Source). I love this idea as it is a great way to reframe viewing mistakes in your work and encourages it instead. This also makes finished projects even more unique and truly one of a kind, as ultimately what matters is that the project brings me and or the person I am gifting it to joy.

I wanted to touch on some thoughts about perfectionism as it relates to fiber arts since I just finished and gifted a decorative scarf for my Mom’s birthday. I completed the scarf fairly quickly in about two and a half days and it was not a type of project that I had done before in regards to the style and the type of yarn used. The weight 2 cotton yarn coupled with the intricate, lacy pattern resulted in a beautiful flowy scarf, albeit with a few mistakes. I didn’t intentionally force myself to try to ditch perfectionism with this project but with the tight deadline, I wanted to try to push through finishing the scarf without going back and undoing my work wherever I knew I made a mistake. The lacy stitch, however, lent itself to hiding mistakes as I couldn’t find the places I messed up without looking very closely and inspecting the scarf row by row. I gifted the scarf to my Mom (without calling attention to the fact that I had messed up anywhere!!) who loved it and I had a lot of fun making it, which is all I can ask for. I’m really proud of this scarf and I am going to continue embracing the mistakes in my work that make it uniquely mine.

Scarf Pattern: Spring Crochet Scarf from Toyslab Creations

Yarn Used: Queensland Collection Coastal Cotton Fine (Lilac)