6 Strategies to Make Progress on a Crochet Project
Every crocheter knows the feeling of having a project you want to work on, but not having the time to devote to it. And when you have several crochet projects going at one time, it’s more than a little overwhelming when you find yourself struggling to make progress and you see your pile of un-finished projects continuing to grow. But it doesn’t have to be that way! With the right strategies, even the busiest crocheters can make steady progress on their crochet projects without having to work frantically or regularly block off large amounts of time.
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How to Make Progress on a Crochet Project
As much as I’d love to spend a large portion of the day working on crochet projects, my days are filled with lots of other tasks. Many days I only get 10 or 15 minutes worth of stitching done before the end of the day. Over the years I’ve developed a few routines and strategies that help me make progress on my crochet projects even when time is limited.
1: Keep a project in or near the room where you spend your down time
Rather than store your current project in a separate room, or have it tucked away in a closet, keep a work-in-progress (WIP) and all of the necessary supplies easily accessible. I like to keep my crochet projects in a canvas bag that sits on a chair in the dining room. This allows the it to be near my recliner but not on the floor. Some of my friends keep their WIP bag stored on a shelf in their living room. You can also use functional storage compartments like ottomans or shelving with canvas bins so that the project is out of sight.
Ultimately, you’re looking to store your project anywhere that you can easily grab it and relocate to your favorite stitching spot. This keeps you from spending time searching for all of the things.
2: Work on your project while you do other relaxing things
You may not spend hours on end sitting in front of the television or listening to podcasts or audio books, but if you find yourself sitting around for a little bit in the evenings to wind down, this is a great time to crochet. Every little bit of time – even 20 or 30 minutes – will help you make progress on your project. A few years ago I fell into the habit of playing games on my phone while I watched tv at night. Now, when we settle in to watch a show before we go to bed, I grab my crochet project instead of my phone.
3: Use a progress tracker so that you know where you left off
One of the most irritating things about working on a project in stages is having to remember what row you’re on, or what hook you were using. If that’s something you struggle with too, I have the perfect tool for you! You can have the Crochet Project Progress Tracker delivered directly to your inbox today by signing up for the Measured and Stitched newsletter.
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4: Set aside time to learn new skills (if necessary)
If you’re working on a project that requires you to learn a new technique or stitch, set aside time to learn or practice that technique before trying to make progress on the project. Becoming overwhelmed by over not knowing what to do next is one of the reasons a project gets put in time out! It’s incredibly frustrating to pick up a project thinking you’re going to work on it for a bit and then get stuck because you’re not sure what to do. Setting aside time to look up a tutorial video or read through the pattern notes will help you move forward with the new skill and feel more confident when you’re working on the project.
When I’m busy, I tend to choose crochet projects that don’t require me to learn anything new so that I avoid this situation entirely, but it does mean that my opportunities to learn new skills are much more limited.
5: Set reasonable timelines for yourself
Sometimes we set ourselves up for failure by setting unrealistic timelines or deadlines for completing a project. If you know that you are in a busy season of life, telling yourself that you can finish a large throw blanket in two weeks might not be a reasonable goal. When we set deadlines for ourselves that are nearly impossible to reach, we end up migrating towards negative feelings and avoiding the project altogether.
Be honest with yourself and others about how much time you have to devote to a project. It will help you stay motivated to finish the project when the goal feels attainable.
6: Remind yourself that crochet is more than just a finished project
While the finished project is usually what gets all of the attention, the process of creating is just as important. If crochet is something you enjoy doing to relax and rest. Instead, try shifting your focus to finding time to do what you love instead of focusing on finding time to finish the project. When I started viewing my crochet time as a part of my self-care routine, the projects started flying off of my hook.
Some of my favorite crochet patterns
My biggest piece of advice is to keep in mind that crochet is not an all-or-nothing craft. You don’t have to stitch for hours at a time or finish a certain number of projects each year. Constantly be learning a new skill or technique is also not a requirement. You can find ways to fit crochet into your life and work steadily, a little at a time, to finish that list of projects you’ve been dreaming about making.
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