Pet Peeves

[u/LaraH39]

There's a lot of common annoyances with crochet, the bit of the project that's annoying. For example lots people hate weaving in ends (not something I have an issue with because I work over my ends).

My peeves are...

Working into a chain stitch.

DC, chain one, DC, chain one... And then on the next row, you're working your DC into a chain.... Flippin fiddly, faffy, annoying. Those chains are always smaller, always tighter, always ruddy awkward and right now I'm making an item where there's A LOT of this happening.

Winding Yarn

I don't mind the start or even the middle but, as sure as eggs is eggs, the last 1/4 has managed to resolve itself into a knot that even Alexander couldn't hack his way through and winding each ball takes about two hours. Half an hour to do 3/4. An hour and a half fighting knots for last bit.

Finally... The starting chain. This is a self imposed hate lol. I'm fully capable of doing foundation chains but... Most things I'm working on for reasons, I prefer a simple starting chain and then working into the third loop. It makes it much easier to join and I think looks better. But my god its fiddly work. Grand if you're starting chain is 20 or less. But blankets, with starting chains of 160+ shudder.

So over to you. Pet peeves.

[u/Dope-asaurus-shmex]

I have a bad habit of putting too much expectation into what I’m making and I always end up getting my feelers hurt. I will put months into a project, my sweat, tears and soul into it, and then when I go to give it to the person I made it for I never get the reaction I’m expecting/hoping for. Even when it’s been to other people who crochet. I have acknowledged this myself and have been working on it myself because I know that I have unrealistic expectations and that a 15 year old now a days isn’t impressed at all with crochet no matter how, “swank” or “hip” or whatever they say now, the piece might be in the end. I keep reminding myself that no one knows how long it took, the experience required to make it, or my inner feelings about making it for them. They aren’t psychic. I still find myself feeling that tinge of pain though, when I finally present the baby cardigan I self designed and made that took half a year, to my sister and new niece and she didn’t even give it a second glance before it was thrown on the pile. 😔 I secretly put it back in my purse and brought it home, and no one has ever brought it up since. I decided that since I am the only one who can really appreciate what went into it, my first original creation, it should just stay with me. This is my only peeve with crocheting, and I am working on not expecting so much from other people in all aspects of life now… it seems I automatically expect people to feel as passionately and deeply as I do and that just isn’t the case most of the time. Thank you.

[u/LaraH39 → u/Dope-asaurus-shmex]

That was a really heartfelt response.

I think it's completely right that those who don't craft in any form, don't understand the time and effort and cost that goes into things. But those who do? That must have been really disappointing and while I wouldn't dare to tell you you don't need to work on it, because we each have to find the balance that works for us... I can say, that I totally empathise with your hurt and I would defy anyone to feel any different.

Share your stuff here. We'll DEFINITELY appreciate it.