Comments | girliejones: Process versus product

girliejones

Process versus product

Jan 09, 2011 12:51

A few years ago I realised that I am a process and not a product crafter. I enjoy the process but am not motivated by the finished object. I've knitted and crocheted all my life and yet own very few of the items I've made, most were gifted away at the time. At the peak of my yarn acquisition, I would justify the expense (addiction to hand dyed sock ( Read more... )

quilting, new years resolutions, knitting

Comments 8

redbraids January 9 2011, 06:30:19 UTC

Oh boy could I talk about this in much detail ( ... )

girliejones February 7 2011, 15:10:59 UTC

I so would love to chat with you at length about this. I think I am oddly fascinated with process and methodology and so on.

I love how you work on so many different crafts and can move back and forth between them.

I'd also like to say that I craft as the mood takes me but I think my obsessive nature and routine overrides mood, if that makes sense.

redbraids February 7 2011, 15:27:05 UTC

Thank you! I have had more thoughts on this post myself and would love to talk to you about it!

When I craft where the inspiration takes me I love the results. I also love the creatively that develops when I craft with limited resources and have to find creative solutions.

girliejones February 7 2011, 15:29:28 UTC

My problem is that when I craft at whim, I start lots of things and never come back to finish. I might also tend to be overambitious.

cassiphone January 9 2011, 11:39:36 UTC

I personally think of crafting as a seasonal thing - quilting with cool cottons over the warmer months, and knitting as things get colder, with the fluffy yarns.

I'm sure people can do both, but given your obsessive single-minded tendencies, I suspect you might not be one of those people

But you know what? quilting will always be there. It's okay to shift from craft to craft and back again. You could try to alternate projects this year, to see if/how that works for you?

girliejones February 7 2011, 15:08:56 UTC

I think I might not be either! I was going to say that I have been quilting when I want to be challenged in my brain and knitting when I am sleepy or lacking in concentration but I've either switched into being obsessive about the knitting or am the latter (sleepy and short attention span) mostly for the last week or so. It could still technically be project obsessed rather than craft, but I suspect not.

Sort of trying to alternate projects. Haven't finished anything yet this year though...

cassiphone January 9 2011, 11:45:02 UTC

Also... not to dispute your self-assessment, but do you think maybe this is a self-perpetuating circle, and that the fact that you have kept so few of the things you have made might in part CAUSE that apathy?

I know with quilts I have made - I do get fond of them during the process and am a little bemused at times at the finished product (the fact that it exists seems such a surprise!) but often it takes time to fall in love with and appreciate such things - the charm quilt on our bed is a new surprise and revelation to me every time I stop and look at it, and the same is true of other quilts I have made.

Don't be sad about the quilt group fabric! You still get to play with it while setting the quilt, and if you want you can keep that quilt for EVER and loving the fabric will matter as you form a relationship with that quilt.

girliejones February 7 2011, 15:06:53 UTC

You think I should keep more things and see what I think? I find it hard to finish things for me and tend to prioritise gifts, which tend to have deadlines and that could be another problem.

I love your charm quilt. I hope mine inspires me the same way, for now, I don't really love it and am wondering if I have done something wrong. Which could be part of the problem for finishing it.

My mum talked me into making 3 extra blocks with the quilt group fabric - so I will have made 6 in all - and I think that will help. Though I've been paralysed by pattern decision since.