Seven Ways to Get Your Crojo Back
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You’ve heard of it, right? Crojo.. a funny little take on the word mojo, but with a crochet twist. It’s when you’ve lost your desire to pick up a hook and play with your yarn, it’s just meh… not there for ya. Whether it be because you’ve had too many failed attempts at the sweater you’re working on (um ya, I feel ya on that one 😒) or because you’ve had crochet overload— losing your crojo can really leave you feeling crummy and uninspired. And then you end up getting frustrated with yourself because you’re not getting anything done because you simply don’t feel like it! It can be a vicious cycle.
Ugh. I totally get this feeling. I struggle with this from time to time and I know how sucky it is. I took a step back recently when assessing the thought of losing my crojo, I’ve realized a common theme when it came to the reasons: it’s almost always because I’ve had “too much” of something. I’ve been crocheting too much, failing and having to frog a pattern too much, or looking for inspiration too much. Having realized this, it’s sort of nice to be able to stop the “too much” before it ends in a lost crojo. But sometimes it’s just not controlled, and you end up uninterested. Once I’ve found myself in this spot, I’ve realized there are a few things I can do to get my crochet loins goin’ (ew, did I just say that?? lol!) I’m listing them in order of importance for me, the first one being the most effective.
1) Take a break!
Yep, this one’s my fave. It’s without a doubt the first thing I do if I’m just not really “feeling it”, and honestly taking a break is what usually works for me when getting back into the swing of crocheting. Sometimes we just need to step away for whatever reason, and a lot of the time, it’s because we’ve just had too much of something. Whether it’s crocheting in general, or even too many failed attempts… putting the hook and yarn away for awhile really can be the refresh you need to step back into it at a later time. I don’t necessarily have a magic amount of time that I take breaks for, because it’s always different. Sometimes I take the weekend off, or end up stopping for the night. I think it’s just important to be aware of the situation and how your feeling, then commit to stepping away for however long you decide.
2) Hop off social media
This one sort of goes hand in hand with the taking the break. I mean, you are taking a break.. from good ol’ social media. I’d be lying if I said this one wasn’t another favorite tool of mine to get my crojo back. I can be totally guilty of consuming too much content, and gathering up inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest— and you know what they say about too much of a good thing… And looking at it from a productivity standpoint, you’re not getting anything done when you’re endlessly scrolling. It’s best sometimes to actually log out, and get some work done, or log out for the sake of taking a break altogether.
3) Go somewhere that inspires you
This one really works for me. Usually when I take breaks I like to venture out to different stores or places that inspire me. I’m almost always inspired when I go to a craft show, and I think it’s because I get so inspired by other people’s creativity. I also like to go to antique shops, flea markets, craft stores, TARGET (hehe), or my fave home decor and clothing stores. I always go without expectations… just let it flow and enjoy the experience.
4) Get active, go outside, adventure
This one is definitely a staple for me in life but certainly applies to lost crojo. I find when I adventure outside and experience nature, things just… get better. I’m usually filled with gratitude, and marvel at what God has done in this world. It’s like your world expands when you go outside. Plus getting active releases those feel-good endorphins that’ll help your mood. Win win and win.
5) Simplify your project list/focus on one WIP
Sometimes you just need to simplify to get moving in the right direction. True for so many things in life, and this definitely applies to crochet. When you’ve got too much going on, it’s hard to focus, easy to get overwhelmed and causes delay. But when you put all your energy into one project, you get quicker results which leads to gratification of a completed project. And then you’re onto the next! I am very big on making it a habit to have only 1-2 projects going, because I know how easy it is to get sidetracked, lose momentum and eventually drop a project when I’ve got too many going.
6) Destash and organize yarn
Just like with #5, simplifying can be so helpful when it comes to your yarn stash. I know how it goes, you see the yarn…. you want the yarn… and you buy the yarn. haha I’m just as guilty as having way too much of it. But perhaps organizing and getting rid of some of your yarn could really help your situation. I think it’s good to go through every skein and ball you’ve got… feel them, imagine what you’d make with them and truly ask yourself if you really need it or is it unnecessarily taking up space in your home.
7) Do a different craft
Been wanting to upcycle an old piece of furniture for your home, but never seemed to have the time for it? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to try making pottery or weaving.. painting or bookbinding? Maybe putting up your current WIP for the weekend and tackling a different type of project is the answer you need. It might get the ball rolling for you creatively, and give you the gratification you need of accomplishing something beautiful. I personally love this technique!
And those are my seven little tricks that help bring back that lovin’ crochet feeling you so desperately need in your life 😉. Do you use any of the ones I listed or have any others that are your go-tos? I’d love to hear, so comment below! It can be rough when you feel uninspired to crochet— (especially if it’s your business!) so hopefully you could take at least one of these tactics into practice and be on your way to more stitchin’.
Take care and happy hooking!
Meg
