Change Your Focus
Have you ever told yourself that you can’t do something? When I first learned to crochet, I was bad about doing just that. I kept focusing on all of the things I didn’t know how to do, instead of what I was accomplishing.
Sometimes we just need to change what we are focusing on. Once I started focusing on what I was learning and what I was able to do, my mindset shifted into, “…I may not know how right now but, I can learn!…”
In a short amount of time, I went from having to watch YouTube crochet tutorials in order to crochet projects to being able to read patterns. Changing my mindset from “I will never be able to do that!” to “I can learn how to do that!”. It gave me the courage to tackle reading crochet patterns. I’m not saying it was easy at first but, once you try it a few times it does get easier. Learning to read crochet patterns, opened up a whole new world of crochet to me. I turned into a crochet pattern collector and wished there was just enough time in the day to crochet all of the things.
I started dreaming about how cool it would be to design my own crochet patterns, because I had a hard time finding exactly what I wanted.
I love working with bulky yarn and I have the hardest time finding crochet patterns for things I want to make using bulky yarn. Once again I had the mindset that I would never be able to write my own patterns. Then I read something that really resonated with me, I can’t remember the exact wording but the gist of it was,
“ …. if you ever followed a crochet pattern and made changes to it,
you are, in a small way, designing a pattern.”
Reading that changed my mindset, because I had made small changes to most of the patterns that I used, especially blankets and washcloths! I like to have straight edges and not all patterns have you crocheting in the first and last stitch of every row, so I made changes to the pattern!
I am so thankful that I came across that blog post because I wanted to make a baby beanie for my friend’s little girl and I had a terrible time trying to find a beanie hat pattern using bulky weight for baby. Those that I found, didn’t really live up to what I had in mind so, that’s when I grabbed some yarn and my crochet hook and just started crocheting what I wanted. This is how my first pattern design came to be The Lina Beanie.
Granted, I’m talking about my crochet experiences her, but, you can apply this to everyday life. When you stop looking at things from the perspective of “I can’t do that!” and start wondering how you can do that, you will amaze yourself at just how capable you are!
Change your focus – Change your mindset!
Well, my favorite accomplishment to date is designing my pattern called the Sassy Beanie. It’s the first I’ve designed using Worsted weight yarn and it really is a great beanie to crochet.
Designing this pattern showed me that once you change your focus you can accomplish anything!
8 Comments
Rikina
I love the message of this post! All too often we get caught up in the ‘I can’t’ or ‘I don’t know how’ instead of looking at it as a learning experience and an adventure! A child doesn’t come into the world knowing how to walk but they just keep trying and trying until they get it figured out! <3
Kristine
This is absolutely spot on!
I’ve been crocheting for years, and I’ve long said “oh, I can start anything…I just never finish!”
This year I had an “aha!” moment when I realized that all those projects I was starting were blankets, and I just don’t have the attention span for bigger projects. I started making hats, and ear warmers, and scrunchies, and gnomes…and finished SO. MANY.
Changed my focus, changed my mindset!
Nicky
Yay!! Way to go Kristine!! It just makes you feel so much better looking at it from “I can do this” mindset. 🙂
Ronidona Missi Murvin
I think is my favorite post to date. Everything in your blog post resonates honesty and a powerful truth! We all fear the unknown and have to find the courage to learn something new. This fit me to a “T”, except for when I was trying to learn to read patterns we didn’t have Internet LOL. My grandmother taught me some basics, but after her passing I was on my own to learn the rest. I definitely didn’t think that I would ever learn the pattern language, but I refused to give up, just as your post says as well. And like you, once I started learning, the pattern collecting started LOL. This blog is definitely one that every new Crocheter needs to read … as well as some long time crocheters that are stuck in a rut. Definitely the motivation they need. Thank you for all you do.
Nicky
Aww Missi! Thank you so much for your kind words! When I first started blogging I almost gave up so many times because I felt like I was talking to air. I felt like no one was reading my blog posts or really cared what I was saying, but I kept going because I want to encourage and inspire others to do the same. You are so right we have to find the courage. I may never be confident in my crocheting or blogging skills but I will dig deep for the courage to do it anyways.
It has been a growing journey and I love meeting new crochet friends! You have been such a blessing! Thank you!
Kim Ladouceur
I’ve done this. Someday I will sit down & try to write my own pattern. I just get overwhelmed by the math 🙂
Nicky
Hey Kim! I sure hope you will write your own pattern. It is scary at first but so much fun! I am here if you ever have any questions about writing patterns or need help with the math part! But don’t wait for the confidence to do it just do it scared!! I am scared and so nervous every single time I write up a pattern and release it, but then I get sweet messages or comments or pictures of makes from my patterns and it makes it all worth it 🙂
Kristy
Such a great message! I’m always hard on myself when I’m learning a new technique. But when you “change your focus” like you said, it’s amazing to see all the things we’ve accomplished! 💜