What makes a great crochet project?
Today, I’m sharing my perspective on what I think makes a great crochet project. What makes some crocheted projects look like modern art and a coveted design, but others, well, just don’t have that kind of energy? I’m guessing it’s all in what you look for. And I understand that not all of you will agree with it. And that’s okay. We’re all graceful enough to respect each other’s perspectives.
The story behind a great crochet project
For me, I love some vintage. I’m not particularly a collector, but I love the stories behind the pieces. This brings to mind a granny square blanket I inherited that a friend of my grandparents made for them. It was a scrap-style blanket with each square in completely different colors, all joined together with light pink. Unfortunately when the maker cut the ends, they were cut too short and couldn’t adequately be tucked away. So the blanket has numerous ends hanging out….something I plan to fix.
But speaking of this blanket, while I love this blanket and the history it comes with, I don’t know that I could make a blanket like this for anyone I know to appreciate in the way I appreciate this one. Again, maybe it’s just perspective. In fact, I tend to lean away from making granny square items because sometimes the finished product can look dated. With the new yarns and colors though, that is minimized. Again, if that’s what a maker is after, then granny square away!
Good energy
But have you ever wandered down a craft show aisle and stumbled across a booth that is just so fresh and alive with crocheted items? I’m sure some of it is the brilliance of presentation, but they have hats and scarves and blankets and whatnot all beautifully displayed in a shabby chic, modern update of a vintage skill. They don’t have stuff just lying there in limp desperation. They’ve brought it alive by putting hats on hat stands and scarves on cutout mannequins. It conjures up what it would look and feel like to wear their item. These are booths that completely mesmerize me.
Knowing your recipient
What is it that makes a great crochet project? I think part of it is knowing your audience or intended recipient. What colors and designs would they like? In some cases, you might not make the same item in the same color/style for your grandmother that you might for one of your friends. That’s might be trying to put a modern spin on a vintage craft.
Using the right yarn. Color, texture, function. If you’re making something that will be worn or used often, selecting yarn that will stand the test of time. The test of numerous washings. I wouldn’t crochet any of my sons a blanket made of mohair because I know they’d just toss it in the washer/dryer and not hand wash it.
That IT factor. Sometimes you just see a pattern or design or yarn combo that screams someone’s name that you should make it for. That same IT factor is what some of the more creative craft booths have. That little bit of extra something. A cute flower on a flapper hat. An unexpected border on a blanket. Color combinations that just wow.
Of course, the basics of good stitching
Obviously there are the basics too — good tension, good stitching, sufficiently tucked ends.
Joyfulness
And lastly, the fun of working on the project. Have you ever worked on a project you just didn’t like? Maybe it was the color, or the yarn texture, or maybe it was a difficult pattern to follow. Even worse, you committed to something you don’t care for, but can’t get out of it? While the end result might look amazing, you know you’ll never make it again.
And these things don’t always just happen. Just fall in your lap. In many cases, they take strategic planning and mulling over. Will those colors create the look I have envisioned? Will that finished design speak to me in a way that says, I belong to the intended recipient?
I think I have a love for the vintage side of crochet but I think I love modernizing it too. I love that other awesome crocheters continue to come up with unique designs and stitch combinations that make me want to re-create a vintage pattern — think 1970s yellow, brown, green blanket. They’ve used different shades, different stitches, and put it together in a way that screams, I gotta make that!
Final Thoughts on What Makes a Great Crochet Project
So maybe this article is just as much about the awesome crochet designers out there who’s persistent visions are coded into crochet language and engineered diagrams.
What do you think makes a great crocheted project? Leave a note in the comments below.
But now is about you. You make the things. You give the things. You move on to new things. And be grateful that you have the talent of handmaking the things. And to know, when you lay your head down at night, that you crocheted every bit of love you have into the blanket you gifted. And that was more than enough.
What have you made and gifted? What do you think about letting the expectations go and being content with what you put into it? Leave a comment below.
Related Articles
Did you like today’s post about what makes a great crochet project (at least in my opinion)? If so, check out some of these great crochet projects:
Did you know I have a series that features new projects I try out from other crafty designers? If you are interested in learning more about my New Project Spotlight series read my New Project Spotlight series welcome article.
I’m always looking for new projects to feature. What is a new project you’ve tried and liked? Would it be a good one to shine the light on in my New Project Spotlight series? Are you an awesome crochet artist with a design you’d like to see featured here? If so, leave me a note in the comments.
In addition to several of my crochet boards on Pinterest, you might also check out my Made It, Did It, Tried It board, chuck full of a random assortment of projects, places, recipes and more that I’ve tried and liked.
