Challenging Yourself as a Creator

It can be quite tempting to want to play it safe when it comes to creating art. Sticking to the basics leaves less room for mistakes than venturing off into unknown areas & experimenting with other ideas that might not work out, but it also makes things less exciting. It's key for my personal development &for my projects that I'm always evolving & there's a method to the mayhem.

What I keep in mind at all times is that crocheting is a learning journey. New challenges are scary at first, but it's an opportunity to get better at my craft and ultimately it's worth it to overcome that which tries to hold me back. Over time, these new elements that I add to my work make me a more well-rounded creator and I can build new concepts off of them with the skills I've acquired. 

From an Artist's perspective, it's counterintuitive to only have one way of doing things. Once I've conquered a certain technique, be it a specific pattern or how to make a garment or accessory, I look at how I can take it to the next level. If I'm making a cardigan, the natural inclination is to add buttons, or if I feel like a hoodie isn't exciting enough, perhaps I'll add an applique to give it a bit of character.

Then there are other times when the new idea comes before the creation rather than a feature added to a garment. While making a Dream Duos Denim outfit, which is itself a new venture, I had scraps of denim left over from the project. Instead of throwing them away, I decided to practice sustainable fashion & used those scraps in an entirely different way, by crocheting them into a purse. I didn't know if it was going to work, but it did!

That's the beauty of trying something unexpected. It's natural to fear that something isn't going to work out, but that's the risk we take when we create our art. The only way to find out if an idea has merit is to try it. Those who aren't afraid of making mistakes, are truly the ones who benefit the most from going for those innovative ideas. Always be bold.