SED 12: I Wish I Could Make Stuff Like That

[kerravonsen]

Sometimes, when people look at my work, they say "I wish I could make stuff like that. You are so talented! I could never do that!" and I want to stamp my foot and say "Yes, yes you CAN!" Because it isn't that hard, really. I mean, yes, I am talented (being honest, here) and some crafts are harder than others, but "never" is too strong a word. I will concede that if you are colourblind, blind, have no use of your hands, or have the attention span of a deranged ferret, the obstacles to making craft are extremely high, but otherwise, no.

But maybe I'm making assumptions. So here is a survey.

Poll #16677 Make Stuff

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 6

View Respondents

Do you wish you could make stuff like that?

View Answers

Yes
3 (50.0%)

No
1 (16.7%)

I already do
2 (33.3%)

Why don't you make stuff like that?

View Answers

Physically unable
1 (25.0%)

No time (other things more important)
1 (25.0%)

Really no time
1 (25.0%)

No space
2 (50.0%)

No peace (surrounded by chaos; cats, dogs, children etc)
3 (75.0%)

Equipment is too expensive
1 (25.0%)

Materials are too expensive
1 (25.0%)

I don't know where to start
3 (75.0%)

It's too hard
0 (0.0%)

I tried, and it's too hard
0 (0.0%)

I never finish anything
3 (75.0%)

It takes too long
0 (0.0%)

It's boring
0 (0.0%)

I don't know how to design things
2 (50.0%)

Everything I make breaks
0 (0.0%)

Everything I make looks ugly
2 (50.0%)

Other (explain in comments)
1 (25.0%)

Would you like me to make posts about How To Make Stuff Like That?

View Answers

Yes
6 (100.0%)

No
0 (0.0%)

What crafts/techniques would you like me to post about?

View Answers

Luceting
0 (0.0%)

Cord-twisting
2 (33.3%)

Macrame
0 (0.0%)

Crochet
2 (33.3%)

Loom/Spool knitting
2 (33.3%)

Bead-stringing
3 (50.0%)

Chainmaille
2 (33.3%)

Wire-wrapping
2 (33.3%)

Jewellery making in general
3 (50.0%)

Making boxes
2 (33.3%)

Decorating paper bags & boxes
3 (50.0%)

Ink Stamping
3 (50.0%)

Melty Beads
1 (16.7%)

Decorating Mugs
2 (33.3%)

Pebble Trivets
3 (50.0%)

Choosing Colours
3 (50.0%)

Simple Design
3 (50.0%)

Other (explain in comments)
1 (16.7%)

Crossposted to http://kerravonsen.livejournal.com/1035232.html

Comments

[deird1]

My obstacles to making craft are:
- my baby son
- my inability to locate my craft supplies from under my PILE of craft supplies
- not knowing which crafts I'll be good at and enjoy, and which ones will perputually result in a tangled mess of chaos no matter how hard I try, BEFORE I start them
- not having enough money to buy all the supplies, not knowing which supplies I actually need and which ones are just fun extras
- being an uncoordinated doofus

(Can't do knitting, LOVE crochet, never have time to cross-stitch, and my sewing projects always turn out as droopy messes of unhappy incompetence, which is disheartening.)

[kerravonsen]

my inability to locate my craft supplies from under my PILE of craft supplies
Ha!
"Yes, I know I bought some foam sheets, but WHERE ARE THEY?"

not knowing which crafts I'll be good at and enjoy, and which ones will perputually result in a tangled mess of chaos no matter how hard I try, BEFORE I start them

Yeah, that's not easy. Craft workshops can help there, but only if one can FIND them.

not knowing which supplies I actually need and which ones are just fun extras

And articles about said crafts can be quite misleading in that area!

and my sewing projects always turn out as droopy messes of unhappy incompetence, which is disheartening

I came to the conclusion that, while I like the end results of sewing, I hate the process itself, so I gave it up and gave away my stash of fabric. Now I have an even bigger stash of yarn, but I enjoy crochet so much that I'm sure I will use it up, unlike the fabric, which sat there untouched for YEARS.