One of the most important supplies for crocheters is the project box, or project bag, in which they store their current crochets. Here you can usually find half-finished toys, one or two stray body parts, faceless dolls, maybe a little leftover yarn - obviously the crocheter chooses whose box contains what. However, many of us get excited when we see a new pattern, and leaving the previous projects aside, we happily start crocheting the latest pattern, which we immediately fell in love with. Of course, there are exceptional talents who can hold themselves to the fact that they finish what they start, but let's face it, the majority of crocheters do not fall into this category. What do you need to avoid chaos, stray or even double-crocheted body parts, or the fact that most of your amigurumi pile up in pieces in your project box over the course of months? Come and continue reading this article, in which I will give you some tips to keep your crochet project box organized!
Photo: Own (Rebeka Novák-Szabó ev)
TIP 1: Choose the right project box/bag!
It is advisable to look for a box or bag that it is not too big, so less things can fit in it, and it does not take up much space then on your shelf or in your account. If you think about it, it's enough to find a place for the yarns, you don't even need a huge box for running projects. If you find a box or bag that is not too big, but the right size, in orderly conditions – and not in different parts of your home – you can store your upcoming toys.
TIP 2: Maximize the number of your running projects!
As a beginner crocheter, I often made the mistake of starting several projects, and then they piled up around me one by one, and finally I didn't even know which amigurumi, what else needed to be crocheted. Then I learned from my mistake and for me, the maximum number of running projects is 4, but I usually try to stop at three. Of course, it's hard not to fall in love with the current favorite, but you have to exercise some self-control so that your project box doesn't drown in chaos. I believe that the manageable amount is roughly 5-6 running projects - which of course also depends on their nature - above this number, there is a bigger chance that your project box will become opaque.
TIP 3: Choose a variety of projects!
If you have not maximized the number of your running projects to 1, but to several, then it is worth choosing crochet patterns that differ from each other. Of course, the situation is different when you make pieces to order, but if you completely determine what you crochet, then you should pay attention to the following. Choose a project, which it is simple, quick and gives you a sense of success quickly, or if you accept orders, choose the project which you already know well. Choose second a project that more complicated or longer, maybe more challenging, or can teach you something new. If you get stuck and can't continue crocheting because of it, you can go back to the first one. While you're crocheting the easier project, you can think about what you're stuck on, so you can even figure out the second project while crocheting that one. Choose third a project that longer term, bigger bite, but more monotonous, and is prepared over several months. For example, a simpler super crocheted shawl, blanket, top or sweater although they take more time, they are still easy to crochet because of the repetitive rows. With this you can switch off between other projects if you just crochet, but you don't want to bother with the drawbacks of amigurumi - like sewing, stuffing, crocheting miniature details. With these three, if you fill your project box, you will definitely always have something to crochet!
TIP 4: Don't put off the unliked parts!
For every crocheter, there is a part of this hobby that they would leave out if they could. In my TOP 3 list are sewing, stuffing and crocheting small details. Typically, the part that crocheters hate the most is the sewing, so through this I will show you how not to procrastinate this part. Although the sewing would be one of the last moments of the completion, there are still cases where a figure rests for months at the bottom of a project bag. In order to avoid chaos, I recommend that you don't procrastinate, even if you don't like e.g. the sewing. If you follow my second tip and maximize your projects, you can (also) fall into the unpleasant situation where you have already crocheted all the patterns in your project box and you "just" have to sew them together. If you can be consistent enough with yourself, then at the same time, for several hours you will be dealing with the part of your hobby that you like the least. If you want to avoid this, don't put it off sew up the body part as soon as possible, so you can put it down quickly, or when you have crocheted all parts, assemble the figure according to the pattern. That way, at least in the end, you get the joy of seeing the end result you worked for. Of course, everyone has their own cross, if e.g. you don't like crocheting small parts or crocheting monotonous parts (such as a long hair), then it is advisable to spread it out during preparation, so you don't have to go through it all at once.
TIP 5: Prioritize!
This point is also related to TIP2, that you have limited your running projects to a certain number. Prioritize your chosen projects - i.e. which one you want to finish as soon as possible - and spend time on it accordingly. If your current projects are crocheting if you see a pattern that you want to make right away, put it on your "I want to make it soon" list. This list should not contain - in my opinion - more than 10 patterns, and leave it there until there is no more space in your project box. This helps you not to forget the patterns, because of course there are always new ones, and in the meantime you can also think about whether you want to make the next one for sure. If your TOP10 list is full, have a collecting list also, even in a small notebook or among the notes on your phone, where you collect the patterns that you definitely want to make one day. This little one you can continuously expand your bucketlist, you can pack it from one list to another and hopefully one day it will end up in your project box.
+1 TIP: Avoid impulse buying!
Unfortunately, one of the basic conditions for keeping your project box organized is that don't buy on impulse. We tend to immediately reach for our wallet when we see a new or cute pattern, but in this case it is advisable to stop for a moment. When buying a pattern or yarn, think about whether you really need that piece, or you can wait a few more weeks or months until the project actually arrives in your box. Although not often when buying patterns, when buying yarn, I usually made the mistake of buying yarn for 1-1 pattern, which, however, I haven't been able to use since then due to lack of time. If you like to stack not only yarns, but also patterns, then you should consider this tip. After all, if you've already bought a pattern and even have your yarn, why not get started right away? But it's so exciting or cute and you need it right away. However honestly ask yourself: how many abandoned projects are lying in your box today that you started on a whim, but haven't touched for weeks? If more than 5 you have a project like this - and you are worried that they will never be finished - start implementing my first 5 tips. Tget rid of your project box and manage it properly in the future! Not only that you create order in your crochet box, but you can save time and money, on the other hand you never run out of ideas, what to crochet next!
SUMMARY
Order is the soul of everything, says the proverb, and in my opinion it is worth keeping this in the case of our crochet project box/bag. I hope you are either a beginner or experienced as a crocheter read this article, I was able to provide you with a tip that will be useful to you in the future to manage your unorganized project box or to prevent chaos! There are certainly crocheters who are not frustrated by chaos or the twentieth project in the box, of course that's all right. In fact, I honestly envy them! However, unfortunately, I am not one of those crocheters with whims, so I need a somewhat transparent order and a manageable system. This article is mainly for crocheters like me, who want to see more clearly what is going on in the project bag, and who are worried that one of their projects will never be finished due to being forgotten.
