I love crafting. I’ve been embroidering for years, sometimes I knit and crochet, and I do some light DIY projects. It gives me a sense of control when everything else feels so out of hand. I will admit, I’m not great at most of the things I try, though. I tend to over-estimate my abilities and under-estimate the amount of time a project will take. I’m often hesitant to invest in specialized tools, either because I can’t afford them or I don’t have the space. I also don’t have a ton of spare time, and sometimes I just want to watch TV. Still, I like having things exactly the way I want them, even if it means I have to create them from scratch. The end result might not be perfect, but it’s all mine.

I’m learning how to be easier on myself, too. The creators I follow on Instagram and Youtube have years of practice under their belts. Not to mention, I don’t usually start following them until far enough into their careers that they have accumulated a garage full of tools. Some of them were smart enough to learn sewing from their grandmothers, or pursue a formal education in their chosen field. And that’s great! But it’s not me. I’ve been too afraid to ask for help my whole life. I just bought a drill last year. If I want to DIY something, I have to drag it down three flights of stairs to my parking garage.

Things take time and frustration, even if they’re eventually compressed into a neat time-lapse video. And I have no intention of sugarcoating that. I want to be honest about the time a project takes me and the cost. I can’t be the only one who wishes just once that they scrolled past a mediocre project displayed proudly because it took a lot of time, and this attempt was better than the last one. Or maybe you just want to feel better about your own abilities. Either way, I hope you get something out of it.

-Erica

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