{"id":49139,"date":"2020-12-09T11:37:05","date_gmt":"2020-12-09T16:37:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?p=49139"},"modified":"2026-05-26T08:44:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T12:44:53","slug":"crafting-creativity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/crafting-creativity\/","title":{"rendered":"Crafting Creativity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Over the past few months, I\u2019ve spent much of my time with crafting supplies in hand. Whether it\u2019s with an embroidery needle and thread or a crochet hook and yarn, I nearly always have at least one project in the works. From embroidering a colorful finch to crocheting small pumpkins to decorate for autumn, I\u2019ve made a lot of things over the past eight months that I\u2019m really proud of.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>I\u2019m not going to pretend that there aren\u2019t lulls in my creative productivity, though. Especially after finishing a long, detailed project, I lose motivation. Sometimes it\u2019s for a day or two, sometimes a week or more.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Luckily, as I\u2019ve continued on, my motivation has steadied and the time between projects has become shorter. Here are some tips for keeping up creativity in quarantine that I\u2019ve learned from my crafting adventures.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-49141\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Create1-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Create1.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Create1-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Create1-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Create1-600x400.png 600w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Create1-50x33.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>Layer it into your routine<\/h2>\n<p>One of the best parts of my creative hobbies? Once you learn the basics, you can crochet and embroider while you watch TV or video chat with friends. No need to build in extra crafting time. I\u2019m the type of person that has a hard time paying attention to TV shows and movies if my hands are idle. Crafting while watching TV means that I spend less time on my phone AND that I get to be productive by changing practically nothing about my routine.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Maybe you don\u2019t spend as much time watching TV as I do. That\u2019s fair and, probably, healthier. You can still work creativity into your everyday routine. By consciously making small decisions that change up your day, you\u2019re inserting creativity into your life. Maybe this is volunteering to write a blog for work, maybe it\u2019s trying a new mix of spices on your dinner, or maybe it\u2019s changing up the path that you take when you walk your dog. Take advantage of the small, creative changes that you can make to your day.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>It\u2019s okay to skip a day (or week)<\/h2>\n<p>Of course, some days I don\u2019t craft. I give my hook and needle a break and just binge TV while scrolling through my phone, go to bed early, annoy my pets instead\u2026 you get the picture.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>The point is, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inc.com\/thomas-oppong\/for-a-more-creative-brain-take-breaks.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">taking time off is okay, beneficial even<\/a>. You never want to push yourself so hard that a once enjoyable creative task becomes loathsome. Taking a break gives you the chance to reset, recharge, and focus on something else. It can give you the opportunity to actually miss being creative. After all, absence does make the heart grow fonder.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>But <a href=\"https:\/\/jamesclear.com\/schedule\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">you shouldn\u2019t wait for creativity to strike<\/a> either \u2013 otherwise you\u2019ll be decades into a project with no end in sight and millions of disappointed fans whose hope for any type of conclusion is dwindling away (looking at you George R. R. Martin).<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Okay, so maybe your situation won\u2019t be quite as extreme, but creativity IS something that you have to foster. So, take a break, give yourself time to breathe, and jump back into your creative endeavor the next day (or week).<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>Involve others<\/h2>\n<p>When I start a project with a specific person in mind as the end recipient, I\u2019m significantly more motivated to finish it. Since it\u2019s the holiday season, my last few projects have been gifts: a <a href=\"https:\/\/forthefrills.com\/easy-v-neck-sweater-summer-crochet-free-pattern\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">sweater<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ravelry.com\/patterns\/library\/baby-yoda-amigurumi-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Baby Yoda amigurumi<\/a>, and a crocheted garland of Christmas trees. Next on my list are socks and an embroidered pig design. Knowing (or hoping) that someone else will get joy from my projects drives me to create while stretching my crafting repertoire.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-49142\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Create2-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Create2.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Create2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Create2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Create2-50x38.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p>Another way to involve other people is through a socially distanced creative collaboration. This could be organizing a Zoom call to all paint at the same time or using a Google Doc to write a short story together. It could be starting a drawing that you mail to someone else to have them finish or recording a podcast with someone outside your COVID bubble. Working with others keeps creativity fresh and fun.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>A bonus way to involve others is to buy supplies from small businesses. By buying supplies from local shops or independent sellers on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Etsy<\/a>, you\u2019re helping keep these sellers afloat during tough financial times.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h2>Wherever you find creativity, remember\u2026<\/h2>\n<p>No two people are creative in the same way. No one piece of advice will help everyone stay creative.<br \/>\nSo, try to sprinkle creativity on top of your everyday life if you can\u2019t find time otherwise, take a break if you\u2019re losing steam, and involve others if you feel stuck.<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-minispacer\"><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s okay if these tips don\u2019t work for you. Find what does, go from there, and create!<\/p>\n<div class=\"div-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p>For more thoughts on keeping creative in tough times, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/creativity-under-lockdown-three-takeaways-from-library-takeout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SoGoSeries<\/a> on the topic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the past few months, I\u2019ve spent much of my time with crafting supplies in hand. Whether it\u2019s with an embroidery needle and thread or a crochet hook and yarn, I nearly always have at least one project in the works. From embroidering a colorful finch to crocheting small pumpkins to decorate for autumn, I\u2019ve made a lot of things over the past eight months that I\u2019m really proud of. I\u2019m not going to pretend that there aren\u2019t lulls in my creative productivity, though. Especially after finishing a long, detailed project, I lose motivation. Sometimes it\u2019s for a day or two, sometimes a week or more. Luckily, as I\u2019ve continued on, my motivation has steadied and the time between projects has become shorter. Here are some tips for keeping up creativity in quarantine that I\u2019ve learned from my crafting adventures. Layer it into your routine One of the best parts of my creative hobbies? Once you learn the basics, you can crochet and embroider while you watch TV or video chat with friends. No need to build in extra crafting time. I\u2019m the type of person that has a hard time paying attention to TV shows and movies if my hands are idle. Crafting while watching TV means that I spend less time on my phone AND that I get to be productive by changing practically nothing about my routine. Maybe you don\u2019t spend as much time watching TV as I do. That\u2019s fair and, probably, healthier. You can still [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":5071,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[415,573,416],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.7.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Crafting Creativity - Sogolytics Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Has COVID got you in a creative slump? 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Kick start your creativity with these three tips inspired by crafting in quarantine.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/crafting-creativity\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sogolytics Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-12-09T16:37:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-26T12:44:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/general-3.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"487\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"714\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kendall Place\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/crafting-creativity\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/crafting-creativity\/\",\"name\":\"Crafting Creativity - Sogolytics Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-12-09T16:37:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-26T12:44:53+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/42da901a0319099ec1914b332455bd03\"},\"description\":\"Has COVID got you in a creative slump? 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