Craft Fail – What to do when a craft project doesn’t go as expected

I’ve been crafting for a long time, and for all the lovely and well made finished projects I post here and on Instagram, there are a few lurking around my craft room that were total failures.

This week I had the brilliant idea to crochet a big storage basket from leftover cotton yarn. It was designed to fit into a specific spot in my yarn storage cupboard (to store my yarn in!), and I was pretty excited to write a pattern for it.

pastel cotton yarn

EXCEPT it was a total CRAFT FAIL!

The concept and pattern were solid, but the actual finished project wasn’t. Rather than a lovely colourful storage basket, I ended up with a colourful floppy mess.

Crochet project fail - mypoppet.com.au

I had a vision in my mind as to how my finished basket was going to look. Normally I can visualise finished items fairly well, but in this case, the material selection let me down.

I really needed to use a coiling technique like in this project, but with a sturdy rope core. The cotton yarn on its own (I held several strands together) would have worked fine for a small basket, but because this one is so large, the weight of the yarn just collapsed the sides.

It’s was a bit disappointing to finally admit there was no fixing this project, because I’d spent about 4 evenings working on it. But sadly I’ll be cutting my losses and unravelling the lot!

rainbow crochet basket - mypoppet.com.au

It did have a few redeeming factors that I’ll be working into another project, mainly the specked colour effect that gradually changes up the basket. Look out for that in a future crochet project. Also holding various strands of yarn together was a great way to use up odds and ends left over from other things I’d made previously.

Another bonus is that at least the materials are not lost. When it comes to failed yarn projects, at least you can unravel. It’s a bit harder to ‘un-cut’ fabric.

I wasn’t going to post about this craft fail, but then I thought “why not?” Just like on most social media where we only get the best, most curated parts of people’s lives. Craft blogs and Pinterest tends to show only the ‘good bits’ and not all the failed projects and experiments along the way.

When you’re starting out, a ‘craft fail’ can be really disheartening, and you may lose your motivation to have another go. I imagine lots of people gave up sewing after creating a few sad-looking projects in High School textile class.

Getting over a Craft Fail – What to do when a craft project doesn’t go as expected

So you’ve made a craft project and it didn’t quite turn out as you’d envisioned? What next? Here are some tips to help you get past it and make the next project even better for it.

1. Is it really a fail?

Sometimes I make things and they don’t turn out to my liking ‘taste-wise’. Maybe the colours don’t quite work with my decor, or the sizing isn’t quite right, but apart from that it’s a perfectly good item. If it’s well made and works for its intended purpose, maybe you just need to find a new home for it.

That cushion that clashes with your couch may be perfect for a friend’s sofa, or a hat that is slightly too big would be appreciated by a local charity. Gift, donate or even sell well made ‘craft fails’. Just because you don’t love it doesn’t mean someone else wont.

2. Identify what went wrong

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford

Craft Fails are a great learning opportunity, if you work out what went wrong this time, it’s unlikely you will make the same mistake again.

Was it the material choice, technique used, a silly mistake, pattern error or your skill level that led to the poor outcome? Once you work that out, you are one step closer to getting it right next time.

3. Can it be transformed into something else?

Yes sometimes a project can be saved, I’ve had many experiences where I started making something and it’s ended up as a totally different, really awesome thing. Consider some out of the box thinking and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised with what you create.

4. Cut your losses early

If you get an inkling that the project is going in the wrong direction, scrap it then and there. It’s east to fall into the ‘Sunk Cost Fallacy‘ trap where your decisions are tainted by how much time or emotional investments you’ve put into a project. The more you invest in something the harder it becomes to abandon it.

If your creative mojo has gone AWOL, and there’s no saving whatever you are making, it’s better to just scrap it and move on.

5. Can you reuse the materials for something else?

I never throw away anything that may be useful for making something else if I can help it. (I try not to hoard things though). Waste not, want not is my motto when it comes to crafting materials.

Yarn projects can be unraveled, zips can be unpicked and used again, fabric can be cut up again for smaller sewing projects. You can find a whole range of fabric scrap craft projects here.

6. Have a laugh!

The one saving grace of failing spectacularly, is that some craft projects turn out so bad that they are comical.

I know it can be really frustrating to put a ton of effort into making something and it turns out less than stellar, but remember, it’s just craft! If you’re lucky your craft fail may fall into the ‘it’s so bad it’s good’ category and bring a smile to someone else who’s having a crappy day.

PIN IT

Craft Fail - How to fix a wayward craft project - mypoppet.com.au

I hope I’ve helped out a little when it comes to making the most of, and moving on from craft projects that didn’t turn out as well as you’d hoped. If you’ve got any further tips or advice I’d love to hear it.

Leave me a comment telling me about your most frustrating or hilarious ‘craft fails’, I guarantee it will be cathartic.

20 Comments

  • Priscilla says:

    Aw, too bad the basket didn’t turn out because it’s BEAUTIFUL! I’ve had many, many watercolour painting fails. The cool thing about watercolours is you can cut up the paintings and use the pieces for gift tags and stationery. (Haha, good thing I like to write letters!)

  • Maria Josep says:

    Hello! Have you tried ironing with starch? I’ve never tried but in Spain is a old technique to toughen crochet pieces…. My grandmas used to do it an the result…. pieces harder than stone!;)))
    Anyway, it’s a colorful and beatiful piece!

    Congrats, your book “Make in a day: krafts for kids” is fantastic!

    • Thank you for the kudos on the book. I must promote it more – thanks for the reminder.
      I did consider starching or stiffening it with glue. It may work but will take quite a lot of starch as the sides are very thick and heavy. I may crochet up a little sample and try on a small piece to see what happens. Good suggestion.

  • Anna says:

    maybe if you put some handles on it it may make a lovely bag, it is very beautiful.

    • Thanks Anna. Yes I’d considered it but the base is a little too large and it’s quite heavy. I will uses the same technique to make something smaller because I do like how the colours turned out.

  • Jennifer says:

    Maybe you can sit a sturdy container inside and this will help to keep it more rigid?

  • The basket is gorgeous! What if you simply fold the top edges over toward the outside or inside? Could that make it sturdier?

    I have had so many craft fails I wouldn’t even know where to start! I’ve probably had the most with sewing leggings that weren’t stretchy enough to get pulled up! On of those I refashioned into a top that I love! 🙂 Lisa

    • I tried the folding but still no luck. Have undone it and the yarn is destined for a new project.

      I can relate to the legging dilemma with fabric that wasn’t stretchy enough. Once I made a body suit (in my younger days) with only 2 way stretch fabric, not 4 way, well it was a big fail!! Learnt my lesson that time.

  • Shelby says:

    The colours are gorgeous Cintia! Could you flip it and turn it into something else–a small footstool cover for Emma? (I imagine the base being about 30-40cm in diameter thereby making it sizeable enough?).

  • patricia welchI says:

    I think your basket is gorgeous. Surely, when you stuff it with your yarns, the sides will
    hold up? Could you put a cardboard box inside? Hide the box by putting some of your yarns between the cardboard and the sides of your basket? I would try anything to not unravel this lovely basket!

  • Melissa says:

    The next time something doesn’t work out I should declare with pride “Failed it!” As opposed to “Nailed it!”
    I used to take my failed projects to heart, but the last couple of years I’ve grown a thicker skin, and bounced back faster during the development process. I really have learnt a lot from all the ugly dolls I’ve made.

  • Karen salgueiro says:

    Last year I started making a rag rug from old bedsheets for one if my beloved kitties …I tore it it in strips….braided them …and then started sewing it in a circle ….it was going to be so beautiful …it had visions of later making many more as gifts …as I was sewing it started curling like a basket …it undid it a few times ..the same ..it tried ironing it …..it’s now a discarded project …it’s have many old sheets I could make these with …but I’m discouraged ..I tried to look online for solutions because I Really would like to finish it …can you help me ?

  • Brigitte says:

    I do love the colours. What a shame it didn’t remain stiff. I love reading failures like this – so there’s less chance of me making the same mistake and also so I know even the best of us make mistakes. i can’t wait to see the project reworked! What a wonderful idea using several coloured strands together!

  • Lynne Marshall says:

    Hi Cinti
    I had the same experience with my beautiful storage basket, it looked altogether too floppy. I folded it over so it was double but it still wouldn’t stand up nicely. But when i filled it with numerous balls of wool, it really looked the part. After all, it was made for storage not to be empty. I could have saved myself all that disappointment. Yours was absolutely beautiful! Loved the colours!
    Lynne

  • saartje says:

    I would stick it over a mould (like a waste paper basket, covered with a large plastic bag) en soak the thing in diluted wood glue, let it harden and tada! you have a crochet basket (it will be hard and stiff, but usable and pretty)

  • Jen says:

    Cintia,
    I just came across your blog as I am BRAND NEW to knitting and crocheting as of lockdown!
    This post is so empowering and I love the blog!!
    Bookmarked and a rag rug is in the works. It’s not the project I envisioned when I started because my old sewing machine couldn’t handle all the material but your great post about the crochet-over-cord is giving it new life.
    Thank you for this post and for the reminder that we are not after perfection here, we craft because we love the journey!! Xo

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