Struggling with Crafter Comparison Syndrome? Here's what to do.

Lor Cara is a yarn dyer and Connecticut based knitter at Knittenword.
She loves writing stories in fiber and is currently reading Alchemy by R. Sutherland.

I’d like to think all of us crafter’s have found ourselves tossing in the waves of social media, riding the crests of likes and compliments when we post something we’re extra proud of and swooping deep into the troughs of despair when our posts get no likes or we see someone very similar to ourselves get all the glory. Maybe you’ve taken a moment to explore a craft forum and found some deeply helpful insight about technique and resources but also come across some nasty snark about your yarn, designs, or the yarn and designs of beloved favourites.

I’ve come to think of this phenomenon as the Crafter Comparison Syndrome. We see more inspiring work than ever before and listen to amazing podcasts that take us deep into the fiber crafts we love. Some of us use forums and tutorials to pump up our skills to levels previously unattainable without many hours and and much money spent to do so. The world of social media has allowed our crafting corner to proliferate in a way that is glorious. But is there a dark side to this constant access and ability to consume all things fiber?

I’ve personally found myself feeling like garbage about my own abilities the longer I spend on social media. I’m a yarn dyer and small business owner and when I spend time looking at other dyers it makes me feel like I’m not doing enough. Logical Me knows there is a lot of messy work happening behind the scenes of most small businesses, but Mediabrained Me feels like everyone else is getting everything done seamlessly, filming it, looking aesthetic while doing so, and also finding the time to be emotionally and mentally fulfilled. The wheels of my brain have been in overtime lately, trying to understand why a smart cookie like myself can still feel bad for something I know is often a curated image of a person, brand, or small business.

One of the best conclusions I can come to is that when we share our crafting in the online space it opens the door to share ourselves and our identity. Not to be too punny, but when we make we are putting the very fiber of our beings into those objects. And when our makes are not received to as voracious an applause as other creators, we feel like who we are is being rejected, not just what we do. Part of the problem is that it’s only natural to compare ourselves to others; it’s part of how we assess where we are and where we are going on our fiber journey. Comparison helps us pivot and try new things when we find genius in something another person has done. However as a former history teacher, I do sometimes wonder if our brains were meant to compare at the level and rate we allow for when we use social media, as it’s happening in a way that has never before been experienced in human history. That has to have an effect on how we feel about what we do, make, and sell. And for those of us who put something into the world that can take weeks of labour (a sweater design, a new website layout, an intricate make-a-long experience, or a thoughtful class), finding yourself on the venomous end of a crafting forum thread or review can feel world shattering. And we’re at a unique point in history where you can encounter that type of negative experience, perhaps without seeking it out, because we’re all sharing the same den of space inside the internet.

So, what’s a maker to do? Stop making; throw your phone and computer in a dumpster, set your yarn collection on fire, and seal yourself inside Plato’s cave because nothing is real and what does anything matter?! No, we’re not going to do that.

I think crawling out of the Crafter Comparison Syndrome involves three things, two which are individual and one that is collective.

First, recognize that comparing yourself to other makers can be helpful for inspiration but may be harming your ability to acknowledge your own growth. Take a look at your own work over time and compare that. Many of us would be hard pressed to ignore the growth within our own makes when we take the time to observe it.

Secondly, remember that for each maker there are as many stories of failure and success, timelines, and gauges for what success looks like. Perhaps you are like me; being hard on yourself and offering little grace to yourself, even if you extend that grace and ability to grow to others. Remind yourself that crafting is, at it’s core, about the process; finding your success and place in the community takes time. Instead of merely comparing your finished projects, take time to compare how your process has changed and grown since you began creating. For those of us selling, we should be mindful that since our identities are part of the equation, we need to let the people get to know us, as that will help to make our creations more meaningful to them and ourselves.

And finally, we need to encourage makers who have larger platforms to keep sharing and being honest about their journeys and struggles. Success usually doesn’t happen overnight and building a mentorship community can help you see and hear the different stops that you can expect while traveling on the fiber train. You may also learn that the perfect person from Instagram that you thought moves through the world like a Disney princess is actually a real human with real messiness and similar doubts and Crafter Comparison Syndrome.