As a busy mum, finding the time to crochet can often feel impossible (I’m only managing it right now courtesy of maternity leave). But imagine if you had just a few extra minutes each day to work on your current project. You could finally finish that cosy blanket for your little bundle of joy, or create a beautiful scarf to keep you warm during the colder months. With just a little bit of extra time, the possibilities for your crochet creations are endless… time for some crochet hacks 😀.
We hope that our hacks show you some new ways to find more time for your favourite hobby (crochet of course), whilst managing the demands of family life, and still having plenty of time to enjoy your kid(s). Whilst time is a finite resouce, hopefully you will find yourself better able to prioritise your own happiness – believe me, this is a win-win for everyone close to you!
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10 Top Tips to Help Mums Crochet More!
Crochet during naps – being a mum can be hard work. Once you get past the need to ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’ out of sheer exhaustion, naptime can be a great opportunity to crochet – although this often requires you to be satisfied with a slightly less tidy house (a sacrifice I am willing to make 😂).
This is even possible if you are reluctant due to the loss of baby cuddles – simply perch them in a comfortable position that leaves at least one hand free to move, or embrace a baby sling. Dependent on the situation, I have both a soft fabric (like this one) and a firm structured sling (an Ergobaby 360) to help me out – I wouldn’t be without them. I even recently recorded a whole video blog episode with the latest wee Miss in a sling – you can check out episode 7 HERE!
2. Keep your WIPs easily accessible – whether it’s having a tidy and organised dedicated crochet space, or placing a WIP bag in every room, make it easy to grab a project and crochet a few rows when a free moment pops up. I try to keep one in the living room, one by my bed and one in the kitchen (at a minimum) so that there is always one fairly close by 😀. If your free moments are likely to be short e.g. whilst the kids are eating, then combine this tip with tip 3.
3. Keep it simple – if your available crochet time is likely to be a few minutes here and there, rather than a longer burst, I would recommend sticking to simple/easy to memorise patterns. You wouldn’t want to waste you precious crochet moments figuring out where you are in a pattern or watching tutorials explaining a new stitch. These projects are also more likely to progress quickly, and thereby help you to maintain your crojo!
Our Caitlin crochet pattern series is geared at beginner crocheters, and the patterns have a simple five row repeat that will quickly stick in your mind. Click on a photo to learn more!
4. Always carry a portable project – when you leave the house always take a WIP with you 😀. Whether you’re sat in the car waiting for the school day to end, sitting on the sidelines of your child’s swimming lesson or twiddling your thumbs on your lunch break, having a project handy will increase your chances of crocheting.
As you can see in our ‘12 reasons to learn to crochet’ blog post, crocheting out and about can have extra benefits too!
5. Accept offers of baby cuddles – if a friend or family member pops over and would like some baby cuddles, say ‘YES’. Provided that they are someone you trust to look after your baby safely, and feel comfortable crocheting in front of, grab your hook and crochet!
6. Schedule in some crochet time/make it a habit – if you’re the kind of person who knows ‘if I don’t schedule it, it won’t happen’ be sure to pencil in a crochet session. You’d be surprised how this can motivate you to stop other tasks from spilling over into your crochet me-time. It can also help you to finish a time-sensitive project with less stress 😀.
7. Set a deadline – whilst this needs to be realistic (otherwise you’re only setting yourself up for stress and disappointment), having a deadline can encourage you the make the time to crochet more. You’d be amazed what you will happily (and usually temporarily) let go of in order to finish on time – just be sure not to let any essential tasks slide, as they’ll come back to haunt you.
8. Multitasking – whilst this is project and task dependent, it is often a great way to get more crocheting done. For example, if you dedicate a lot of time to reading you could consider switching to audiobooks. Equally, did you know that crocheting can improve your concentration (another great reason to learn to crochet) e.g. during a meeting? – just make sure that it’s a mindless WIP!
9. Crochet on the go – assuming that your kids are big enough for this to be a viable option, try crocheting on the go with them e.g. while the kids tire themselves out running around at the park, or when you are following them around the kids museum. There are many cute bags, gadgets and more that can make this easier too. I would recommend selecting a small, simple, single colour (or two colour tapestry) crochet project for this.
10. Find a crochet friend – whether you’ll be sipping hot chocolate together in your living room, or socialising with a whole crafting group, having a crochet friend has many perks. They can help to keep you accountable, encourage you to make the time to crochet, help you out when you get stuck, and many other benefits besides. My husband is more than happy for me to take our baby with me to my crochet group whilst he watches the older kids. My crochet friends are equally happy to give her some cuddles so that I can crochet whilst I’m there.
Finding the time to crochet as a busy mum can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Remember to prioritise your crochet (as it make you happy – which benefits everyone) and find ways to make it a part of your daily routine.
Importantly however, if you find that these tips don’t work for you, don’t be too hard on yourself. Our kids are only little for a short time, and it’s important to cherish these moments with them. Enjoy your time with your little ones and remember that your crochet projects will always be there waiting for you when you have more time.
Happy crocheting!
We would love to hear your thoughts! Do you have any additional tips for finding more time to crochet as a busy mum? Please share them with us in the comments below.
4 Responses
When i had my first boy i did all sorts of craft, painting canvases whilst feeding ..all sorts. Number 2 was a different fish all together..and despite the 5yr age gap meaning no1 was already at school … no2 would scale the furniture and find scissors… or pins… anything literally ..so all the art had to go for a while …then I found crochet… and it really helped me cope with the nerves of ‘kids party..dont know the mums’ and ‘softplay-itis’ a syndrome characterised by very loud noises punctuated by occasional cries of muuuuummmmy! …not always from the children!🤣🤣🤣
I feel your pain! Being an introvert it has been handy to take my crochet with me to the kid’s events, to keep my hands busy – fortunately this does not stop me from chatting when the need arises. With number 1 I would get so much done during nap times (I wasn’t a crafter yet), with number 2 I managed the same until she was 4 months old (at which point she promptly decided that she would only sleep on me), and so with number 3 I have leant to craft with her on me lol.
I am 68, childless, and am mentally ill. I have been crocheting for 34 years. It has been with me during a lot of crappy times in my life, there were times it was the only thing that sustained me. Now that I am retired (from a position as a manager of a social club for the mentally ill that I held for 15+ years) I find myself almost hating it, definitely I have betrayed it. I think I have to make a business of it, to continue to enjoy it.
This article speaks to me. I know how important it is to do the thing/things that make you happy. I know how important it is to keep yourself on an even keel. I am trying, now, to deal with keeping on plugging away. This article is speaking of how to keep accomplishing, how to keep busy accomplishing so that when everything is over, you have acheived something beyond watching the kids grow up.
I have had Long Covid. I will be working again soon. I expect to be very tired. I have a demanding cat. I want to grow plants, container gardening. There is more to life than crocheting is going off in my head, as though that is anything. anything at all.
Lisa Stone
Lisa, Thank you for sharing your story. I’m sorry that you’ve had such a rough time with your mental health. That can’t be easy. I hope that crochet has a positive effect on your life and health. Wishing you the best.