Name: Moa
Age: 28 years old
Country: Sweden
Instagram: @honsedesign
Etsy: @honsedesign
About the series
The Healing Craft Series features creators sharing their thoughts and feelings on crafting and healing through crafting.
“Crafting is not about being the best, it’s about learning, community, making mistakes, trying again, being proud of your work even if it’s shit.”
Moa, @honsedesign
What kind of craft do you do and how long have you been doing it for?
I’m a crocheter, and have been since my grandmother taught me at age 8. For the first 18 years I mainly did lumpy potholders and the occasional ugly scarf, but for the last two years my main passion is wearables in general and sweaters in particular.
What is your favourite place/time of day to craft and why?
I crochet all the time, but what I cherish the most is the little times in between. Ten minutes in the break room before work starts. Waiting for the bleach to process my roots or for the potatoes to start boiling. It’s a gentle reminder that it’s not always where I’m going that matters, only the present does.
What inspires you (in life & in crafting)?
The connections between people. Something magical happens when two people meet, and I’ve found out it doesn’t matter if it’s for the first or the hundredth time, the magic is there, even if it’s different for every single connection made. There is something truly raw and vulnerable in that moment, and I am of the firm belief that it can be translated into art, so that’s what I’m trying to do.
How has/is crafting helping you and your mental health?
I have a complicated relationship to myself, that in the end boils down to me thinking ”self worth” and ”productivity” was interchangeable. I always had to be the best, at everything, preferably on the first go at it.
Crafting is not about being the best, it’s about learning, community, making mistakes, trying again, being proud of your work even if it’s shit. And something happened when I started applying the lessons crochet taught me onto my real life.
I stopped beating myself up over things that went wrong, I explored my creativity and curiosity, and I let my self worth be measured by the things I feel, instead of the things I do. Well, all that, and the fact that crocheting, physically, is the best meditation for people who can’t stop fidgeting.
What is your advice to other creators (or newly started creators)?
Do things not because you love the finished product, but because you love how creating it makes you feel. Don’t worry about fucking up, because you’re going to and that’s part of the process. Let go of the expectations and you’ll find that you’ll exceed them every time.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Stay soft, stay kind, stay foolish.