Things I wish I knew before I started free-handing fiber art:
It's not stress free. Whoever said that, underestimates the power of the over-thinker. It CAN be stress free, but not inherently for all skill levels.
Just because theres no pattern, does not mean there's no math. There will be math regardless: and it sneaks up on you. And no, you cant count. Accept this.
You can still make mistakes. Just because theres no pattern, doesn't mean you wont realize you could have done something better/different earlier on.
You cannot always go back and fix. "It's a feature!" becomes a mantra. Good news is that most of the time no one knows it's a "mistake." Bob Ross's "Happy little accidents."
You will "waste" materials at some point. It'll be a teachable moment, but it won't be pleasant.*
The "opps. well I'll make it work" process of free handing is an important adaptation in your arsenal, and teaches you to trust the process more, and be less fearful of failure. Adaptation and overcoming when things go wrong help you build skills.
Take pictures with your hook/needle/gauge size and yarn/thread label. alt: write down what you did in the repeats because it's a weird guessing game if you drop the WIP and pick it up again.
You cannot count. Seriously. Accept this.
Be prepared for the possibility of it all going right one second, and then it all going wrong in the next. Murphy's law applies in multitudes here.
It's almost a certainty that when a free hand project goes absolutly perfectly, you conveniently can't find your notes/didn't take any like a gremlin and therefore cannot ever repeat it - Congratulations, you have found the unicorn.
When you realize you have free will, you will eventually start mixing different size yarns/fiber content. This will not always work out. but when it does *chefs kiss*
You will learn more from free handing than you will by studying patterns alone. How stitches behave, how fibers react, how the item lays, etc. these are things patterns don't teach directly.
Did I mention that you cannot count? Why are you in denial?
Free handing is like being on a roller coaster: you have ups, and downs, and sideways and... somehow we are going backwards in a knot? Point is to enjoy the ride. You will be screaming at some point.
Because there is no pattern and no "standard" the end result will always be good to other people unless you tell other people otherwise/intention. "it was supposed to be a cute sweater: now its a grungy alternative statement piece that I can layer over things." (in other words, fake it till you make it)**
The fear of failure is usually what stops most people from doing it altogether. or the fear that ot wont come out perfect. in an age where a lot of creation is digital, making something (literally anything) with your hands is already an amazing thing. So therefore...
Oh and no one can count. Have I mentioned this yet?
*"waste" because the cost of materials cannot be replaced but it's still a learning moment so it's not truly a waste (if it's a good mental health day)
**this is only sound advice when you're not taking anyone else on the journey of creation. Accepting the flaws and the issues for what they are: that's a part of the craft, and can also be celebrated. But if it's someone who won't understand/doesn't care about the process: you don't have to tell them.
