Weaving While Neurodivergent: On Finishing

When I originally wrote this post, I had only recently been diagnosed with ADHD, although it was something I'd unknowingly battled my whole life. Since then, I've met countless weavers and other fiber afficianados who share my diagnosis as well as my struggles. While I've worked on my strategies to manage my symptoms, I realize that dealing with any sort of neurodivergency is a bit like dealing with sevledges: even after years of practice it still takes effort to keep things neat.

I've long since finished the project mentioned in this article (and yes, I did get it done in time) and in the interim woven and finished many more, thanks in no small part to these tips. Even though this post is about how I deal with executive disfunction related to my ADHD, the advice can be applied to any project you can't quite bring yourself to finish, no matter how big (the pin-loom throw still in pieces) or how small (unhemmed towels). —Christina

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Lately I’ve been struggling with my ADHD when it comes to my weaving. I’ve got a present planned out for a friend’s baby, and while I have all the pieces woven, it’s been increasingly difficult to find the mental energy to put it all together and finish the thing already. It’s not that I don’t have the time (it really won’t take long); it’s that sometimes even simple tasks—tasks I would normally enjoy, such as joining pin-loom squares—can seem overwhelming and mentally exhausting.

Have a scarf sitting around that just needs its fringe finished? Keep it where you'll see it, alongside your fringe twister. That way you'll be more likely to pick it up when you have a moment or two. Even if you end up only twisting a few bundles at a time, any progress is better than no progress. Photo by George Boe

My friend’s baby shower is in early October, and the baby is due to come in late November—and my oldest child has politely asked for me to weave him a rainbow pillow—so I am very much approaching a deadline. In other words, I need to overcome my executive dysfunction. I’m quite certain that I’m not the only weaver, neurodivergent or not, who would much rather move on to the next project than finish up my current one, so here’s how I work with my brain to get motivated about a specific task that seems insurmountable.

Keep it in sight.

First, I realize my biggest problem—out of sight, out of mind: While cleaning, I put the pin-loom pieces in a drawer. To my brain, with its lack of object permanence, the squares might as well be at the bottom of the Marianas Trench. When I do think about them, it’s usually times when I’m overwhelmingly busy, which is not conducive to breaking the cycle of procrastination. Solution: The squares and joining supplies now sit on my desk organizer so I can easily grab them whenever I have a meeting.

Break it down.

Next, I took all the pieces and laid them in front of me along with the instructions for my project. I then broke it all into easy-to-digest steps. Just seeing a pile of squares and knowing I had to turn them into a cohesive item that was more than just a flat rectangle gave me anxiety. Understanding the steps and how easy they are individually helped turn my thoughts from “Oh my, this is too overwhelming!” to “Oh goodness, this is easier than I thought!”

When working on a pin-loom project, it can help to lay out everything you've woven as you go over the steps for joining and constructing the finished object. Photo by Tiffany Warble

Make goals—and keep them realistic.

Finally—and this was the hardest step—I gave myself a tiny goal of joining four squares per day and followed through. Getting over the initial mental hurdle is the hardest part. I realize that joining four squares may not sound that hard, but when my ADHD brain decides it doesn’t want to do something, the something it doesn’t want to do isn’t always logical. Often the tasks I put off the most end up being almost so simple it’s silly.

After taking the time to reframe this project in my mind—and in my physical space by making it more visible—I am no longer overwhelmed. In fact, I will hopefully have it finished by this time next week with plenty of time to spare before the baby shower.

Sometimes life gets busy and stressful, and even the smallest of tasks can seem overwhelming—you don’t need to be neurodivergent to feel this way, either. It’s important to remember to take a breath, take a step back, and then take it all step-by-step. If you’ve similarly got an unfinished project, be it unhemmed towels or a scarf with fringe that remains untwisted, I hope this helps get you on your way to a finished piece.

Happy Weaving,

Christina

Originally published 6/30/2022; updated 1/1/2026