by Carrie Schutrick

Created on: March 04, 2009

Whether imperfections "matter" in a handmade item is not a question that can be answered with a simple Yes or No. There are several factors that go into deciding it, and even when they're all taken into account you may not get a definite answer.

For example, is the item meant to be sold? If so, imperfections might not be desirable to potential buyers, especially if those imperfections affect more than just the way the item looks. Imperfect areas can wear out faster or be more likely to break, which a buyer probably won't be pleased with. On the other hand, some people like the kind of minor inconsistencies that demonstrate that an item was handmade, rather than being turned out by the gross on a machine somewhere. Given that anything handmade generally has a personal touch to it, though, it's probably best to strive to make anything as well as you can.

Which leads us to our second factor: skill. Everyone needs a little practice to get good at a new skill; your first few items may not be perfect but they're still perfectly functional. If a dishcloth has a few extra yarnovers or a key rack doesn't hang quite straight, they're still useful for their duties, so the little mistakes don't really matter at all. Similarly, a garment like a costume or special-occasion dress, that'll only be worn once, can be imperfect in many ways and still serve its purpose. If the maker did the best they could, and produced something with a function, then the imperfections don't matter.

Then there's sentiment. A child making a present for Mommy or Daddy can be assured that even the largest of imperfections won't render the gift any less loved. In fact, in such cases the mistakes are likely to matter more to the maker than the recipient; some people get distraught when something they intended as a gift isn't perfect even though the giftee loves whatever it is. In such cases, the imperfections matter only insomuch as they make someone unhappy. A crafter who objects to a mistake in his or her own work has made the mistake matter; otherwise it doesn't.

In the end, it comes down to this: does the mistake, the imperfection, mean the item can't be used? Then it matters. Does the person who needs to use the item object to the imperfection? Then it matters. Otherwise, it really doesn't. Of course we should put all the effort into a handmade item that we can, but imperfections happen; as long as they don't render the item unusable, they don't really matter.

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