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50 Times People Failed At DIY So Badly, They Just Had To Share The Results Online
Creating something from scratch is an enriching experience. Whether it’s knitting, crocheting, or getting your hands dirty while shaping a new idea out of clay, any craft-based activity serves as an antidote to the stresses of daily living. It’s amazing to see people rocking their inner craftsperson and creating whatever their minds dream up. But at the same time, every enthusiast knows how easy it is to get caught up in the joy of the process.
Like any art, you get super excited when starting a new project — burning with passion, hope, and expectation — only to see how it turns into a hilarious disaster! Yet, some people set out to go all the way and share their funny mishaps with everyone online. And here are the results — the internet has become packed with unfortunate handmade projects that probably looked great on paper but went way, way wrong.
Our craft-loving team here at Bored Panda has scoured the web to bring you a list of pictures that showcase the most memorable fails of the handmade world. So continue scrolling, upvote the best of these questionable gems, and be sure to share your own goofy blunders down below in the comments!
Then if you’re interested in even more do-it-yourself endeavors that should have never seen the light of day, check out our earlier posts here and here.
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Probably Should Have Said Something After The First One
The Pillow My Mom Made Me Really Ties The Room Together
My Sister Legitimately Tried To Paint A Picture Of Stevie Wonder For My Dad On His Birthday
First off, let’s give a big round of applause to these wholesome people who decided to entertain everyone by sharing their funny masterpieces online. Because poking fun at your blunders is an excellent way to show that humor is a powerful tool that can boost your mood in no time. And crafting is a complicated business — only dedicated crafters succeed in creating flawless objects on their first try. So seeing the funny side of the handmade world can immediately lift the weight off any enthusiast's shoulders.
To learn more about the most common crafting mistakes and how to keep the creativity flowing, we reached out to Emma Jewell, a Cricut expert and all-around craft lover who shares inspiration and knowledge to help people in their crafting journey. "A lot of common crafting mistakes I see are not having everything you need at the start of a project," Emma told Bored Panda.
After all, it’s easy to get caught up in the joy of making new objects and fail to notice you’re bound to end up with a questionable product. "I often see projects that have gone wrong because they are using the wrong type of glue for the material used or the wrong type of paint, it just ends up in a bit of a mess! Make sure to read the bottle and get clued up on what kind of materials you are working with before you start."
My Husband Said: "Stay Still. I'm Going Try To Draw You." Then He Showed Me This. I Laughed So Hard I Almost Threw Up. Look At The Feet
This Clay Sculpture Fell Perfectly Flat On Its Face And Looks Not Happy About It
My Wife Knitted A Hat For Our Bull Terrier, But I Think It Works Better On The Whippet
With so many mishaps floating around online, it’s clear that some enthusiasts bite off more than they can chew. According to Emma, people sometimes tend to overestimate their abilities.
"As crafty-minded people, our first thought is always 'I can make that!' So wading into a project that might be way above our capabilities happens a lot," she said. "But that’s also the fun of crafting — having a go, and finding out if it’s going to be a success or not!"
"I think a lot of crafters are winging it, but that’s where the joy is, in the making part — even if the finished project isn’t what you set out for it to be, you still had a lovely time making it," Emma told us.
My 4 Year Old Found Permanent Markers And Is So Proud That He Is Now Darth Maul
My Boyfriend Painted Our Dog
My Mum Tried To Make My Sister A Teddy Bear. I Present Quasimodo In Bear Form
But some people can’t help but feel discouraged if their project didn’t turn out as expected. After all, even the smallest crafts can take us hours, days, or weeks to finish, so it’s perfectly normal to get bummed out when your expectations swiftly fall apart. And the digital world doesn't make it any easier.
You rarely see the weird and the ugly side of failed attempts at making craft projects. As our Instagram feeds are filled with carefully curated and choreographed finished products, looking at these messes is a refreshing sight. Thankfully, lists like this one provide us with a slight sense of relief by reminding us that, in reality, everyone can make a mistake. Because crafting isn’t always pretty, and it’s absolutely fine.
I Named Her Barry B. Benson
I realized 3 things while making this bee. 1) Don’t buy jumbo size yarn. 2) The magic ring is hard to do with jumbo size yarn. 3) Free-handing a project will get you drastically different results. She kinda looks like a bee and a caterpillar.
Tried To Crochet My Mum A Frog And Everything Went Wrong
After Numerous Failed Projects, Finally A Success. A Slipper That Would Fit An Elephant. Now I Just Have To Acquire An Elephant
Emma pointed out that if you ever feel hesitant to continue elevating your craftwork after a hilarious disaster, just keep going. "Part of the skill in crafting is creative problem solving, so finding a way to switch up the project halfway through or finding a creative way to cover up a mistake is part of the fun!"
"A lot of the time as adults, we haven’t crafted since school, so don’t be hard on yourself. You are flexing a muscle that you haven’t used for a while," she added.
Make A Beret But Fail So Marvelously It Makes You Look Like An Angry Mushroom From Mario
I Took My Art Very Seriously In High School And Thought I Was Pretty Good. Looking Back At This Piece, I May Have Been In Denial
This reminds me of the Napoleon Dynamite scene about the mustache shading.
All I Know Is That Somewhere Along The Line A Mistake Might Have Been Made
Moreover, we sometimes forget that even the most minor tweaks and changes can make a huge positive impact on our projects. "I always say that there is no such thing as too many embellishments, adding a bit of sparkle has helped me disguise many a mistake," Emma told us. "There is always something small you can do to cover up a mistake or level up the finished project, be it adding a pom-pom or flipping the project over to show its good side."
Emma was kind enough to offer a few pieces of advice: "Always have fast-drying glue to hand, a glue gun is my weapon of choice as that will stop you from getting into a gluey mess. Take time to enjoy the process and the problem-solving aspect of the craft, and don’t be too hard on yourself! We all started somewhere!"
The Top Is Pottery That My Mom Got In Germany, The Bottom Is My Attempt To Make It In My Ceramics Class
I did this! My husband loves it so much, he took it to work for his desk!
They Stand Up On Their Own. i Have Brought Shame To My Knitting Name
I Tried To Paint My Girlfriend
Some Interesting Face Paint I Had Done As A Child
When you do pick up a new form of art, you’ll see the benefits in no time. Working with your hands and engaging in creative and meaningful occupations has the special power of getting your mind into the flow state. And there’s an abundance of evidence suggesting that it leads to countless physical and mental health benefits.
A worldwide online survey of over 3,500 knitters found respondents reported they derived a wide range of perceived psychological and social benefits from the practice that contributed to their quality of life. The majority said they felt relaxed, relieved from stress, and got a boost of creativity and a sense of accomplishment. Moreover, there’s a significant relationship between knitting frequency and feeling calm and happy.
Clearing Out Some Old DVDs And Found This Custom Case I Hand-Crafted Myself
Cat Found A New Scratch Post In My Latest Portrait. Lesson Learned = Never Leave A Clay Portrait In The House With A Cat. Make A Good Horror Sculpture Though
Clay Monstrosity
"Crafting can help move people from inactivity to engagement and it tends to make them feel good," Gayle Torres, a board-certified art therapist at Cancer Wellness at Piedmont, said. "While it isn’t art therapy, crafting does offer stress reduction."
Torres explained a few physical benefits our bodies feel when we carry out activities involving repetitive, similar motions. "Crafting projects can help the brain send signals to the body that all is well. Blood pressure and tension are reduced, resulting in a sense of well-being."
My Friend Got Married Yesterday And Was Gifted A Handmade Quilt
Omg, i thought they were saying it's too small and was about to be all "Well quilts take forever!" but I see now. Oh no.
Me too, I'm like, i think that's a great gif....OH!
Load More Replies...Before Hitler used it for his logo- swastikas were used regularly in designs but today it seems quite thoughtless, indeed.
I was traveling around Indonesia and saw a lot of them that were used long before Hitler stole them. My grandparents are from Krakow so it would definitely upset me to get this.
Load More Replies...Don't feel bad - someone worked on this for days, maybe weeks, and they apparently didn't pick up on it. (Or at least I hope not...)
Load More Replies...What's wrong with it? Clearly a lot of sewing skill went into th- oh no.
My thoughts exactly.... Took a few seconds to notice it...
Load More Replies...Oh my... They should not have used all white strips in the middle and it would have avoided this unfortunate effect.
Yeah, I've done this pattern. I learned pretty quickly to lay out each square before I started piecing it, so I could see if I needed to rearrange or swap colors to avoid...this.
Load More Replies...Maybe they read the Wikipedia article on Swastikas and learned: "The swastika is a symbol with many styles and meanings and can be found in many cultures." and "The adoption of the swastika by the Nazi Party and neo-Nazis is the most recognizable modern use of the symbol in the Western world." I think a lot of people, even if they weren't even alive then have this generally negative association of this symbol, because of Hitler and the Nazi Party and neo-Nazis. Perhaps they had family members who survived the Holocaust and told stories about the horrors of it, or they watched documentaries about it to learn about their history. I only learned back in January of 2020 that it isn't/wasn't always used to mean Nazi things.
Load More Replies...I must say I get mildly annoyed whenever someone is legitimately appaled by this symbol and then some smart a*s comes along saying "oh but it used to be a positive symbol! It's from Buddhism and Hinduism!!" Yes, we all know that, but that doesn't change the fact that it is now associated with Nazis. It is NOT an innocent symbol. I can assure you that neo nazi assholes who graffiti it onto buildings (on refugee shelters even) do NOT mean it as attempt to "give it back it's original meaning", so as long as there are such people, no, it cannot be used innocently. End of rant (and I know what you're going to say, Tell me you're German without telling me you're German, lol) Edit: I do know that in this pic, it was not done on purpose, I mean in general
Doesn't it make a difference it's in the opposite direction, so it's not actually a swastika?
Load More Replies...What's sad is it would look like a normal alternating fence slate quilt but they added the borders around each set of 4 that...made it into that. Always pin your piece together before sewing...
This particular pattern is called rail fence and if you're not careful with the colours it can indeed look like a swastika. It's a common mistake in quilting unfortunately.
I've made the same mistake myself and had to rearrange my colours
1. I’m sure this was an innocent mistake on the quilter’s part, but… 2. The orientation of the swastikas when the quilt would be on a bed (“square”) has the positive Hindu/Buddhist/Jainism meanings others have described because… 3. Hitler liked the look of the symbol, but not necessarily the meaning, so he turned it 45 degrees (“diamond”). The “diamond” swastika is a symbol of antisemitism, racism, and hatred. 4. While the negative view of the symbol is what most people know, it has been a positive symbol WAAAAYYY longer, as long as it is in the correct (“square”) orientation. 5. The only way to get people to stop thinking of the negative usage first is to educate others on the original, positive meaning and orientation, so… 6. Please, don’t forget about the atrocities committed by the Nazis, so it doesn’t happen again, but also pass along the knowledge of the positive “square” swastika whenever the symbol comes up in conversation.
Hitler stole it. "... The swastika has a long, complex history – much older than its association with Nazi Germany – dating back to prehistoric times. The emblem was a sign of well-being and long life, and was found everywhere, from the tombs of early Christians to the catacombs of Rome and the Lalibela Rock Churches, to the Cathedral of Cordoba. "The motif appears to have first been used in Eurasia, as early as 7,000 years ago, perhaps representing the movement of the sun through the sky… as a symbol of wellbeing in ancient societies," says the Holocaust Encyclopedia."
Well it does look like the swastika is straight up not at an angle. Would that not be the original hindu symbol which stands for life force, happiness or holiness? Just don't drape the quilt at an angle on your bed and any association with nazis can be avoided.
I was about to ask what in the world was wrong and then…oh no…no…no…so much no…no squared…no to infinity.
At first I was like "Oh, what a nice quilt, beautifu-- wait."
took me a moment. oh geez oo; ....well an attempt was made i guess ^^;
She's like "WTF" he is in the chair smiling like "meh it could come in handy"
OMG, she was going for rail fence and wound up with bad color placement. All that work.
if she'd made it to the left, it would have been the old version of a swastika - the symbol for good luck. still, very tricky symbolism!
I read somewhere that that was a sign of protection before it’s meaning was destroyed.
Oh noooooo. I mean, originally the Swastika was meant as a symbol of good luck and a variation of the cross. But ohhh my gawd.
Well...The swastika is an age-old symbol in religions across Asia, Europe and Africa, having positive connotations like good luck, life or prosperity. But.....
I doubt this was on purpose, and I'm not sure if it's the "right" way or the "wrong" way - but yikes.
What's wrong with it, just four flags stuck toge...oh my tsk tsk that will not do
Oh boy. They could always say it's the sacred Navajo "swirling log" pattern.
Oh sh.. took me a few seconds. I zoomed in to read the label the groom is holding and the design leapt out! I would be asking Granny a few questions...
oh, goodness. it's an old quilt style and is for good luck. Swastikas have been around for a very long time in art. The Nazis perverted its use.
From the comments, I'm guessing there's a giant phallus somewhere, but I can't find it. I admit I'm out of practice. Could someone help me please?
I have two “windmill” quilts made before Hitler’s time that now look like swastikas. They were made by Great Aunts. This used to be a quite popular pattern, with no racial connotation whatsoever.
A few years ago I was looking a hand made doilies on Pinterest , some were for sale and some were selling the patterns . Innocent looking doilies all in pastel colours , all very pretty Until I had a closer look at the pattern . They were all Swastikas every single one and I Reported those people immediately and I guessing the admin team at Pinterest removed those neo Nazis because I’ve never seen any like that again
Swastik - is an ancient religious and cultural symbol predominantly used in India for centuries for auspicious occasions and Diwali. For Hindus it is a symbol of infinity, divinity & spirituality, symbolising Sun god, prosperity & good luck. In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism it is a symbol conducive to well being.
If I'm not wrong if the Top Line went left instead of right it's actually a sign for peace in Asia
It's the thought that counts...but that's the issue here. What kind of thought!
This is so sad because of the time/effort involved creating this. The irony is how this symbol of evil originally was the Sanskrit symbol for “good fortune” or “well-being", a very appropriate message to a newly wedded couple.
I really, really, want to say that it is an ancient and revered Hindu symbol meant to offer “good life” to the recipient. In fact, that may well be whatever pattern book the quilt maker consulted said. But, no. I just can’t. Unless you AND the recipient are actually Hindu, NO. This traditional gift must be retired, The Nazis co-opted it so well, and people today are so ignorant of ancient cultures & traditions that are not their own, that it’s just not ok now. (But, I had to look twice to see it, too. And, given the reaction shot, I’m betting the maker never did make the connection, if I’m right about the pattern description. She saw traditional and easy and forgot to draw the overall pattern out first.)
According to the Wikipedia page for Swastika: In Hinduism, the right-facing symbol (clockwise) (卐) is called swastika, symbolizing surya ("sun"), prosperity and good luck. Maybe the person who made the quilt is Hindu or practices Hinduism and wanted to bring good luck on the couple and their marriage. Maybe the couple practice Hinduism and it is actually a lovely gesture. I doubt it, based on her expression though.
I'm not getting this one. Are those people secretly conjoined under the quilt?
Look a little harder at the pattern on the quilt…
Load More Replies...Look a wee bit harder at the pattern on the quilt.
Load More Replies...Took a disturbingly long time for me to figure out what the problem was.
The person used = symbol each sides together , it’s just styles for quilt blankets but this one ended up looks nazi
Load More Replies...Is that bad? I mean..... it's left to interpretation. And quite honestly, I didn't see "it" for several minutes. Gawd ......I hope that doesn't give the wrong impression. P. S. - the dude really seems pleased
Meh, even if you see swastikas in it, those are not a symbol of evil to be honest.
Did you honestly just say that a swastika isn’t a symbol of evil? This symbol was twisted by the Nazis and fascists and is most definitely associated with hatred, genocide, nazism, fascism, and white nationalism. Yeah, I think the swastika has definitely become a symbol associated with evil.
Load More Replies...My Friend Got His Dreads Cut Off, His Mom Turned Them Into A Cat Bed
My Friend Just Knitted A Fox Cowell Hood. Expectations vs. Reality
The next time you feel anxious or think the world around you is too much to handle, try turning to crochet, fabric work, or any other craft you find pleasing. It’s nice to participate in activities that engage our imagination, bring us back to the present moment, and allow us to come up with something beautiful. Or utterly hilarious! Whatever makes you happy, we’re not here to judge.
Failed Rug. I Did Not Sew It On A Flat Surface So I Couldn’t See I Was Wrapping Each Round Too Tight, And Now It Won’t Lay Flat. At Least The Cat Likes It
So My Girlfriend Attempted To Sew Me A Monkey
Not All My Crafts Turn Out How I Imagine Them
DIY Cat Tent
When You Find Out Yarn Weight And Needle Size Matter In A Pattern
The First Sweater I Ever Made
I knew nothing about sizing and was so nervous it'd be too small so it ended up being HUGE, but also, the neck was so small I could barely squeeze my head into it. I've since taken this sweater apart and make a throw blanket I love with it. Live and learn!
This Painting My Grandmother Copied
It Has Pockets. 38 Of Them
My Daughter Says I Look Like I Should Be Singing In The Church Choir. My Second Attempt At A Dress, Second Fail
Condom Beanie? Top Is What I Made, Bottom Is What It's Supposed To Be. Oops
I Made A Replica Of My Ear Out Of Boredom
I Tried Making My First Pair Of Pants Today. I Goofed, But The Result Was Hilarious (I Fixed Them And Finished)
My Grandmother Took Various Socks From My Laundry Basket And Sewed Them Into A Pair Of Tiny Rugs. I Have No Clue Why
A Friend Of Mine Tried Painting A Rock Like The One She Saw Online
I’m Known Far And Wide For My Incredible Sculpting Abilities. The Next Michelangelo, They Call Me. I Am A Play Dough Artiste And Joan Rivers (RIP) Is My Muse
These Blue Jeans Were My Favorite. However, Bleach Got On The Bottom Of It. Since I Had Left Over Fabric, I Got The Bright Idea To Create Bell Bottoms Out Of It
My Wife Is A Talented Artist, So She Wanted To Make The White Owl Instead Of Buying It Pre-Made
She's Taken Up Crocheting. I Have No Words
First Time Trying To Make A Bunny Didn't Turn Out The Way I Expected
Beanie Fail. Can You Tell This Is My First Time?
What It Was Supposed To Look And What I Did Crocheted
Tried To Make A Hiding Place In A Book
Tried A New Craft
You gotta use a glass cutter, and they take forever to sand smooth because if you sand too quickly they shatter. Basically, as much as I love craft and DIY - buy some someone else made!
Fail: Beanie I Was Making, Apparently For A Cone Head. I Started Over After Pic
Decided To Paint My PS3 Controller
Note: this post originally had 85 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
I mean at least they tried? :) Try, fail, try again, you know.
Practice! That is the key. Not letting mistakes stop you and learn from them
Load More Replies...Everyone starts as a novice. I tried to crochet facial cleansing pads. I even had the yarn recommended in the instructions. The first one turned out to be half smaller than in the picture. I tried again with a bigger hook and the same thing again. Then I gave up and crocheted two more layers and now they are the right size. Such mistakes are inspiring because you have to be able to laugh at mistakes.
None of these are fails. I see someone who took their time and effort to create something. No one failed here at all.
Thank you! I get that it's emotionally safer to put yourself out there as a funny fail, but let's all not be so down on ourselves! These were great, and as other people have said, everyone has to starts somewhere- and personally, I find it more satisfying to trial and error, than not try at all.
Load More Replies...They can be the most talented humans in existence, but crafts need a lot of hard work to refine. No one is just born ready to paint sistine chapel without training. :)
Load More Replies...Failure is how success is learned and earned. It’s a good thing in many situations. We have much in common with the AI that constantly fails to do things, to hilarious degrees.
everything nazis used for the propaganda used to be positive and popular before them. practically they misuse nice pieces of art, symbols etc. lili marleen is another example
I enjoyed this post so much because I love to sew, crochet and needle felt even though I suck at it!!! It's fun to do and a bonus when my results turn out!
Some of these had me lmao! I appreciate everyones efforts and willingness to laugh at themselves.
Is working on a craft not "doing it yourself"? I'm struggling to see the difference?
Load More Replies...I mean at least they tried? :) Try, fail, try again, you know.
Practice! That is the key. Not letting mistakes stop you and learn from them
Load More Replies...Everyone starts as a novice. I tried to crochet facial cleansing pads. I even had the yarn recommended in the instructions. The first one turned out to be half smaller than in the picture. I tried again with a bigger hook and the same thing again. Then I gave up and crocheted two more layers and now they are the right size. Such mistakes are inspiring because you have to be able to laugh at mistakes.
None of these are fails. I see someone who took their time and effort to create something. No one failed here at all.
Thank you! I get that it's emotionally safer to put yourself out there as a funny fail, but let's all not be so down on ourselves! These were great, and as other people have said, everyone has to starts somewhere- and personally, I find it more satisfying to trial and error, than not try at all.
Load More Replies...They can be the most talented humans in existence, but crafts need a lot of hard work to refine. No one is just born ready to paint sistine chapel without training. :)
Load More Replies...Failure is how success is learned and earned. It’s a good thing in many situations. We have much in common with the AI that constantly fails to do things, to hilarious degrees.
everything nazis used for the propaganda used to be positive and popular before them. practically they misuse nice pieces of art, symbols etc. lili marleen is another example
I enjoyed this post so much because I love to sew, crochet and needle felt even though I suck at it!!! It's fun to do and a bonus when my results turn out!
Some of these had me lmao! I appreciate everyones efforts and willingness to laugh at themselves.
Is working on a craft not "doing it yourself"? I'm struggling to see the difference?
Load More Replies...