My Crafting Odyssey and How It Helped My Mental Health

Introduction: Where It All Began

Every journey has a starting point, and mine kicked off with a gift—an incredibly vibrant, multicoloured cardigan. It was a time when I was struggling, both mentally and emotionally. Life was not being kind, and the weight of mental health challenges was like a cloud that just would not lift. Then, my eldest child gave me this cardigan, and it changed something. Not in an instant "everything’s fine now" way, but in a small, meaningful way that sparked a change in me. That cardigan became a symbol of joy, humour, and even a little bit of hope.

I know it sounds odd that a piece of clothing could do that, but for me, it did. The bold colours, the wild patterns—this cardigan had personality. It was unapologetically loud, something I needed at the time. It made me smile when smiling felt hard. And from there, an idea was born: BatShit Guy. Who is BatShit Guy? He is my alter ego, the embodiment of everything quirky, bold, and fun. He is not afraid to be ridiculous, colourful, and a little out there, much like that cardigan.

That gift kick-started my journey into the world of crafting. I wanted to make things that made me feel the same way that cardigan did. From knitting machines to Cricut projects, I threw myself headfirst into crafting, hoping to turn this energy into something tangible. And while I haven’t quite reached the level of knitting genius I was aiming for, I’m loving every chaotic moment of it. Along the way, I’ve learned more than I ever thought I would about knitting, crafting, and how creativity can be a lifeline when life feels overwhelming.

This is the story of how I went from that cardigan to Cricut crafts, knitting disasters, and somehow, in the middle of it all, personalising my bong. Because why not?

The Cardigan That Started It All

Before we dive into the world of machines, vinyl, and yarn, we need to go back to that multicoloured cardigan. Picture this: you are deep in the trenches of a mental health battle. Days blur into each other, emotions feel heavy, and getting out of bed feels like a monumental effort. And then, out of nowhere, you get a gift—this bold, bright, ridiculously colourful cardigan. It is like someone grabbed a rainbow, threw it into a blender, and turned it into a sweater.

At first, I did not know what to make of it. I was not exactly the kind of person who wore multicoloured anything. I was more of a "wear black to avoid making decisions" kind of guy. But the cardigan grew on me. Every time I put it on, it was like wrapping myself in a little bit of happiness. It did not solve everything, but it lifted my spirits just enough to make a difference.

And that is when the idea of BatShit Guy started to form. I realised that if a piece of clothing could do that for me, why not embrace that energy fully? Why not create more things that brought joy, humour, and a sense of fun into my life? BatShit Guy became my creative alter ego—a persona that allowed me to be as loud and colourful as I wanted to be, with zero apologies. I wanted to turn that feeling into something bigger, something I could share with the world. And thus, my crafting journey began.

Enter the Cricut Machines: Crafting BatShit Guy’s Identity

When I first decided to bring BatShit Guy to life, I knew I would need some serious tools. I was not content with just dreaming up ideas—I wanted to make them real. That is when I discovered the Cricut Maker 3. It was like finding the Holy Grail of crafting. This machine could cut through anything: vinyl, paper, fabric—you name it. It was perfect for creating custom BatShit Guy merch—from T-shirts and hoodies to mugs, stickers, and beyond.

But before we dive into my projects, let us take a moment to appreciate the sheer genius of the Cricut Maker 3. This machine is not just a tool—it is a game-changer. Whether you are into cutting intricate designs, making vinyl decals, or slapping iron-on transfers onto clothing, the Cricut Maker 3 is your best friend. It handles everything with the precision of a surgeon and the speed of a caffeinated squirrel. It has been my go-to for all things BatShit Guy branding.

Cricut Maker 3: The Branding Powerhouse

When I got the Cricut Maker 3, my first project was to create a BatShit Guy logo. I wanted something that was as loud and bold as the persona itself. I sat down with Cricut Design Space (which, for the record, took a while to get used to) and started designing. The logo needed to be quirky, full of energy, and something that made people stop and say, “What the hell is that?” After several iterations, I finally nailed it—a mix of bold lettering, chaotic patterns, and, of course, way too much colour.

With my design ready, I started printing vinyl for T-shirts, hoodies, and mugs. The process was a bit of a learning curve. I cannot tell you how many times I forgot to mirror the design before cutting, which led to backwards logos and a lot of wasted vinyl. But once I got the hang of it, the Cricut Maker 3 was unstoppable.

Here is what I love most about the Cricut:

Vinyl Cutting: Whether it is permanent vinyl for stickers or iron-on vinyl for clothes, the Cricut cuts like a dream. I have made dozens of T-shirts and hoodies with BatShit Guy logos, all with clean lines and perfect precision.

Iron-On Transfers: The iron-on process is pretty straightforward, but you have got to get it just right. After a few failed attempts (pro tip: do not forget to mirror your design!), I was churning out custom BatShit Guy shirts that look like they belong in some eccentric streetwear shop.

Mugs and Stickers: I have slapped my logo on mugs, stickers, and pretty much anything that is not nailed down. The Cricut makes it easy to switch between projects, whether I am cutting fabric one minute or vinyl the next.

Cricut Joy: Small but Mighty

Alongside the Cricut Maker 3, I picked up the Cricut Joy—a smaller, more portable version of its bigger sibling. While the Maker 3 handles the heavy-duty projects, the Joy is perfect for quick labels, decals, and smaller projects. I love that I can pull it out for fast, last-minute jobs without having to set up the larger machine.

The Cricut Joy became my go-to for making promo buttons, small decals, and labels for everything in my life. It is not as powerful as the Maker 3, but it is perfect for those small projects where you just need something done fast.

The Knitting Machines: The Dream of Multicoloured Knitwear

While the Cricut machines had me covered on the branding front, my heart still longed for something more—knitwear. Specifically, multicoloured knitwear that embodied the chaotic, joyful spirit of BatShit Guy. That cardigan had sparked something in me, and I wanted to recreate that magic in the form of scarves, jumpers, and beanies.

But there was one problem: I did not know how to knit. I mean, I knew the basics, but hand-knitting something as complex as a multicoloured jumper was going to take way too long. I needed a shortcut, and that is when I discovered the world of knitting machines.

The Singer 327: A Beast of a Machine

Enter the Singer 327 knitting machine. This thing looked like it had the potential to churn out knitwear faster than I could even dream it. I envisioned myself creating scarves, hats, and jumpers with ease, all in BatShit Guy’s signature loud, colourful style. But as I soon learned, the knitting machine world is not for the faint of heart.

The Singer 327 is a manual flat-bed knitting machine—and if that sounds intimidating, it is because it is. There is no “set it and forget it” option here. You have got to thread the yarn, adjust the tension, and manually move the carriage across the needle bed to knit your rows. And if you get any of those things wrong, you are looking at a dropped stitch disaster. Spoiler: I got a lot of things wrong in the beginning.

My first few projects were... let us call them experimental. I managed to knit a scarf, but it looked more like an abstract art piece than something you would wear in public. The tension was all over the place, and I dropped so many stitches that the finished product had more holes than fabric. But hey, it was a start.

The SRP-50 Ribber: Leveling Up (And Making Things Harder)

Because I am a glutton for punishment, I decided to add the SRP-50 ribber attachment to my knitting machine setup. The ribber allows you to create ribbed fabrics, which are essential for making stretchy garments like hats, cuffs, and waistbands. It also opens up the possibility for circular knitting, which means I could (theoretically) make seamless jumpers and socks.

But let me tell you, the ribber is a whole new level of chaos. Now I was not just dealing with one needle bed—I was dealing with two, and they had to work in perfect harmony. The tension had to be flawless, or else the fabric would come out looking like a tangled mess. And fixing a mistake on the ribber is like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded.

I spent countless hours battling this machine. There were times when I wanted to throw it out the window, but I kept at it. And eventually, I managed to knit my first ribbed beanie. It was not perfect, but it was a victory. Slowly but surely, I was starting to understand how these machines worked.

Personalising My Bong: A Fun Detour

In the middle of all this crafting chaos, I decided to take a little detour into something fun. One day, as I was messing around with my Cricut Maker 3, I noticed my bong sitting nearby. I thought, “Why not?” I mean, if I could personalise T-shirts and mugs, why not give my bong a little upgrade?

Using the Cricut, I designed a custom vinyl stencil and applied it to the bong. Then, I grabbed some etching cream and got to work. The result? A personalised, etched bong that is now one of my proudest creations. It was not planned, but sometimes the best projects are the ones that come out of nowhere.

Mental Health and Crafting: Why This Journey Matters

As fun as this crafting journey has been, it has also been deeply personal. Mental health has been a constant presence in my life, and crafting has become one of the ways I cope. When I am creating something—whether it is a knitted scarf, a custom T-shirt, or a personalised bong—I am able to focus on something positive. It is a way to distract my mind from the darker thoughts and channel my energy into something that brings me joy.

That multicoloured cardigan was not just a piece of clothing—it was a reminder that there is always a little bit of light, even in the darkest times. And that is what BatShit Guy represents to me—a way to embrace the chaos, find humour in the struggle, and create something colourful and fun, no matter how hard life gets.

What’s Next for BatShit Guy?

The journey is not over yet. I am still working on mastering the knitting machines and creating that multicoloured knitwear line that inspired all of this in the first place. It is slow-going, but every mistake is a lesson, and every project brings me one step closer to my goal.

In the meantime, I will keep cranking out BatShit Guy merch with my Cricut machines and maybe personalise a few more random objects along the way. Who knows? There might be another bong in the works.

If you ever need a custom T-shirt, a quirky mug, or just want to see what BatShit Guy is all about, you know where to find me. And one day, there will be a line of multicoloured knitwear with your name on it.

Conclusion

This journey has been chaotic, messy, and full of unexpected detours, but I would not trade it for anything. Crafting has given me a creative outlet that is helped me through some of the toughest times in my life. It is reminded me that even when things feel overwhelming, I can still find joy, humour, and a sense of accomplishment in the little things.

BatShit Guy may have started as a way to express myself, but he has become so much more than that. He is a reminder to embrace the craziness of life and to never be afraid of a little colour and chaos.