Stitch 'n Dish

Category: Sewing

  • The consumerism of crafting

    The consumerism of crafting

    I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, and on social media sites where I post about my fiber arts projects (check me out on BlueSky: @StitchnDish) that I have been making a concerted effort to use fabric and yarn that I already own, in lieu of buying new, and have even done some shopping at thrift…

  • Skills for survival

    Skills for survival

    This has been a week of much contemplation, and even worry. As a child that grew up in relative peace, and prosperity; I have only the stories of my parents, grandparents. and great-grandparents to compare to my relative “ease” in life. Rightly or wrongly, many people are looking back across history to times of unrest…

  • Fiber fright fun

    Fiber fright fun

    Over the last few years, I’ve found a lot of joy in Halloween fiber arts! This year I not only found crochet patterns, like this Candy Corn stuffie by Okie Girl Bling ‘n Things, but I went all out and made my costume and a little bag to carry as a themed purse.  I made the…

  • Life’s true meaning

    Life’s true meaning

    I hit one of those milestone birthdays last year, and it impacted me in a way no other birthday had up to that point. It was not the fact that I was now 2 generations older than the “kids” in the family, nor was it the issue of being an older female in a culture…

  • Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival: my review

    Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival: my review

    I’m still trying to figure out how it’s already nearly the middle of October, as it feels that the end of the 2024 Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival (August 23 – 25, 2024) was just a week or so ago! I have been thinking about that festival, along with many related topics. As it pertains to the festival,…

  • AI, technology & fiber arts

    AI, technology & fiber arts

    I began watching a Netflix series on Artificial Intelligence (AI) this week. In my professional world (healthcare and education), I have been dealing with and writing about AI and its impact for a while. As I sat on my couch, cat tucked in beside me and yarn in hand, I began to think about fiber arts and…

  • Joy, accessible

    Joy, accessible

    Of late, I’ve been thinking about the definition of living well. Our culture seems to have perpetuated an idea about what makes a good life. That idea is, in my opinion, distorted. It wasn’t always this way and I have to admit, a lot of the false narratives promoted are communicated on mediums that I…

  • Challenge of the STASH

    Challenge of the STASH

    In my crafting communities, a lot of the conversation of late has been around our yarn or fabric buying habits. Almost all of us shared that we have more yarn or fabric than we’ll ever use – and we are a group that includes a wide range of ages! We know that continuing to purchase…

  • Mark your calendars!

    Mark your calendars!

    I’ll be facilitating a discussion at this year’s Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival, focused on Yarn and Self-Care each day of the festival! Here’s the official description: This is an uplifting and positive session that will share widely-accepted practices for stress reduction in the context of yarn/fiber arts. We will explore the benefits of solitary practice,…

  • Our legacies

    Our legacies

    I moved solidly into the next decade of my life last month, having celebrated my entrance into this decade with a big party last year (that included a knitting-themed cake!). This year is more measured as I’m moving into that stage where I’m clearing out and downsizing in preparation for retirement in a couple years.…