Stitch 'n Dish

Category: WiP’s

  • Beginnings, endings, & on-going projects

    Beginnings, endings, & on-going projects

    Spring in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic is a welcome transition out of Winter. The sun shines, the flowers and trees bloom and the air is heavy with promise. For those of us blessed with the arrival of new babies, the bounty of this time of year is multiplied many times over. Wishing everyone a Happy Spring, days…

  • First Quilting Retreat

    First Quilting Retreat

    My sister and I sleep under quilts that were hand-stitched by our great-grandmothers (one of whom was a regular part of our lives as kids). We grew up with women who sewed, quilted, crocheted and knitted. We’ve been sewing for many years, and recently decided it was time to get serious about learning to quilt.…

  • Stash-busting as therapy

    Stash-busting as therapy

    A brief look at the issue of craft supply (textile) hoarding, de-stashing, and the related psychological impulses that keep us well-supplied with more fabric and yarn than we’ll use in 3 lifetimes!

  • A quick gift

    A quick gift

    Whether we are making a gift to give, or making one for ourselves, these are fun, quick, and for those who sew – the materials are usually readily available in our stash. Here’s to a Winter season of stitching fun!

  • A snow day project

    A snow day project

    I have always loved Back-to-School shopping, and browsing in office supply stores. I cannot resist a new, clean notebook – of ANY size – so this fabric craft is the ideal combination of happy things.

  • The hermit response

    The hermit response

    I will continue to engage with my fiber arts groups and remain connected with fiber friends. These are the connections that become so vital in times of national stress. But I will also allow myself to be comforted with the impulse to hibernate, focused on fabric and yarn; like my grandma before me. And like…

  • A post-holiday project

    A post-holiday project

    After the stress and frenzy of the holiday season, there’s no better activity than “yarn therapy”. Here’s to the cost savings that come with stashbusting; to relaxing with yarn, and to making things for ourselves as we settle into the New Year.

  • Another holiday season begins

    Another holiday season begins

    For the less prepared among us, the end of the Thanksgiving feasting signals the MAD RUSH toward finishing, or making, the decorations, gifts, and accessories/outfits we have planned for this holiday season. I’m working on a grey and purple beret, featured photo at the top of this post, and using Size 2 (US) needles. I…

  • New habits, new norms

    New habits, new norms

    I suspect that a decent proportion of my fabric and yarn stashes came from past sessions of “therapy browsing” on Saturday afternoons or evenings at Joann’s, Michaels or in local fabric and yarn shops. While I have created many things over the years from those purchases, I have ALSO purchased a lot of fabric and…

  • Weekend WiP’s and whimsy

    Weekend WiP’s and whimsy

    My urge to shop for fabric and yarn picks up as the season here in Western Pennsylvania turns to Autumn, bringing chilly weather and thoughts of the holidays. With Joann now only a memory, I thought that (maybe) I’d have an easier time this year, but Michaels has picked up their game around sewing and…