Stitch 'n Dish

Category: Wisdom

  • A different kind of yarn excursion

    A different kind of yarn excursion

    One challenge for those of us who like to knit and crochet (and sew, quilt or engage in other crafting) is the sedentary nature of these activities. To combat this I take time every day to walk or bike so that I can stay healthy and enjoy many more years of knitting and crocheting. This…

  • Thoughts after yarn-crawling

    Thoughts after yarn-crawling

    After finishing my 3rd yarn crawl ever, I wanted to share some of my thoughts on the process along with some personal insights, and more. Back in 2021, the only crawls I had ever heard of were Pub crawls, and by the time I learned about those I was too old to be interested. When…

  • Caring for local fiber businesses

    Caring for local fiber businesses

    NOTE: I originally wrote this specific to yarn shops, but in light of the closing of Joann stores, I have updated it to include BOTH yarn and fabric. Do you have a local fabric or yarn shop in your area, and by “local” I mean an independent store that is not part of a national…

  • A grandmother’s legacy

    A grandmother’s legacy

    When I was a senior in high school, and preparing to spend my last Summer at home before entering the United States Navy on active duty, my grandmother asked me what I wanted for graduation. I asked her to crochet me an afghan/blanket that I would take with me when I went away.. Crocheted blanket –…

  • Good deeds & yarn

    Good deeds & yarn

    Most of us that crochet or knit probably don’t think a lot about how our yarn habit might help us out of a jam. This blog post highlights how being generous with our time and talent can pay dividends, and maybe even protect us from potentially negative circumstances! A couple years ago, a colleague of…

  • Not-so-Secret Shopping

    Not-so-Secret Shopping

    Today I traveled south of my home by just over 1-hour to the 1st annual Fayette County Fiber Festival. I was not disappointed! There were multiple YARN and WOOL vendors there as well as a number of vendors with related, non-yarn items. The booths/tables were set up in a logical manner and there was plenty…

  • No negatives (only good!)

    No negatives (only good!)

    According to a number of research studies, crafting is a wonderful way to improve our mood, boost our self-confidence and help reduce stress! Craft activities also help to enhance our brain function. Crafting activities exert a positive impact on motor skills, which are movements like running, walking, stretching, playing tennis, dancing (gross motor skills) and…

  • Stitch by stitch

    Stitch by stitch

    I don’t know about you, but I sit down to crochet or knit for a lot of different reasons. Some days it’s to work on a specific item that I plan to give to someone as a gift. Other times it’s to make something for myself. Still other times I may be teaching myself a…

  • Badges, medals, reminders

    Badges, medals, reminders

    In one corner of my office, I have a bulletin board where I hang little reminders of my creative side. It helps keep me grounded, reminds me that there are many aspects to me as a person, that I have unique and creative skills, and since I first learned to crochet from my grandmother, who…

  • Day trips are Self-Care

    Day trips are Self-Care

    In my previous post I highlighted the important role of Local Yarn Shops (LYS) in being a place for people with a fiber/yarn orientation to connect. In today’s post let’s celebrate warmer weather and the official end of the public health emergency (May 11) which means we have lots of opportunities to get out and…