Stitch 'n Dish

Category: Yarn

  • 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…

  • Sunglasses pouch

    Sunglasses pouch

    I recently watched a YouTube video on how to make a sunglasses case/pouch and it reminded me of other patterns I have seen over the years. As often happens with ALL of us who knit or crochet for any length of time, I wanted to make edits here and changes there. I ended up with…

  • 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…

  • New normals: adventures in yarn

    New normals: adventures in yarn

    I originally wrote this back in the midst of the pandemic. The life lessons seem timeless, and worth sharing again. The pandemic brought a lot of “new” things into many of our lives. Some were scary and frightening, while others were pleasant and even welcome! As part of my own journey, I have decided to…