Stitch 'n Dish

Tag: happiness

  • Finding joy

    Finding joy

    The truest forms of joy do not come from BIG, EXPENSIVE things. It most often shows up in the faces of those we love, but it also sneaks into our lives in the form of silly little projects that capture our fancy for a moment. I call that “joy finding” – and have come to…

  • Hunting and gathering fiber

    Hunting and gathering fiber

    Audiobooks are a wonderful companion for exercise, and for those who are otherwise engaged in solitary tasks – such as crocheting, knitting, or sewing. Sometimes they even unexpectedly give us insights into those same activities. Such was the case this week when I was working on my latest tote/market bag. As I noted in my…

  • For no particular reason

    For no particular reason

    Sometimes I get into a funk and wonder why I’m spending time and energy making things that don’t seem to have a specific purpose. I also sometimes get down on myself about the mountain of yarn, yards of fabric or tubs of supplies. I know I’m not alone in having an occasional moment of despair…

  • In the bag

    In the bag

    I finally finished my red, white, and blue cotton bag for small shopping trips. I made it with Lily Sugar ‘n Cream yarn and using the Yarnspirations free pattern for their Mesh Bag. It’s perfect for quick trips to the store (I take it to the drug store when I’m picking up vitamins, etc.) I had previously…

  • Change is inevitable. Yarn helps.

    Change is inevitable. Yarn helps.

    The past year has marked a significant SHIFT in my life. It wasn’t the birth or death of anyone close, but it was the end of an era, so to speak.  Last year in June, my oldest grandchild got his driver’s license, and suddenly, I was freed from being on call as my daughter’s backup…

  • An essence of immortality

    An essence of immortality

    My time spent with yarn and hook or needles is usually contemplative. Sometimes I’m deep into the Netflix series I’m binging, while at other times, I am lost in memories and thought. As I spend more time with retirement advisors and financial analysts to plan my exit from “the grind“, I have also been thinking…

  • Comfort in stitching

    Comfort in stitching

    Like most crocheters and knitters, I always have several projects in progress. I’ve found over the years that various moods or states of mind will align better with some projects than others. For those stressful times where there’s a lot of chaos or uncertainty, nothing beats a basic knitted piece like the wrap pictured above.…

  • Whimsy: good for the soul

    Whimsy: good for the soul

    Like most knitters and crocheters, I have a number of projects in the hopper. I am working on a crocheted “Nap Blanket” (somewhere between an afghan and a lap blanket) for a birthday gift, a knitted wrap in Plymouth Yarn Souffle, another (crocheted) virus shawl in a worsted merino, and a hat in the latest…

  • Embracing our mistakes

    Embracing our mistakes

    Teddy Roosevelt – one of America’s admired past presidents – notably remarked that “The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything.” I just finished the hat pictured above, and I have to tell you – it includes a number of mistakes. I don’t like the seam at the back…

  • Self-Care with Yarn

    Self-Care with Yarn

    I have been thinking about self-care practices in general, observing people, and self-reflecting for many years. This blog post is intended to be a helpful addition to any self-help journey you may be on – with or without (gasp!) yarn. I had the great good fortune to have spent a lot of time in my…