Stitch 'n Dish

Tag: making

  • Granny Square Therapy

    Granny Square Therapy

    Like most fiber fanatics, I have several works in progress (WIP’s) sitting in project/yarn bags around the house. When I recently found myself in a bit of a situation (e.g. upset about something), I decided to take some solace in bright colors and the repetitive rhythm of crocheting granny squares instead of working on something…

  • 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

    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.…

  • Winter work

    Winter work

    One advantage of the cold and less-than-ideal weather in the Winter months here in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region of the United States is that I am less tempted to leave the house. This means I am likely to dig in my yarn or fabric stash for some inspiration, which almost always results in something delightfully creative.…

  • Beyond yarn

    Beyond yarn

    In addition to my love of crocheting and knitting, I have a fondness for sewing. I am in no way as accomplished as my sister, who is – truly – a master sewist (and an engineer!); but I do OK with fabric and a sewing machine. Lately, I returned to some sewing and have enjoyed…

  • Last-minute gifts

    Last-minute gifts

    Like many of you, I’m looking at the calendar and my hair is standing straight up! I know, I know – the date is the same EVERY YEAR, but perhaps my schedule gets more convoluted each year, or I add more to my calendar and anyway, things just get busy. If you’re a fiber artist…

  • Bridges of yarn

    Bridges of yarn

    I’ve noted in a number of blogs – here and on my other site – the many healing benefits gleaned by crafting, and especially by crocheting and knitting. In today’s post I am going to share a different story on this topic. Many years ago, I had a situation where I was the new kid…

  • 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…

  • Ties that bind

    Ties that bind

    Earlier this week, one of my cousins came into town for a couple days, and we were able to catch up, reminisce about long-gone relatives and recall good times from the past. We had a wonderful visit over a few days and it got me thinking about those relatives and their lives. As children, it…