Fiber Harmony (Stitch 'n Dish)

Category: Fabric

  • Challenge of the STASH

    Challenge of the STASH

    In my crafting communities, a lot of the conversation of late has been around our yarn or fabric buying habits. Almost all of us shared that we have more yarn or fabric than we’ll ever use – and we are a group that includes a wide range of ages! We know that continuing to purchase…

  • Mark your calendars!

    Mark your calendars!

    I’ll be facilitating a discussion at this year’s Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival, focused on Yarn and Self-Care each day of the festival! Here’s the official description: This is an uplifting and positive session that will share widely-accepted practices for stress reduction in the context of yarn/fiber arts. We will explore the benefits of solitary practice,…

  • 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…

  • Gifts of love

    Gifts of love

    I decided to make a family member, who loves flamingoes, a poolside bag as part of her birthday gift ensemble this year. I used cotton canvas from Joann’s and lined it with Novelty Cotton fabric (also from Joann’s). The pattern is Simplicity 9308 and it went together quickly (it’s not the first one I’ve made with this…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…