Needlework Roundup: Second Quarter!

Posted by Harper on

The first half of 2025 has passed. It's amazing how fast time passes! Back in January, I set myself these goals for this year (the goals completed by the end of March are crossed out):

I published three patterns to the Stitch Whisper Designs Etsy Shop in the last quarter. The first was the Bottoms Up Baby Sweater in crochet. Then I published Two Modular Baby Bonnets as my second pattern. Both are knitted in garter stitch, in one piece, and feature mitering, for quick, practical knits. Finally, I published the Trouble With Trebles Shrug, which is a cute, crocheted shrug made almost entirely in treble crochet.



I only published one free pattern in the last few months. Practical Crocheter's Chrysanthemum and Leaf is a fun way to use a hank of embroidery floss. It was originally published as a blog post here, many years ago. Now, it's available as a free pdf for download.



In preparation for Mother's Day, I added SSK and Jolly Stitcher travel mugs to the Etsy Shop's Merch section.



An unanticipated project last quarter was the publication of a version of the Round Waffle Stitch Baby Blanket using British terminology. This was in response to several sales of the pattern in the UK and Australia. If demand warrants it, I will publish British versions of other crochet patterns in the future as well.


I did continue weekly charity stitching, and I did finish the baby blanket I had begun during my last Roundup post. I also made some bonding squares, two cowls (one of which I started in the first quarter), a knitted baby cap (not pictured), a baby hat using the Waffle Stitch Hat Pattern, and I started another hat using the Cairde Pattern, by Meiju Kallio. Three of the Bottoms Up Baby Sweater samples and one of the Modular Baby Bonnet Samples will also go in the charity box.




In my personal stitching, I did not finish making my set of twelve coasters, but I did make five more and started on a sixth. I also made an Octagonal Romper for my baby. It's a little big for her yet, but she should be able to wear it before the end of the summer. Making this romper has the side benefit of allowing me to take additional photos for the pattern listing.


I've also made significant progress with my coaster project. I've now made 8 of the planned twelve, and I'm working on the ninth. The first four coasters (not pictured here) I did in white. Once I used up that partial skein of white thread, I realized my other skeins of white thread didn't match, so I did the next four in PINK. It's not what I originally had in mind, but I think it works, and the color has grown on me for this project. That said, I don't want my coaster set to be primarily PINK, so I'm doing the next four in navy blue. (The white one with the pink border was the fourth of the white coasters.)



For anyone interested, these are all patterns from Patricia Kristoffersen's Two Dozen Country Coasters collection. I don't do thread work often, but when I do, I've really enjoyed Kristoffersen's designs.



Having adjusted for what I accomplished in the first two quarters, this is what my list of goals for the year looks like now: 
  • Publish 5 more patterns for sale (3 knit, 2 crochet)
  • Continue turning free patterns from this blog into pdfs
  • Add merch to the Etsy shop
  • Start compiling some of my for sale patterns into collections.
  • Continue weekly charity stitching
  • Make at least one tutorial video
  • Make a crocheted fruit garland for Sukkot
  • Make the Rug Me Up Hooded Jacket for the baby
  • Make the Frida Beret to go with my gloves
  • Finish the coaster set I started
  • Make socks for myself
Working off of that, here are my goals for the next three months:
  • Publish 3 more patterns for sale 
  • Turn at least 1 free pattern from this blog into a pdf (I have 2 in mind)
  • Continue weekly charity stitching
    • Finish Cairde hat
    • Start making dishcloths for food bank 
  • Finish the coaster set
  • Start making a crocheted fruit garland for Sukkot (I'll need to pick up some Poly-Fil for this!)
    • I have two long pieces of lace edging I made many years ago, and I think I'll attach the fruit to them to make the garland. 

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