Needlework Roundup: Third Quarter

Posted by Harper on

The third quarter of the year is now behind us! Back in January, I set myself these goals for this year (the goals completed by the end of March are crossed out):

For this quarter specifically, my goals were:
  • 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. 
Over the course of the last three months, I've published three new patterns for sale, as planned. The first is the Chevron Waffle Cowl (crochet), which, as the name suggests, is a cowl crocheted in waffle stitch in one large chevron. The increases and decreases for the cowl are done in pattern. Second, I republished Three Reversible Scarves (knitted), by Mary Rhodes. Two of the three scarves involve reversible cables. Finally, I published the Keyhole Stole (knitted), which is big needle project I've had planned for years. The large gauge and cabled keyholes on either end make for a stole that drapes beautifully and is versatile to wear. All are available for sale on the Stitch Whisper Designs Etsy Shop.



Another goal I had for the year (although not specifically this quarter) was to start publishing pattern compilations. Over the last few months, I've put together two compilations, one of which I've published to the Etsy shop. It's all the crocheted baby blankets I've published in one pdf for $10.00. The other compilation, I'll publish this coming quarter, so stay tuned!



I had planned to publish at least one free pattern, but I succeeded in my ambition to publish two. The first is Mary Rhodes' Plush Beret, which is a crocheted beret pattern intended for fluffy, chunky yarns, where seeing your stitches is difficult. The other is a Lacey Maple Leaf motif I crocheted as part of my Big Project for the year.



I did finish the Cairde Hat in my weekly charity stitching. You can read my review of that pattern here. I've also made nine dishcloths for my annual donation to my local food bank. I've used the Entrelac Five-Pointed Star pattern, Fishy Cloth, and a modified version of the Water Lily wash cloth, thus far.  I've also made a bunch of bonding squares for Today Is A Good Day. Most recently, I've been making them from this Granny Star pattern, which I modified for size.



In my personal stitching, I did finish my set of twelve coasters using Patricia Kristoffersen's Two Dozen Country Coasters collection. After planning to do that project for so long, and then not prioritizing it once I had it started, it feels really good to have it done.


My other personal project for this last quarter was to get started on a fruit garland for Sukkot. I posted about that project here, and you'll see more about it once it's done. I'm doing the last few pieces of it now, and then I'll just need to assemble the whole thing, which shouldn't take too long.


Outside of my written goals for the quarter, one of my sons turned five in September, and he asked me to make him a stuffed axolotl and matching hat for his birthday. I used an amigurumi pattern by U.mei Creations for the stuffed critter. The hat was from a watch cap pattern by Robin Fiori, but I extended the the decrease rows, using segments of charts from multiple sizes of the same pattern, and made the hat into a long stocking cap. My son is very happy with both items.



For the remaining quarter of 2025, I have two more patterns for sale to publish: one knit and one crochet. I also have at least one pattern collection to publish and at least one free pattern to release as a pdf. I also want to put up some more merch in the Etsy Shop. That will happen ahead of the holiday season. For my personal stitching, I still need to make the Rug Me Up Hooded Jacket for the baby, the Frida Beret for me, and get started on socks for myself. Thinking ahead to 2026, my 7yo will be turning 8 in January, and he has asked me to make him a stuffed dinosaur, so I should probably get started on that before 2025 ends.

I also set a goal for 2025 of making another tutorial video. Honestly, I might not get to it. I really don't like making them, and I don't have a particularly good set-up for it. Eventually, however, I will need to make another video to go with some patterns that I have on my list of future plans. We'll see what the future holds.

To recap, here are my goals for the final quarter of 2025:

This post has been linked to Busy Monday, HIH, Senior Salon, Inspire Me Monday, WITS, Wonderful Wednesday, The Stitchin' Mommy, Create-It, and Thursday Favorite Things. 

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