A Gentle Start to 2026
Hello and welcome to the first wrap-up of the year! I know I am a little late getting this January update out to you, but if there is one thing I have embraced in my creative journey, it is that handmade work takes time and life often has its own rhythm. Between juggling the business, parenting my two daughters, and managing my own energy limits, January felt like a slow but steady exhale after the rush of the holiday season.
This month has been about finding my footing again and returning to the grounding practice of stitching. Whether it was finishing a long-awaited custom design or simply sitting with a work-in-progress during a quiet moment, I have been leaning into the idea of progress over perfection. It is so easy to get swept up in the pressure of "New Year, New Me" resolutions, but I prefer to focus on what feels thoughtful, calm, and genuinely helpful for my well-being. Using this time to reflect on the year ahead has been a lovely way to prioritise what truly matters in my craft and my life.
Leading image: Milo the cat enjoying the warmth from the fireplace 🧡
Jump to:
- Finished Pieces
- Works-in-Progress
- Two Little Kits' Stuff:
- IRL:
- Conclusion
Finished Pieces
January brought two very different but equally special completions. I finished a bespoke "Save the Date" commission, adapting a wedding invitation into a timeless keepsake! I also completed a miniature "The Starry Night" cross-stitch. It’s my absolute favourite painting and marks the first entry in my new "mini art museum" series. Both projects were such a joy and a grounding way to kick off the year’s stitching.
A Custom "Save the Date" Commission
January started with a really special custom project. I was contacted through my website by a lovely customer who was looking for something quite specific: she wanted to turn her niece's "Save the Date" card into a cross-stitch pattern.
The goal wasn't just to replicate the card, but to adapt it so it would "stand the test of time." Instead of a reminder for a future event, we wanted the finished piece to feel like a beautiful celebration of a wedding that had already taken place. I absolutely jumped at the chance to help create such a meaningful keepsake!
I really enjoyed the process of translating those illustrative elements —like the moon, the rolling hills, and the delicate string lights— into a stitchable format. Seeing it all come together in the final design was so rewarding, and I hope it's a piece the couple treasures for a long time.
Do you have a custom idea in mind?
Working on bespoke designs like this is one of my favourite parts of running Two Little Kits. If you have a special memory, an invitation, or a unique idea you'd love to see turned into a pattern, please do reach out! I'm always happy to have a chat and see if we can bring your vision to life.
A Miniature Masterpiece
Another finish for January was a piece very close to my heart: a miniature cross-stitch of Van Gogh's The Starry Night. This has always been my favourite famous painting, so being able to recreate those iconic swirls and that glowing moon in thread was such a joy. The pattern is by TheStitchPatterns, and it was a truly lovely, grounding project to work on.
I think it's just so cute! This finish is actually the first of a set of six similar patterns I've collected from the same designer. My plan is to stitch them all as a little series — like my very own miniature art museum. There's something so charming about seeing these grand, historic works of art rendered in such a small, tactile format.
New in the shop: "Zodiac: Capricorn"
I am so happy to finally share that the Zodiac: Capricorn pattern is officially released! I had every intention of getting this one out to you in December, but as we all know, the holiday season has a way of sweeping up every spare moment. It feels wonderful to have it polished and available for you to stitch now.
Reaching this point in the Zodiac series is incredibly exciting — we only have two more designs to go! As you might have spotted in my works-in-progress, I'm already well into the home stretch. Finishing this collection feels like such a milestone for Two Little Kits, and I can't wait to see the full set completed.
Works-in-progress
If there is one thing I've learnt about my stitching style, it's that I truly love the process of a work-in-progress. There is something so grounding about having a variety of projects to turn to depending on my mood or how much "brain space" I have available. January was a busy month of chipping away at some old favourites and diving into a few new challenges.
Stitched
January was a bit of a whirlwind in the actual stitching 'arena'. I actually managed to get ahead of myself with "Flower Prairie" and accidentally stitched the February section before January was even finished! It was a classic "oops" moment, but it's hard to stop when you're in a good rhythm. I've also been surprisingly tucked into the Fairytale HAED SAL. As my first-ever large, full-coverage piece, I wasn't sure how I'd handle the scale, but I'm finding the process incredibly grounding and much more enjoyable than I anticipated.
On the design-sample front, I am so close to finishing Flower Dragon Meadow, though I'm still debating whether to unpick the top-left red dragon and restitch it as a little yellow friend instead. Meanwhile, Sunflowers has become my dedicated "desk project" for virtual appointments, and I'm making steady progress on the sample for my Boy Band design. I'm really keen to finally get that one out into the world soon!
Designs
Behind the scenes, much of my creative energy has been focused on the final stretch of the Zodiac series. Working on the Pisces design feels like a huge milestone, and I'm so excited to see this entire collection finally come together. I've also started a second Stitch People demo piece. My daughters' school is having a silent auction later this year, and I'm hoping to have this finished in time to donate as a way to support the school community.
Saving the Scraps
This is a project I have been meaning to do for so long — since well before I even got my Cricut machine! I've finally gathered the courage and completed my ORT shadow boxes, and I absolutely love how they turned out. I cannot stop staring at them!
For years, I've been diligently saving all my ORTs (Old Ratty Threads). Every single thread scrap from every project I've worked on since I restarted stitching has been collected year-by-year in individual glass jars.
For the boxes themselves, I used 5"x5" shadow box frames that I got in a pack of 8 from Amazon. I used my Cricut to cut custom vinyl stickers for each year and applied them to the glass (which for some reason, I thought sticking them to the inside of the glass would be better..?), and then took the corresponding jar of ORTs and arranged them inside the frame.
It's like looking at a colourful history of my life in floss! Each box feels like its own little abstract piece of art — and I love them so much..! Now, my only dilemma is working out exactly where I want to hang them in the house so they get the spotlight they deserve.
The only downside is that I'm unfortunately missing my 2018 jar. I am continuing to hunt for it, but I'm not confident I will find it, which is definitely a bit sad, but the rest of the collection is just perfect.
New Blog Posts
I've been quite the busy bee on the blog this month, sharing a mix of practical tips, deep dives into the "why" of our materials, and a look at some of my own personal finishes. Whether you're curious about the mystery of knots in your floss, the hidden geometry behind your Aida, or if you've been wanting an intro to the "parking" method, there is plenty of new reading to sink your teeth into.
I also shared a more personal look at the Blackwork Christmas gifts I made for my daughters, which was such a special project to document. And of course, if you'd rather just sit and stitch along with me, FlossTube #118 is up — complete with the usual WIP updates, finishes, and just a little bit of "help" (read: harassment) from the cat!
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A Quick Fix for "Kathy"
I had a bit of a "wait, what?" moment this month with my Kathy font. A lovely customer reached out to ask about the design for the capital letter "U" — only for me to realise that, in the years since I released it, I had accidentally included two versions of the capital "T" instead!
I'm not quite sure how I managed that, but I've now designed the proper uppercase "U", updated the pattern, and sent the fix out to everyone who had previously purchased it. It was a silly mistake, but I'm so glad it's finally sorted!
You can get "Kathy" for yourself here if you like the look of it!
Mini Talk Show - Update
I've also been having so much fun with my Mini Talk Show series lately. It's been a wonderful space to chat about the more personal and practical sides of our craft. This month, I shared about my planned Book Jumper, which will be a wearable record of my reading progress. I also sat down to discuss the perennial debate of Parking vs. Cross-Country stitching, sharing my own experience with trying out new methods to see what sticks.
We also took a moment to appreciate the "why" behind embroidery scissors — something I guess I've been accidentally collecting! They are such a vital tool for our work, and it was fun to dive into why having the right pair matters. Finally, we talked about the creative freedom of swapping colours in a pattern and my recent example of doing so. It's one of the easiest ways to truly make a design your own, and I loved sharing some tips on how to approach those changes with confidence.
IRL
While my stitching keeps me grounded, life outside the hoop has been quite eventful this January. It's been a month of significant personal milestones alongside those small, quirky moments that make up the "everything else" of being a parent and maker.
Reflections on WLS
January 19th marked exactly two years since I underwent gastric bypass surgery (Roux-en-Y). I've spoken before about how I struggled to lose weight on my own for over fifteen years, eventually facing a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, which led me to that life-changing decision in early 2024. Looking back today, I feel an immense sense of gratitude, though I want to be honest about the fact that it hasn't been a perfectly smooth road.
The reality of life after surgery is a bit of a double-edged sword. While I am mostly thankful, I still struggle with how restrictive my eating has become. The constant focus on protein can be incredibly tiresome, and the uncomfortable, heavy feeling of "fullness" that comes with even a proper, healthy meal is genuinely frustrating — some days, it feels like a punishment for trying to eat well. However, when I look at how far I've come —having shed so much weight, regained my energy, and feeling the confidence of being 3-4 sizes smaller— I know I would never go back. It was undeniably the right choice for my health and my future.
Toe Troubles, Sneaky Stitches, and Small Wins
The rest of the month was a bit of a mix!
My poor toe decided to cause trouble again, landing me in Urgent Care and then an emergency appointment with my foot doctor. It turns out I have Raynaud's Phenomenon, which essentially means my circulation isn't a fan of the cold. Since I'm living through a Washington winter, this is going to be an interesting new challenge to manage! On a much lighter note, I had a bit of a "crafty" moment at the cinema. My girls went to see Monsters University with their mentor-friend, "T", and while I joined them, I wasn't really feeling the movie. I ended up sitting in the back with my neck light on, getting some sneaky stitching done in the dark!
We also celebrated Australia Day on the 26th. My youngest is so proud of her Aussie roots and gave a little talk to her class about Australia. I even used my Cricut to make her some tiny Australia-themed stickers to hand out, which she absolutely loved. Finally, I officially hit my one-year milestone with the Finch app! I actually missed three days during 2025, so I had to wait a little into this year to get the achievement, but I can't recommend it enough. It has been such a helpful tool for keeping me on track with self-care and looking after the house when things feel a bit overwhelming.
Final Stitches and Fresh Starts
Reflecting on January, I am struck by how much "life" happens in between the stitches. From the milestone of my two-year surgery anniversary to the simple joy of finally framing my ORT shadow boxes, it has been a month of meaningful growth. Even the frustrating moments —like navigating a new diagnosis or the physical limits of my recovery— remind me why having a slow, repetitive craft is so vital for staying grounded. These personal reflections are just as much a part of my journey as the patterns I design.
As I look toward the rest of the year, I'm excited to keep sharing this journey with you, focusing on the stories behind the patterns rather than just the finishes. I have a lot planned for February, including giving the Aquarius zodiac design its proper spotlight and hopefully making some real headway on my "mini museum" of art masterpieces. Thank you for being here and for supporting this little artist-led business of mine; it truly means the world to have such a kind and encouraging community.
👋 Kate
