(August Slipped Away… But)
July blessed us here this year in the Pacific Northwest with some truly wonderful weather. My family and I were able to enjoy the sunshine without the intense heatwaves or storms that other parts of the world sadly experienced. I feel so grateful to live in an area where we could take advantage of the looong summer days and make some happy memories.
That being said, I can hardly believe how quickly the time has flown since then. August has absolutely whizzed by in the blink of an eye! Suddenly, I find myself at the very end of the month, realising I still hadn't pulled together my July wrap-up. Oops.
So here we are, sneaking it in just in time! From new patterns and stitchy finishes to colourful hauls and family adventures, July was packed full of goodness. Let's take a look back together.
Jump to:
- Two Little Kits' Stuff:
- Finished Piece:
- Works-in-Progress
- IRL:
- Conclusion
Leading image: The new splash pad that opened at the start of the summer break is awesome!
New Patterns
July brought not one, but two fresh designs into the world — each with its own very different energy! One came as a spur-of-the-moment idea I just couldn't ignore, while the other continued my steady journey through the Zodiac series.
🕹 "The Game"
This pattern was a total surprise — "The Game" popped into my head out of nowhere, and I knew I had to stitch it into life right away. It's a cheeky throwback to that classic internet joke, dressed up with rainbow stripes and a pixel-style broken heart that's equal parts groan-worthy and fun.
You can read more about the design in this blog post.
♌ "Zodiac: Leo"
Balancing the silliness with something bold, Leo roared onto the scene as the fifth instalment of my Zodiac series. With a fiery palette of reds and golds, it perfectly captures the confidence and drama of this star sign.
Curious about the earlier signs? You can see the first four designs in this blog post.
Finished Piece
Court of Crows
July also brought me the joy of finishing a project I'd been stitching along with for a while: the Court of Crows cross-stitch stitch-along. I really enjoyed the pace of this SAL — the parts were released quickly enough to keep the momentum going without ever feeling overwhelming.
The colours in this design were absolutely delightful to work with, too. It was somehow refreshing to have a piece that didn't rely on any black or whites. The jewel-like tones really made the crows come to life and feel like royalty. Seeing it all come together at the end felt so satisfying!
Works-in-progress
Of course, no month is complete without a few works-in-progress! July kept me busy with a few ongoing projects, and it is always lovely to have a mix of pieces to rotate between. From the next, upcoming instalment of my Zodiac series (Virgo), to a sweet little Stitch People portrait, to the detailed stitches of "Extraordinary Birds" and the colourful fields of this year's "Flower Meadow", each one brought something different to my stitching time.
I didn't make huge leaps on every project, but I always enjoy the variety. Some days called for relaxing with simple, cheerful stitches, while others felt right for diving into "work-oriented" pieces! It's always fun to see them all slowly growing together.
!["Zodiac: Virgo" - [Future] Cross-Stitch Pattern by Two Little Kits](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0732/3733/2277/files/250830-wip-zodiac_leo.jpg?v=1756595595)
Haul
What's a wrap-up without a peek at the little treasures that joined my stash in July?
First up: fabric! I picked up some gorgeous new pieces from a couple of Etsy shops (here and here), and I can't wait to put them to use in future projects. I love having a variety of colours and textures tucked away — it always feels like having possibilities ready and waiting. But two of these fabrics will be used in future stitch-alongs. You'll see next month!
I also treated myself to a pair of new enamel pins, which of course I immediately turned into needleminders (because why wouldn't you?). If you'd like to try the same trick, I have a handy blog post on how to turn enamel pins into needleminders.
And finally, a little something non-stitchy but still craft-adjacent (somehow?): I picked up four new glasses toppers — they snap right onto my frames and make switching up my look super easy.
If you'd like a pair of my glasses where you can swap toppers of your own, you can check them out here.
New Blog Posts
As usual, July's blog posts were a bit of an eclectic mix — something I really love about writing them! I think the most helpful one for many stitchers will be my step-by-step guide on how to mount your finished cross-stitch onto a sticky board, since it's such a handy finishing technique. On the other end of the spectrum, I had a lot of fun diving into the quirky story of IKEA's cross-stitch marketing campaign; such an unexpected concept, and so interesting to explore!
Let's get into all the posts themselves:
View The Post
View The Post
View The Post
View The Post
View The Post
See The Episode
IRL
Pacific Science Center Visit
While my husband was away for work, the girls and I kept ourselves busy with a few adventures to help the week go by faster.
One of our favourites was an outing to the Pacific Science Center in the heart of Seattle. It was such a fun way to explore, learn, and spend time together — we all really enjoyed it.
4th of July
We joined our neighbours to watch the local fireworks display on the 4th of July, which (to my, my husband's & my kids' dismay) didn't even start until 10 PM. OH MY GOSH, we all were so tired by the end!
Still, I absolutely love fireworks, so despite the late night, it was a wonderful time and a memory I'll treasure, especially because we met up with families of my kids' friends.
My Birthday
July also brought my birthday — my last year in my 30s has officially begun! (How is that even possible?)
I was spoiled with lovely presents, including a semi-cured gel nail kit, some knuckle rings, a "learn to knit" kit, a lightbox for help with recording videos, and (naturally) a new enamel pin that's now a needleminder (😆). Best of all, I got to spend plenty of time doing what I love most: stitching.
Splash Pad Fun
Another highlight of the month was checking out the new splash pad that opened nearby this summer.
We finally made it over there, and aside from my oldest having a few meltdowns (since she couldn't wear her headphones in the water), the girls had an absolute blast cooling off and playing in the water. It was such a fun way to enjoy some sunshine together.
Everything Else
July was also sprinkled with smaller but equally delightful moments.
On the Finch app, I hit 200 "consecutive" days (though I may have missed one — oops!) and my little finch, Penelope, even wished me a happy birthday. My new gel nail kit means I finally have pretty nails that don't chip instantly, and they're even growing some length — such a novelty for me!
Noodle provided his usual entertainment by "hiding" behind a pot plant (hilarious, given his size), while my youngest and I bumped into 'Nemoy', the cuddly neighbourhood cat, on a walk.
And to top it all off, the girls and I stopped for ice-cream after dropping my husband at the airport for a work trip — at an ice-cream place (that was huge!), which was absolutely delicious.
Wrapping Up July
Looking back, July was a wonderful mix of creativity, connection, and little joys. I loved sharing new patterns, celebrating a fun & unique stitch-along finish, and juggling a handful of WIPs — each bringing something different to my stitching time. Add to that the thrill of new stash, an eclectic set of blog posts, and plenty of special family moments, and it really feels like the month was brimming with life.
Even though this round-up is arriving a touch fashionably late, I'm OK with that. It's a chance to pause and relive it all before heading full-steam into what's next. August may have snuck past me (and hopefully I can publish that post a little earlier this time!), but I'm excited to see what the months ahead hold, both in my stitchy world and beyond.
Here's to more colour, more creativity, and more memories in the making!
👋 Kate
