October Threads & Treats Recap
As the crisp October air settled in, it was a month full of creative energy and festive touches here at Two Little Kits. Between finalising my “Butterfly Garden” piece and putting out a new mental health pattern, I’ve kept the needle flying! The Halloween spirit added some fun twists to family life, and I’m excited to share the personal projects I’m working on, plus a peek at some new goodies I couldn’t resist.
Let’s dive in and wrap up October together!
Jump to:
Leading image: So many mushrooms popped up around my neighbourhood at the end of October and they looked so cute! 😊
Finished Piece
Quick & Colourful: Butterfly Garden
I recently completed "Butterfly Garden" by Pigeon Coop Designs, which I bought as a physical kit. It’s designed to fit perfectly in a 4" hoop, and although it may not be immediately obvious, it came with a beautiful dusty-pink Aida fabric that complements the colours so well. Stitching this piece was a joy—there weren’t too many colour changes, so it came together smoothly and quickly.
It was just the right balance of engaging and relaxing, giving me a nice dopamine boost as it took shape.
Gotta love some close-ups of cross-stitches!
New Pattern
Bring a Rainbow of Happiness to Your Hoop
My latest pattern, "Mental Health: Happiness", is a vibrant, uplifting piece designed to bring a smile to any stitcher’s face.
The pattern is free to download, and I've stitched mine on 16ct Aida and framed it in a 3" hoop. Although it's a small design, it uses 15 different floss colours to create a beautiful rainbow effect. After a lot of trial and error (those oranges were tricky!), I perfected the colours to create a balanced, joyful palette that really pops.
Download it today and stitch a reminder that you deserve happiness!
Works-in-progress
October was a great month for making progress on my ongoing projects! I finally caught up on my "Flower Field" piece after a two-month hiatus, and it feels amazing to be back on track. I also dove into a new stitch-along project, "Night of the Frost Dragon", which I’m stitching on black Aida — it’s challenging but coming together beautifully. Plus, I’ve made huge strides on my "Village of the Valley Map" after school drop-offs. With only two colours left, I’m getting close to the finish line on that one!
Ornaments
In addition to my larger WIPs, I also started on my 2024 holiday ornaments! This year, I’m stitching five Christmas-themed designs, though I’ve only completed parts of two so far. Progress started out slow, but I’ve been putting in more stitching time, so I’m hopeful that by next month, all five will be done — fingers crossed!
Scroll down to see the designs I’m working on.
If you’d like to order an ornament, there’s still time! Just note that it will arrive during December, not before.
Kits Update
I’m thrilled to announce that as of October, my "Floss Daily" cross-stitch kits are available for purchase! These kits make fantastic holiday gifts for both new and experienced cross-stitchers, providing everything needed to stitch a playful reminder to "floss" every day. With the festive season just around the corner, these kits are a perfect, creative gift idea.
Meanwhile, my "Just Breathe" embroidery kits are coming along beautifully. I’m on track to release them before December, so keep an eye out if you’re looking for a mindful, relaxing, beginner-friendly project to stitch.
Either way; this is everything you'll find in the "Floss Daily" cross-stitch kits:
- ✔️ Full-colour pattern w/ legend
- ✔️ Beginner instructions on how to stitch
- ✔️ Pre-cut embroidery floss
- ✔️ Appropriate-sized needle
- ✔️ A needle threader
- ✔️ 14ct white fabric
- ✔️ Embroidery hoop
Haul
October’s haul added some real gems to my stitching collection! I snagged three stunning skeins of hand over-dyed Threadworx floss in deep, cool colours. I’m envisioning these threads in a single-colour cross-stitch project (or maybe blackwork project - but that might not show the colour variations, so that's less likely) to really let them shine, so if anyone has a favourite monochrome pattern, please drop a suggestion in the comments — I would love the inspiration!
I also got my hands on "Enchanted Cross-Stitch" by Grace Isobel, the founder of Innocent Bones. This book is packed with enchanting, whimsical patterns, and I can’t wait to create space in my schedule to stitch a few of them. There’s something magical about finding fresh, imaginative designs that spark ideas for future projects.
Finding unique stitchy supplies and books like these always feels special, like adding treasure to my crafting stash. Here’s hoping my family keeps the holiday spirit going by helping me grow my collection a little more this Christmas! 🎄
New Blog Posts
This month, I published a range of new blog posts on topics from balancing your crafty time to a recent project spotlight: my finished “family motto” piece. There’s lots to explore, and I’d love for you to check them out!
Don’t forget to add your thoughts in the comments section of any post — I'd love to hear from you!
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IRL
October brought a lot of positive changes and small victories in my personal life that don’t all have imagery for, but are still worth sharing! First, I got the incredible news that I’m no longer classified as type-2 diabetic! It was a huge relief and completely made my day! I’ve also started seeing my chiropractor again, and although it was tough at first, it’s been a big help. To top it off, I braved a flu shot and COVID booster, and even got a short haircut to handle the hair regrowth after my weight-loss surgery.
Halloween
Halloween was full of excitement — and a bit of rain! About 20 minutes in, the drizzle started, but luckily I’d brought umbrellas just in case. This year, my oldest decided to join us for trick-or-treating instead of staying home to hand out candy. Although she found the night a bit overstimulating, she handled it like a champ, and we all had a fun (and soggy) time gathering treats together.
Both of my girls dressed up as black cats this Halloween — adorable, but definitely tricky to keep track of once it got dark! I recycled an old wolf costume myself, which turned out to be a warm and cosy choice. Despite the rain and a bit of sensory overload for my oldest, the night went well, and the girls came home with a serious candy stash. It was a fun Halloween overall!
Martial Arts
October marked some big changes in my martial arts journey! Our annual professional photoshoot felt totally different for me this year — I was in my red Gi, now wearing a brown belt instead of my old blue stripe, and I’ve lost around 45kg.
By the end of October, I was preparing for my next belt test, and now (as of writing) I’m excited to say I have my new belt (brown-stripe) and am officially the highest rank in my family!
Martial arts has been amazing, though my toe could use a break from all the kicking. Luckily, the next cycle focuses on punching, so here’s hoping for some healing time! 🤞
Miscellaneous Things
Life often moves quickly, but it's the small, joyful moments that make it all the more meaningful. From the beauty of a rainbow stretching across the schoolyard to the adorable-ness that is Noodle the cat, there are countless little things that bring happiness into our everyday lives. Whether it’s witnessing the serenity of a sunrise or enjoying the antics of the squirrel family that lives by our front door, I love taking a moment to pause and appreciate these simple, yet wonderful experiences. It's these small, fleeting moments that remind me to slow down and savour the everyday magic around me.
"If not cat bed; why cat sized?"
Weight Loss Thoughts
At the start of this year, I embarked on a life-changing journey with weight-loss surgery, and so far, I’ve lost about 45kgs (or almost 100lbs) since beginning the detox preparation just after Christmas 2023. This progress feels amazing, and I'm incredibly proud of what I've achieved.
While I started at a “lower” weight compared to many others who undergo bariatric surgery, I was also living with type-2 diabetes, and despite exercising regularly and eating fairly well, I just couldn’t shake the excess weight. Thankfully, my insurance agreed to cover the surgery, which opened the door for this new chapter.
There are definitely days when I regret having the surgery. The daily challenges of eating and adjusting to my new relationship with food can be overwhelming, and not being able to comfort-eat the way I used to is a tough adjustment. But despite those difficult moments, I’m ultimately glad I went through with it.
Even though I don’t always feel smaller, there are undeniable signs of progress that keep me motivated. Little things like fitting comfortably into a size L, my bras becoming loose, or slipping through gaps I used to have to avoid remind me of how far I’ve come. A great example is this photo of me swinging on the playground swings—something I used to not be able to do, but now I can without a second thought, knowing the swings are strong enough to hold me.
It’s also been such a boost to my ability to exercise, which has been fantastic for my martial arts practice. Overall, while the journey hasn’t been without its challenges, I feel grateful for the opportunities this surgery has given me, and I’m excited about the [longer] future.
Social Media
When it comes to social media, I have to admit, I’m a bit lost right now. I still haven’t been posting regularly or with the kind of energy I’d like, and honestly, I’m still trying to figure out what it means to be a “good” content creator. It's a lot more complicated than it seems, especially when life has so many other demands.
This struggle is showing in my Instagram follower count, which is still slowly trending down (oops). I’m trying not to stress about it too much, but I do know I need to get more consistent and find my rhythm again. In the meantime, I appreciate those of you who have stuck around, and I’m hopeful I’ll find my groove soon!
(5,725 followers).
Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this update and for being a part of my journey. Your support, whether big or small, means the world to me. I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful to have you along for the ride. Until next time, stay kind to yourself and take a moment to appreciate the little things.
Happy Stitching!
👋 Kate