Looking Back on My Very First Stitch-Con
I know, I know — we are well past June, and I am only just sitting down to give my trip to Cincinnati its own dedicated corner of the blog. But if you're a parent juggling family, everyday life, and running a creative small business, you already know how quickly summer blurs into autumn. As the saying goes: c'est la vie!
The silver lining of waiting a few months is that the lingering feeling of the trip hasn't faded one bit. When I look back at my weekend in Ohio, it still feels like a total breath of fresh air.
If you had asked me a couple of years ago whether I'd ever board a cross-country flight by myself just to sit in a giant room and make little '×'s for four days straight, I would have laughed in disbelief. Travelling solo can feel intimidating, especially when heading across the country into an unfamiliar space. But having dedicated time to recharge my mental batteries away from parenting, laundry, and daily responsibilities turned out to be the greatest gift I could have given myself. 🧡
The Real Magic of the Conference Room
The heartbeat of Stitch-Con isn't just the uninterrupted stitching hours (though believe me, getting through hundreds of stitches without someone asking for a snack is pure bliss). It's the community.
Before arriving, I wondered if it would feel clique-y or socially overwhelming. Instead, it was like walking into a massive reunion of friends you just hadn't met yet. I was completely blown away by the culture of "stitchy kindness". People were passing out tiny handmade gifts just because they wanted to share joy — everything from 3D-printed notions to mini project bags and stickers. It was so lovely that I came home with a vow to prep my own Two Little Kits bits and bobs to gift people the next time I go.
A truly surreal highlight was having fellow stitchers walk up to say 'hello' because they recognised me from my FlossTube channel. When you spend your time talking to a camera lens in your craft corner, it's easy to forget real, lovely humans are on the other side. Meeting six of you face-to-face was surprising and genuinely heartwarming. Another favourite moment was our spontaneous "Museum After Midnight" scavenger hunt — spotting that same stitch-along chart peeking out from across the hall and gathering a little crew of us together for a group photo.
The Brag Tables: Pure Inspiration
Wandering past the brag tables was something I was surprisingly moved by. It was inspiring and wonderful to see all these beautiful pieces — finished beautifully, too, in a lot of ways. There were endless rows laid out with finished pieces that attendees had brought to display for everyone to admire and celebrate.
While seeing completed projects on a screen is always lovely, standing right in front of them in person is something else entirely — the sheer variety of pattern styles, hand-dyed fabrics, and clever finishes was super inspiring. It was impossible to walk along those tables without a massive spark of creative motivation (and a sudden urge to add more patterns to my mental shopping list).
Treasure Hunting and Smashing the Finish Gong
Of course, no stitch retreat is complete without some healthy enabling. Keepsakes —the local needlework shop behind the entire retreat— was pure creative, chaotic heaven. Imagine walls bursting from floor to ceiling with hand-dyed linens, endless skeins of floss, and so. many. stitched models tucked into every nook and cranny (and I mean every nook and cranny).
Hunting for the cute, hidden, black cat figurines amongst the shelves was an awesome little treasure hunt which garnered me a $5 store discount (so yes, my floss stash grew a little as a result)!
Back in the main hall, there was one rite of passage I simply couldn't leave without experiencing: the Finish Gong. Whenever someone places their final stitch on a piece during the retreat, they take it up to the front, give the brass gong a solid wallop, and hold their work high while the entire room erupts into cheers. Did I deliberately bring my "Femurs and Fungi" piece by Fine Frog Stitching knowing it only needed a little push to cross the finish line? Absolutely. No regrets! Smacking that gong and collecting my finish sticker was an absolute delight.
The Takeaway
Even the less-than-stellar parts of travel —like my slightly questionable accommodation— turned into wins. It became the common ground where I met a wonderful [new] friend who ended up driving us to the venue on the last couple of days (proof that stitchers will look out for one another anywhere!).
More than the fabric cuts, charts, or cute notions I squeezed into my carry-on bag, what I really carried home was renewed creative energy. Stitching is such a grounding, mindful practice when life gets loud, but being surrounded by hundreds of people who cherish the craft just as much was a rare and special comfort.
Stitch-Con was an absolute treat, and I am already buzzing with excitement because I've officially registered to do it all over again in 2027 next June! I can't wait to see familiar faces, make new friends, and pack another carry-on full of stitching projects. This time, I'll be taking a check-in luggage 🤣
More Details
Curious about more information on this amazing long-weekend? I wrote about it in my Monthly Wrap-Up: June 2026 blog post. Check it out over there!
