November Threads: Connection and Updates From the Threadstack Community
In a time that seems increasingly divisive, we can stitch together a new fabric of connection here. What matters most is our humanity. And what, really, is more human than creating with our hands?
Welcome to November’s roundup from the THREADSTACK community. It’s the first official newsletter since it’s become an original publication (as opposed to a subsection of my main publication, Create Me Free.) I am excited about all that might be to come in 2025. I am excited about what is already happening here.
One of the things that is beautiful about the fiber arts/crafts community is that so many diverse people can come together and share something in common. If you are anxious in social settings, you can bring your knitting needles or embroidery project and either sit amidst the conversation of others or talk just about your projects. You can talk about how you learned to stitch, what your favorite materials are, whether you hoard a big yarn stash or buy project-to-project. You can teach each other different skills across the crafts.
And you don’t ever have to talk about the other stuff. You can, you might … you might talk about marriages and divorces, kids and parents, health challenges, politics, the things that are on your mind. But you might not. You might come together in a quiet space with people who may or may not have a lot of either things in common with you and simply be together, creating, weaving together threads of connection that run deeper than the problems of the day, even when those are deep, deep problems.
In a time that seems increasingly divisive, we can stitch together a new fabric of connection here. What matters most is the humanity of each of us. What matters most is seeing that humanity in others. And what, really, is more human than creating with our hands?
My Current Crochet Project
For several months, I’ve been crocheting a variety of hyperbolic crochet pieces that will eventually become wall hangings and sculptures. I switched gears a little bit in the last week to do something similar but in the Christmas colors.
My family is coming to stay with me for ten days at Christmas. We rarely do holidays together. My siblings and I were together on Christmas two years ago but only because my father passed away on Christmas Eve. We didn’t really celebrate Christmas.
It’s been a long time since I lived in a house large enough to have a tree. But I’m in a house. With my partner. With my family coming. And I want to decorate. I want to make the home pretty with soft crochet wreaths and garlands, white icicle lights and the smell of mulling spices. I want to cozy, to nest, to create love with my hands.
My family members and I do not all agree with each other socio-politically. But we love each other deeply. I have been thinking recently about this song:
New in the Threadstack Directory!
A huge welcome to
of Hooks, Lines and Stitches who has just joined the Threadstack Directory. Melissa is an embroiderer who also enjoys crochet and sewing. Melissa writes about:“My journey with learning embroidery, my journey with creating my own embroidery designs and crochet patterns. Eventually there will be tutorials and maybe other types of fiber arts.”
And is excited about:
“Finding a community of people to share my love of fiber arts. Maybe creating an instruction program if I acquire more subscribers/followers who like that sort of thing.”
Give her newsletter a visit, say hi, connect in the ways that feel right to you.
Threading Together: Links From The Community
Gratitude to for sharing this:
“story of how I travelled to Calfornia, gave important strangers some of my handwork, and made it home safe and sound.”
Cate adds:
“I've been remiss in participating in Threadstack, mainly because I was still learning to navigate in Substack. I fixed that and I plan to participate more often; I feel a strong connection with these thoughtful creators.”
This has been true for many people and that’s totally okay. We are growing at our own pace. I am so happy that you are here.
Gratitude to for sharing this Spanish language, beautiful knit seamless vest pattern:
Claudia shares:
Knit in one piece. One size fits most and loose fitting. Available to Knitting Club Membership subscribers ($10/month).
Claudia added,
I love this space created by Kathryn, where many creators meet and can see each other's work. If you haven't yet decided to show yours, what are you waiting for?
I love this space, too, and look forward to more people sharing their links in the weeks and months to come!
Gratitude to for sharing:
A bear claw patterned quilt made by his grandmother decades ago. This essay shares some personal history, collective history, etymology, and the joy of generational crafting.
Join In!
Anyone who writes about anything related to yarn and thread, fiber and fabric is invited to submit one link per month to an article old or new.
Here’s the form to submit your link!
And if you write regularly about these topics here on Substack, you’re welcome to join the THREADSTACK Directory.
Here’s the form to join the directory!
That’s it for this month’s roundup. We have a few more things coming this month and the next roundup will be in early December. In the meantime, take a moment to connect with one another in the comments. Leave a thought, a tip, an introduction, a question …
How did I miss that there is a thread stack? What joyous wonder!
I'm so glad what I wrote fits in here, and I agree completely: now is the time to dive into our creativity!