Stitching into the New Year
As we step into 2025, I find myself drawn – once again – to the quiet, meditative practice of daily stitching. A few days ago, I received an email from Karen Turner, where she shared her completed stitch journal for 2024. That’s serendipity for you. I was wondering how I was going to start the New Year, and there it was! In all wonderful and beautiful colour! Inspired by Karen’s exquisite stitching journals, I have started a year-long project that combines creativity, mindfulness, and the beauty of vintage textiles.
How exciting! A new project to go with the New Year combining my love of vintage textiles and stitching. What could be better than that? I have loads of beautiful threads in different weights that I’m planning on using.
To that end, I purchased Karen’s 2025 templates, a set of thoughtfully designed guides meant to inspire stitching every day of the year. She does such a beautiful job of creating these templates. They are not just patterns; they’re invitations to slow down and savour the process of creating something meaningful, one stitch at a time.
For this project, I’ve chosen to work on strips of an old tablecloth I found at an antique mall in town. Its soft, timeworn linen holds a history of its own, and its delicate lace edge adds a touch of elegance that I’m keeping intact. This lace border will frame the final textile book, connecting the daily stitching to a sense of continuity and tradition.
I transferred the patterns for the first 6 months to one strip of the tablecloth. Each day, I plan to stitch a small section, responding intuitively and letting my mood guide the colours and patterns. The act of working on something so connected to the past feels grounding – like stitching myself into a shared history.
At the end of the year, these daily pieces will come together as a textile book, a tactile diary that tells the story of 2025. It’s a way to mark time not in the rush of tasks or the blur of screens, but in the deliberate act of creation.
This project feels like the perfect way to start the new year—grounded, creative, and open to discovery. I hope to share updates along the way and perhaps inspire others to take on their own daily creative practice.
What new projects are you starting this year? Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, joy, and connection through creativity.
Until I write again, keep stitching,
Ana
This sounds like a wonderful idea, Anna. I have been collecting vintage linens for a long time. I respect them and feel strong emotions to provide them a home when I find them at. Various locations but to date, I haven’t had the heart to add my hand and threads. You have motivated me to work on them. Thanks. Korleen, from the Simcoe County Quilters Guild.
I am so glad that I motivated you to use the vintage linens you’ve been collection for some time.
Happy New Year Ana. I had already decided I was going to do the #opusdailypractice challenge Feb1-Feb28 put on by Opus Art Supplies. I enjoyed it so much last year. Your post has got me thinking I should start now and aim for some art every day of the year. For christmas I received two books; 15 minute Art Drawing and 15 minute art Watercolour. I’ve wanted to do this several times in the past but it has always been a failure. I hope this year will be different.
Sounds like a great way to start the year. It is always nice to have a plan. And remember that it’s never a failure; maybe it wasn’t the right time. Good luck with your watercolours. Each one will teach you something …