I know lots of people say that they don’t like the idea of Resolutions but I do. stamps foot
My birthday is at the very end of the year and since I was a young girl I have always spent some of my birthday money on a really nice diary and a lovely new pen. (They used to be in the sale after Christmas which was ace for a cash-poor teen.)
I would take it home, get comfortable in my cosy room and spend a while writing on its fresh, soft pages (in my best handwriting, of course). Filling out all of the important ‘personal’ information at the front first and then using the back page to write my New Year Resolutions.
In the last few years my resolutions have been to drink more water, get more sleep and be more tidy. But since they appear on my resolution list every year you can guess how well I do there.
But I don’t think it matters if we fail. Resolutions are, to me, just writing down your thoughts on your best self - getting your mindset for the new year and reminding yourself of the things that are important. (I wish I could remember what 12 year old Nicki used to write for her resolutions. I think it was probably stuff like ‘make more effort with hair’ and ‘do homework on the night I get it’. I’ve never quite nailed those ones as I always have scruffy hair and I leave everything to the last minute.)
Some of the resolutions I have managed to stick to over the years include taking my make-up off every night before bed, stitching more and reading more. So there are some wins and my tip is to make them easy! (12 year old Nicki did make a resolution to always write in fountain pen and I am pleased to report that I did keep it up, to the delight of my Science teacher who said he loved exercise books with proper ink*.)
Resolutions don’t need to be kept just for a new year. I love a fresh start, a line in the sand, and the chance to start anew. I frequently make Sunday night resolutions for the new week (eat more veg etc) and I LOVE the start of a new school year which is really when I set my most exciting and important resolutions.
I thought it would be fun to set a few Stitcher’s Resolutions, with you, if you fancy a bit of creative guidance for this beautiful fresh new year ahead of us. Some of these are easy to implement immediately and others I will share on my social pages.
Try new materials. Although it isn’t always a blessing, there is no denying that it is very pleasing to have a job which matches your hobby. I can legitimately order new threads and fabrics to sample without having to use my personal (usually depleted) bank account. This year I have discovered the delights of stitching into velvet with silk thread. There will be more of this in my future.
Eye care. Having tolerated short-sightedness since I was 15 and with a family history of glaucoma, I am a huge advocate for eye care - it has been drummed into me. I don’t mean wrinkle creams and that kind of thing but RESTING your eyes. My hobbies are all close-up activities and so I always try to remind myself to look out to the horizon and focus on far-away things every now and then. Certainly every hour at least.
This can be incorporated with movement and hydration goals; to get up, stretch and make a drink every hour. Make sure you always stitch in good lighting* and I do recommend a magnifying lamp for very tidy stitches.
Keep learning new things. I have been stitching every day for years now and I have a pile of random pieces of fabric with embroidered pictures. I prefer to frame my embroideries or make them into plump little pillows to sit on shelves and gather in bowls (check out our FREE stuffed hearts class here) but my creative fingers are itching to make 3D things. I am learning a few new techniques this year and will ponder how I can incorporate stitches and fabric. If you have been considering learning embroidery this year then I have LOADS of classes to help you, including my best-selling Embroidery Masterclass for Absolute Beginners. You have lifetime, unlimited, access to watch and stitch whenever you like!
Listen to more audiobooks. I love a good story and read lots at home but an audiobook really makes a stitching session feel extra relaxing and indulgent. I am listening to the first in the Seven Sisters on Audible at the moment and really enjoying it (thanks to Lucia at Wild Ink for the recommendation). I have also enjoyed listening to Dear Reader by Cathy Rentzenbrink, Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan and The Haunting Season and more recently The Winter Spirits which are collections of spooky short stories. There are loads that I listen to for Christmas and I’ll share those later in the year.
Start a Slow Stitch cloth. I have met a couple of super talented (and very friendly) makers in the last few years. Clare Bullock and Lisa Mattock are both slow stitch experts and both have inspired me to stitch without an end goal in mind. Both Clare and Lisa use just a few stitches really effectively and whilst their colour choices are total opposites, they are equally inspiring and uplifting! (They both sell gorgeous fabrics, packs, threads and notions if you want to go back to point one and try new materials, too!)
A new technique I tried with Lisa Mattock. And look at that colour!
Organise my sewing notions. Despite having a studio FULL of scissors, needles and pincushions, I can never seem to find exactly what I need for each project. I plan to create pouches, boxes, bags and baskets ready for any eventuality so that I can grab them whenever I need them. I have already made some lovely sewing boxes (from a travel sewing box trend which you may have seen me crowing about on instagram) and will share them in a youtube video soon. See point 7.
One of my little sewing caddies
Spend more time on youtube. This, for me, is both watching and recording. I love streaming tutorials and classes at home - to me they are as good as binge-watching box sets. Favourite youtubers include Kelly Hoernig, Spirit Cloth and k3nclothtales (please let me know if there are others you think I might enjoy - indeed your own perhaps!). Since I enjoy watching other people talk about cosy stitching, arty and creative things I thought I should put more out there myself. Messy hair and all. So watch this space.
Send more cards. I love sending (and receiving) cards through the mail and I think this is an old-fashioned practise that we should rejuvenate! Today I have received a beautiful Valentine card from a friend (overseas so she posted it early) and it reminded me to get mine sorted. I have made a few cards myself over the last few years and sent out Galentine cards. I must remember to do it all again this year but more of it!
Eat less chocolate. Finishing up with one that I will confidently fail. No one likes an over-achiever after all. Favourites, if you wanna know, include Rose and Violet creams, chocolate-covered Turkish delight, Cadbury’s Most-Marvellous-popping-whizzy-candy-jelly-bean and EVERYTHING by Rococo.
Free Stitchery tutorial. Find the blog post here.
I would love to hear from you if you have any audiobook/youtube recommendations, chocolates I need to try or fabrics/threads I need to play with.
Let’s have a happy, creative, new year.
Nicki xx
*unfortunately this is the only thing my Science teacher did praise me for. I was dangerous given a bunsen burner (pesky school ties).
*lighting for stitching/artwork is something that Stitch Club, Workshop and Retreat chat always turns to and I will do a blog post soon to share our collective favourites.
PLEASE NOTE - none of these links are affiliate links - they are just links to things I love. I have lazily linked Amazon for some of the books simply to help you to identify the volumes I refer to. Please support your libraries and local bookshops if you can.