Dear friends,

It's supposed to snow, lightly, again tonight. I'm very thankful the forecast is for not much at all. Everything is still shades of white and dirty snow, and I'm absolutely tired of it. Grey is my favourite colour, except in the months of winter. I'm trying not to look out the window and I'm knitting with all the colors I can pull from my stash.

What am I making? Anything that's colorful and ideally warm. There's part of my Purim costume (it's going to be lots of fun!), two projects featuring March's Artyarns Inspirations colour (I'll share more on March 1), and more.

This month's prompt: don't neglect your notions

While I often take time to do a good spring cleaning of all my tools, I'm craving spring so I'm jumping to tidying and cleaning up my notions and smaller tools. Ok, the real reason is because I went to get a part for my interchangeable knitting needle system from my organizer this morning and the drawer opened like one of those snake-in-a-can things. Nothing was put away, cables were springing everywhere and seemed to aim for the cat's water bowl, parts were scattered (some of them tiny), and I'm not too surprised I couldn't actually find what I was looking for. After I send this newsletter, I'm going to spend some time and tidy it all up. I should have a pair of cable end stoppers, I only found one. In the same drawer I did also see there's at least one tapestry needle, multiple stitch markers, and I'm a bit nervous to do that deep dive.

Maybe you need a nudge to do this too? Go through your storage system whether it's a drawer or a bag, or even one of those all-in-one tool organizers. Check your stitch markers, count your cable needles, make sure all your interchangeable tips are paired, coil up cables and group them by size. Sometimes just knowing where everything is helps you actually use it. If you find something is broken, don't keep it if it's not possible to repair.

If you need to replace something, I may have what you're looking for.

ICYMI: Recent blog posts

While this newsletter is monthly, I try to post something to my website every two weeks, usually on Tuesdays. Here are some recent posts you might have missed.

• stitches in the moment (06 January 2026)
  Sometimes the project you thought you'd love feels impossible. It might not be the wrong project; it might just be the wrong moment for it.

• Working Comfortably (20 January 2026)
  Your body doesn't need to hurt first before you pay attention to how you're sitting or holding your work. Building good habits now means you can keep making for years to come.

• Communal Strength (03 February 2026)
  Making together is different from making alone. There's something that happens when you're in the same space with other people, even if you're working on completely different projects.

Tuesday's post: I've been thinking about the difference between having experience and being able to teach it. After several years on the sidelines, I'm back to leading and teaching in the fiber arts space, and I'm noticing things I didn't see before. There's wisdom in Pirkei Avot 4:1 about learning from everyone, and I want to explore what that actually means in practice.

A Gift for Newsletter Subscribers

Each month I select two patterns to discount, one each for knitters and crocheters. The code is valid for $1 off the PDF pattern through the 18th of the next month. You can purchase on my site, Payhip, or Ravelry.

• knit Temperate Disruptions Cowl. A textured cowl that works up quickly and looks more complex than it is. Also available on Payhip and Ravelry. Use code 9VXUXN6H for $1 off (valid through March 18, 2026)

• crochet Strataterra. A versatile shawl with interesting texture and color play. Also available on Payhip and Ravelry. Use code M8QTCKSG for $1 off (valid through March 18, 2026)

Upcoming events

Thursday afternoons in Larchmont: Earlier this year, I began facilitating a small group for knitters and crocheters who want to chat and work on their projects. I offer extra advice when needed.

I know this is the first some of you are hearing about this. I've been moving slowly while I figure out what works, what doesn't, and how many people I can actually accommodate. If you're interested, please reach out and I'll make sure you get on that weekly announcement list.

There's more

While I love sharing thoughtfully designed patterns, little acorn creations offers more. I work one-on-one with students through Individual Instruction sessions tailored to what you need and how you learn best. (I'm nearly full through Q2 of 2026, so if you'd like to work with me, reach out soon to schedule.) I also offer carefully curated tools that I actually use and reach for myself, including select HiyaHiya and ChiaoGoo products. Need something specific? I can special order select tools and yarns. And if you're drawn to handspun yarn, I spin on my Spinolution Queen Bee Wheel and each skein is unique. You can find more details on my website.

Thank you for reading. Is there something you would like to see me swatch or write about? Please reply and let me know.