Dear friends,

Outside is changing drastically every day. The light is different. There's green shoots and some adventurous crocuses poking through. There's mud where there was ice, and I'm not complaining about any of it. Spring isn't quite here, but it's reaching toward us. I've been noticing it on my walks and feeling the pull toward lighter layers.

For those of us who observe, Pesach (Passover) is fast approaching. Even if you don't, there's something in the seasonal rhythm of this time of year that invites a kind of cleaning.

Not everything has to go (kitniyot), though some things need to (chametz!).

It's worth asking: what am I holding onto out of habit? It could be stash that you could sell/trade/donate. It could be a WIP that is really a UFO and should be ripped. Take some time to review and clean through what's in your WIP pile.

As I was cleaning, I found part of a sweater I knit back in June 2019. The body is machine knit and I've meant to hand knit sleeves (or machine knit and seam on) since then! I look forward to finishing it -- nearly instant sweater (plus a few years).

Learning from you

I've been teaching more crochet lately, both regular and Tunisian, and I keep noticing something interesting. Some students really want to build systematically: they love a good swatch, methodical repetition, understanding the stitch before they commit to a project. Others want to dive straight into something that excites them, a pattern that caught their eye, something ambitious. Both are completely valid ways to learn. You're not doing it wrong.

What I keep reminding people is that you're learning a new language. Your hands are developing muscle memory. The vocabulary takes time to settle in. Some people learn language by studying grammar rules. Others learn by being dropped in and having conversations. The stitch is the same stitch either way, and eventually you'll get there.

It's ok to jump straight in to an ambitious project, but I'm going to try to steer you toward something a bit simpler first -- cowl, washcloth, squares for a blanket. There's so much new you're learning I want to make sure you are comfortable before you add in shaping, for example.

If you're working with me one-on-one, I try to figure out which kind of learner you are before we start. It changes how we spend our time together. My goal is your success. And I believe strongly there's multiple ways to get there.

ICYMI: Recent blog posts

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

• the serious work of play (03 March 2026) Play isn't the opposite of serious work. It's how we try things before we're sure they'll work out. I read Cas Holman's Playful and have been thinking about what it means for how I teach and make. Reading this during the first half of the month of Adar was fitting.

• Learning Together (17 February 2026) Having experience and being able to teach it aren't the same thing. I've been finding my way back to teaching and noticing what I didn't see before — including how much my students teach me.

• Communal Strength (03 February 2026) Sometimes you show up even when you're running on fumes. A fiber event, some hugs from people who get all the complicated parts of you, and a few hours of being genuinely seen can fill something back up.

Thursday Circle

Thursday Circle meets weekly in Larchmont for knitters and crocheters who want company and a little extra support if they need it. It's a good room.

A heads up: we won't meet on April 2 or April 9 for Passover. You'll see the schedule reflected in Calendly as always.

If you're not on the weekly announcement list and would like to be, sign up at the form on this page. If you're interested in another day/time to meet, including evening hours please let me know -- especially if you're open to hosting a group of about 5 people.

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 April 18. You can purchase on my site, Payhip, or Ravelry.

• knit CLU. Variable stitch choices — twisted stitches, p2togs, and eyelets — create a cowl that's interesting on both sides of the fabric. A great transition-season piece, named for Barbara Liskov's groundbreaking programming language. Also available on Payhip and Ravelry. Use code C4GZEABV7 for $1 off (valid through April 18, 2026)

• crochet Blue Gems Capelet. A lace capelet designed to let hand-painted skeins shine, worked from the short edge with the triangle border crocheted as you go. Also available on Payhip and Ravelry. Use code QADCTKPW for $1 off (valid through April 18, 2026)

There's more

little acorn creations is more than patterns. I work one-on-one with students through Individual Instruction sessions tailored to how you learn. (I'm nearly full through Q2 of 2026, so if you'd like to work together, now's a good time to reach out.) I also carry carefully curated tools I actually use, including select HiyaHiya and ChiaoGoo products, and I can special order specific tools and yarns. If you're drawn to something one-of-a-kind, I spin on my Spinolution Queen Bee Wheel and each skein of handspun yarn is unique.

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