I wanted a simple way to slow down at the end of each month and take stock of my creative life without turning it into another to-do list. The Monthly Maker Check-In grew out of that need, and this is how I use it in my own practice. Stay to the end to grab your own copy!

What I Made This Month

This month felt both incredibly slow, but also very productive at points. I completed the January block for Eudaimonia Studio's Hand & Soul 2026 Block of the Month, taught myself how to knit, sewed several makeup bags for my mom's coworkers, started on the 2 mug rug swaps I'm participating in, and so much more. 

One project I started, but certainly won't finish (at least anytime soon) is a knit bandana. I talked in my post One Stitch at a Time: Learning to Knit about teaching myself to knit and having a blast going back and forth, knitting and purling a scarf. I decided it was about time to let myself do a more difficult project, so I chose The Romanticist's Bandana by Meredith Cambell on Ravelry. Little did I know it would be SO MUCH MORE difficult for me. I think it's mostly because I don't know how to read knitting or fix my mistakes. I gave up several times and restarted, but then I just got so frustrated with it that I decided to do a crochet bandana instead. I had crocheted several years ago, but with all the pain that was going on in my body in 2023, I decided to give away all my yarn and hooks. I ended up finding some hooks in my grandma's stash, buying some yarn from our local yarn shop (for the knit bandana) and making this crochet bandana by Sarah Maker instead. Thus reigniting my love for crochet. I won't be giving up on knitting, but crochet is MUCH more intuitive to me... so maybe I'll try again sometime.. but maybe I won't. I ended up making my beautiful Artemis one too!

What Inspired Me

Several things caught my eye this month in all forms of crafting. I am intrigued by the crumb quilting technique because I LOVE any excuse to use my scrap fabric. I'm also trying to reach out of my comfort zone and get more into bright colors & neons. I am very much an earth tone and black girly, so these bright colors, while intriguing to the eye, feel unnatural on me... but we'll get there! I have a future blog post with a very neon color palette that I'll be using in a project, so be on the lookout for that!

Materials or Colors I Loved

Along the lines of getting out of my comfort zone... I am REALLY into hot pink and lime green right now. Like several projects worth of ideas that will eventually be sewn up. I also got some Ruby Star Society rayon for my birthday. It's the "Koi Pond: Fishies in Shell" fabric, and I think I'll be making a tank top and (you guessed it) neon pink skirt set!

New Ideas or Techniques I Want to Try

I definitely want to do some smaller crumb quilting and even further into improv style quilting projects soon. Maybe some placemats or a table runner! I also want to try free motion quilting both the mug rug projects I'm doing. I definitely need to get on top of that soon though, because they're both due to be sent off to my partners in February!!!

Reflections on My Creative Process

January was a pretty difficult month for me honestly. I was so excited about starting this blog and all my projects, but I forgot that life can sometimes derail even your best intentions. I had many nights of insomnia, which led to many morning sleeping in, which always makes me feel like I've wasted the day and ruins my mood. I've started going back to therapy, which I'm hoping helps quite a bit with both my productivity, but also learning HOW TO ACTUALLY REST. Starting was hard, but once I got into a project, everything got a little more enjoyable. It definitely helps when I'm super excited about the project. 

Next Month's Intention

I will be diving headfirst into making for my wedding. Yes, it's not until October, but better to get things done WAY AHEAD OF TIME!!! I plan on getting some designing in for future pattern releases, writing a few sections of my book idea, and putting more color into my wardrobe!

Your turn!

I've created a printable version of the Monthly Maker Check-In just for you! Click the button below to download it!

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