There’s a moment, just before you begin a new project, when everything feels possible. Fresh fabric. Carefully chosen threads. A pattern waiting to come alive beneath your needle.
Stitch the Sea was born from that feeling, and from a long-held desire to share not just what I stitch, but why I stitch it.
This yearlong Stitch-Along is something a little different, a little deeper, and very close to my heart. It’s not just a pattern that unfolds month by month… it’s a story that grows alongside it.
How Stitch the Sea Works
At its heart, Stitch the Sea follows a familiar rhythm many of you already love.
Each month:
- A new section of the Stitch the Sea pattern is released
- The pattern arrives inside the monthly Thyme for Stitching newsletter, just like my past yearlong stitch-alongs
You stitch at your own pace, in your own cozy corner, with the comfort of knowing there’s always another piece waiting just ahead.
But this year, I’ve added something new.
Introducing the Stitch-a-Story
Along with each month’s pattern, you’ll also receive a link to download a chapter of an original story, one chapter per month, released alongside the stitching.
The story is separate from the pattern file and downloadable on its own, so you can read it:
- curled up with a cup of tea
- listened to quietly while you stitch
- or saved and revisited whenever you like
Together, the pattern and the story move forward side by side, thread and words unfolding at the same gentle pace.
Why a Story?
If you’ve ever wondered what’s happening inside my head while I design patterns… the honest answer is: there’s always a story there.
As I stitch, I imagine:
- who lives in these places
- what memories are held inside them
- what kind of quiet moments happen just beyond the edge of the design
Stitch the Sea began the same way, with images of the coast, the steady pull of the ocean, and a character who needed a place to grieve, to remember, and to heal.
At first, the story was just meant to be a short reflection to include with the newsletter. But it grew. And grew. And before I knew it, it had become full chapters, each one shaped by the same emotions and imagery guiding the pattern itself.
Sharing that story felt like opening the door to the full creative vision behind the stitches… and inviting you inside.
A Yearlong Journey, Taken Slowly
One of the things I love most about stitching is that it teaches patience. It reminds us that beautiful things don’t have to be rushed.
Stitch the Sea is meant to be experienced the same way:
- one pattern section per month
- one story chapter per month
- no pressure to keep up, no finish line to race toward
Stitch quickly or slowly. The story will be there, waiting, whenever you’re ready.
Why the Story Is Shared Through the Newsletter
Keeping the story tied to the newsletter felt important to me.
The newsletter has always been a place for:
- quiet reflection
- cozy rituals
- shared creativity
Including the story as a monthly download link allows it to feel like a gift, something intentionally shared, not rushed or skimmed past.
If you’re already subscribed, you’re all set.
If you’re new, signing up for the newsletter is how you’ll receive:
- the monthly pattern section
- the story chapter download
- and all the cozy extras that surround the stitching
My Hope for Stitch the Sea
My hope is that Stitch the Sea becomes more than a project you work on.
I hope it becomes:
- a reason to sit a little longer with your stitching
- a story that feels like a companion through the year
- a gentle reminder that creativity can hold grief, joy, memory, and healing all at once
This project has been such a joy to create, both in thread and in words, and I’m so excited to finally share it with you.
Thank you for being here, for stitching alongside me, and for letting me bring a story into your hands this year.
Let’s stitch the sea together, one tide, one chapter, one quiet moment at a time.
Jeannie
Thyme for Stitching
