January always arrives quietly in our home.
After the twinkle lights are packed away and the last cookie crumbs are brushed from the counter, there’s a gentle pause, a breath between what was and what’s coming next. As I write this, we’re nestled into that peaceful lull between Christmas and the New Year. The house is calm again, the rush of gatherings has softened, and evenings are slower, spent stitching near the fire and letting thoughts wander.
Christmas was beautiful, as it always is, chaotic, joyful, and full of moments that take a surprising amount of energy to create. Every year I feel it deeply: the magic is worth the effort, but the quiet afterward feels like a gift in itself.
And in that quiet, new ideas begin to stir.
Welcome to the January edition of the Thyme for Stitching newsletter and to a brand-new year of stitching, storytelling, and gentle creative adventures.
Looking Back with Gratitude, Stepping Forward with Intention
Before we leap ahead, January always invites a moment of reflection.
This past year has been such a meaningful one in the Thyme for Stitching world. Together, we stitched through seasons, completed long-running projects, and finally brought Patchwork Stitches to its beautiful conclusion. Seeing that pattern finished, ready to be framed, gifted, or displayed, feels both celebratory and bittersweet. It’s a reminder that creative journeys, like seasons, don’t last forever… and that’s part of what makes them special.
Now, as we turn the page on the year, I find myself filled with excitement for what’s ahead. New designs are taking shape, stories are unfolding, and there’s a fresh sense of possibility humming beneath every stitch.
Introducing Stitch the Sea: A Stitch-a-Story Adventure
This January marks the beginning of something entirely new and very close to my heart.
Stitch the Sea is not just a stitch-along, it’s a stitch-a-story.
Over the course of the year, you’ll receive 12 pattern releases, one each month, and with every pattern comes a new chapter of an original story. The stitching and the story grow together, each one adding depth, meaning, and emotion to the other.
This is slow stitching with intention.
This is storytelling you can hold in your hands.
Each month invites you to settle in, pick up your needle, and step a little deeper into a seaside world shaped by memory, healing, and the quiet pull of the ocean. You can participate at your own pace, savouring each chapter and each motif as they arrive.
The first pattern, The Sea Shell, and the opening chapter of the story mark the beginning of this year-long journey, and I couldn’t be more excited to finally share it with you.
Why Stitch-a-Story Feels So Special
Stories have always woven their way into my designs, but this time I wanted to let them breathe fully.
With Stitch the Sea, the narrative unfolds slowly, just like the stitching itself. There’s no rush, no pressure to “keep up.” Instead, each release becomes a small ritual, a moment to return to your stitching chair, your favourite light, your cozy corner of the world.
It’s an invitation to stitch and imagine.
To read and create.
To let creativity be immersive, layered, and deeply comforting.
If you’ve ever wished your stitching time felt like stepping into another place for a while, this was made for you.
A Gentle January Rhythm
This month’s newsletter reflects that same slower, cozier pace.
Inside, you’ll find:
- The first Stitch the Sea pattern
- A download link for the opening chapter of the story
- A calming winter playlist to stitch along with
- A fresh reading list to begin the year
- A featured winter DMC thread color
- A special 50% off sale on select patterns in the shop
- And a cozy seasonal recipe
Each little section is meant to support a January spent gently — with warmth, creativity, and space to begin again.
A Few Familiar Favorites from the Shop
Alongside this new adventure, there are also some beloved patterns waiting in the shop, perfect for winter stitching days.
From seasonal designs that celebrate snowy magic, to tools that help keep your stitch-along projects beautifully organized, there’s a little something for every kind of stitcher. If you’re a newsletter subscriber, be sure to check inside for the exclusive January sale code, offering 50% off select patterns for a limited time.
It’s my quiet thank-you for being part of this community.
Don’t Miss the Story — Join the Newsletter
If you’re reading this here on the blog and haven’t yet subscribed to the newsletter, I warmly invite you to join us.
The Stitch the Sea pattern and story chapters are delivered through the newsletter, and that’s where you’ll find the download links, special extras, and subscriber-only treats each month.
I’d love to welcome you into this year-long journey by the sea.
Stepping into the Year Ahead
January doesn’t demand grand resolutions.
Instead, it offers a quiet promise that we can begin again in small, meaningful ways. One stitch. One page. One peaceful evening at a time.
Thank you for being here, for stitching alongside me, and for carrying these stories into your own homes. I can’t wait to see where this year takes us, and I’m so grateful we get to walk (and stitch) this path together.
With love and a heart full of new beginnings,
Jeannie
Thyme for Stitching
