Two Years of Blogging, Enjoying Life and Meeting You

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It almost feels surreal writing this blog post as I celebrate sharing patterns, laughs, nature and my family here with you for two years.

This blog has been such a joy for so many reasons.  Let me start by saying THANK YOU! Your support has meant the world, and today I’d like to ponder the last 24 months with you. (Yep, I’m about to get deep 😉 )

Over the last two years, I’ve been able to knit and crochet to my heart’s content, and then share my super easy projects with you – some of the kindest people in the world!  I love seeing blog visitors from all around the planet. You’ve visited from Italy, China, the Middle East, France, Canada and countless other countries. Sometimes you’ve written in languages that I don’t understand which is super cool, but I’m sorry that I couldn’t respond. He he!  I love that my blog feels small and I actually get to know many of you. I’ve also learned so much from you and been inspired by you. Thank you for sharing so many pictures of your projects with me. Beyond visitors to the blog, it’s been a true pleasure to get to know other bloggers and lots of other folks in the yarn world.

 

My baby
My baby
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Wrapped up in my heirloom blanket
Manhattan Market Tote Crochet Pattern
One of my fave projects – The Manhattan Market Tote

My “Starting A Blog” Story

When I think back to my first couple of blog posts, it brings me such joy.   My husband and I made the decision that I would leave my Special Education teaching job to stay home when my daughter was born. This was a wonderful decision, but I did miss teaching and using my brain for things other than mommy’ing. To make up for what I missed from teaching, I’d stay up late doing artwork, sewing and then, oddly, I decided to learn to knit and crochet.  I know you can relate with me when I tell you that I became totally hooked on yarn at that point.  It gave me a creative outlet and hobby that was perfect for a busy mama.

After over a year of making up my own projects and patterns, and at one point, coming up with a knit flat mitt pattern after not being able to find a suitable pattern online, I decided I’d write these patterns on a blog.  There was essentially no thought process behind starting my blog as I simply wanted to keep a “log” of sorts and share the projects. It also seemed like a good way to keep photos and other family happenings all in one place as my baby girl grew up.  The name “Mama In A Stitch” also didn’t take much thought as my daughter calls me “Mama” and I’m always found in a stitch (you know, a knit or crochet stitch). I remember sharing my “knit flat fingerless gloves” on Ravelry and being shocked that I had 100 views on that pattern one evening.  That was such a thrill and it was so much fun knowing that others may enjoy that pattern.  If you read my one year blogging anniversary post, you might remember that the thing that really blew my mind was when Lion Brand shared my pattern.  All I knew is that I saw hundreds of views on my blog one night and had no clue as to why.  Once I figured it out, it was such an honor. I thought, “Holy moly, I better make this blog look better!” I’m pretty sure I even said that out loud.  Because I’m soooo NOT technically inclined, my brother and his friends helped guide me on a path where I could make a blog that I would be happy to share with others. I even reached out to other bloggers for advice.

Something that I never imagined, was having some projects printed and featured in magazines, newspapers and some cool websites. One highlight this year was having my first published pattern in a print magazine, Crochet! Magazine. My hometown newspaper wrote a piece last summer, “Knitting Blog Gains Notice” which was also pretty neat.   I’ve been honored to have projects featured by and even made into kits by Lion Brand Yarn! Their support for me and the blog is such a blessing.  I’ve also had projects featured on Apartment Therapy, Good Housekeeping, and this past fall was featured as a “Blogger We Love” in Inside Crochet Magazine from the UK.

Inside Crochet Magazine Feature
The cover of Inside Crochet

Some Fun Projects Over the Years

So how about talking about some of your favorite projects? Over the last year there have been a few patterns that have stood out as some faves. Without a doubt, the blanket sweaters have been some of the most visited patterns on the blog.  I’ve also had fun over the last two years with some tapestry crochet and the Aspen Knit Bag and Manhattan Tote were quite fun too.

My girl was just a three year old baby when this blog began and is now a five year old little girl. What a difference two years make!

I’ve also done some other fun things over the past years that I’ve shared on the blog, like buying a used pop-up camper and remodeling it.

Pop up camper beds

Another cool blog happening was the chance to campaign and bring awareness to yarn charities this past year with Lion Brand. I made my first charity project and also decided to donate 10% of profits from my Etsy shop to Magic Bus.

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Representing you, the “Yarn Hero” with Lion Brand Yarn

I’ve tried to improve my photography and I still have a ways to go, but I do actually see improvement since my first photos. You know I’m a nature lover so I’ve shared a lot of my little outdoorsy pics with you too!

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By the end of the first year of blogging, I had far more visitors than I ever would have imagined.  At two years, that number has more than quadrupled. It’s so crazy you guys!

The clueless girl that slapped a pattern online two years ago would have never imagined this.

My Little Ole Plans (which consists of no real plan) for the Blog 

So what do I have planned for the blog going forward? Well, it started as place to share my super simple knit and crochet projects and two years later, that’s how I plan to keep it.  When I started, it was hard to find many blogs doing both knit and crochet, but it’s so cool because I see more and more doing both now!  I do want to be better about sharing my personal life happenings, but sometimes I just get too wrapped up in yarn and run out of time to post crafts and DIY’s. And while I’ve been pretty active on Facebook and other social media sites, I’d love to become more consistent with sharing and interacting in those places.  I’d also love to do more teaching as I learned to knit and crochet online. As a teacher, it might be fun to do more videos and tutorials on how to knit and crochet, including how to do a variety of stitches.  But listen, I’m not locking myself into anything! This blog’s been a learn as you go, real, unplanned sort of a thing.

Ultimately, I want you to come here, enjoy it, find inspiration, see a nice serene nature pic or two and feel at home. Boom. That’s it.

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Thank you so very much for all of your support and for sharing my blog with your yarny friends.  And as I said last year, as long as I’m having fun this Mama’s going to keep on blog’n! And it is SO MUCH FUN my friends, thanks to you. I’m grateful beyond words. 

XO,

Jessica

PS Listen, I love to hear what you enjoy seeing on the blog. Will you let me know what you’d like to see more of, or if you’d like me to do anything different this year? I always take your comments and ideas very seriously! Please feel free to let me know what more you’d like to see on the blog in the comments section.

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21 Comments

  1. And Portuguese readers as well.
    Today I found your easy mesh stitch very similar, I think to a bag my mother used year ago and would like to repeat.
    I’ll try your easy mesh stitch. Thanks for it.
    For health reasons I’m returning to crochet. I love embroidery but for now I have to exercise my hands and think the crochet will help.
    Thanks for this beautiful blog

    1. Thanks for taking the time to write to me Meri from Portugal! I would love to visit Portugal one day! I’m so glad that you enjoyed the mesh stitch and think you can make a bag from it. I’m also so glad that you’ve been able to get back into crochet….isn’t it a wonderful hobby?

      You’re welcome for the blog. Have a great day!

  2. This is a wonderful blog! I am so glad you enjoy doing this as much as I love to read it! I accedentally made a pattern that I think you should try, so I’ll send you a copy via gmail.

    Thank you so much again for your wonderful blog! I can’t wait to see future patterns and posts!

    -J

    1. Hi Jane! Thanks for taking the time to write to me. It really means a lot and I appreciate all of your support! I’m so happy that you enjoy the blog. Have a great day!

  3. CONGRATS !!!!!! JESSICA I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR GREAT PATTERNS LOOKING FORWARD TO MOOR GREAT YEARS

  4. Jessica, your blog is such an inspiration and such a joy to follow! I love all your pics you post and love the fact that you are just across the state line south of me!!! We get to experience the same weather for the most part except I get the wind here in Wyoming! Your projects always find a way to fit into the weather patterns around here and are perfect for the cozy warmth and fun to make!!!! Thank you for all you do and all the great patterns you share with us!!!!!!

    1. Hi Brenda! I also love that you visit from just to the North of me! 😉 You definitely know how this crazy weather works! And the wind – believe me, it’s windy where I live too. Maybe not quite as bad as in Wyoming, but close I tell ya! We are in a part of town that is known to be windy. I don’t like it one bit….that is the one thing that I could do without. 😉 You’re welcome for the patterns…..and thank you so much for following along!

  5. Jessica,
    I really love your blog and your patterns! My recommendation is don’t change a thing. My grandma taught me to crochet when I was ten, and over forty years later I picked it up again by making dish clothes for Christmas gifts. They were a big hit with everyone. Now I’m up to making scarfs, cowls and hats. I’m going to make your beautiful blanket sweater next. So, what do I love about your blog – the natural look of your designs, how easy your patterns are to understand, how stylist and casual your designs are, your photos are pretty and the entire blog is “comfortable”! In short, natural-easy-stylist-casual-pretty-comfortable. That’s the perfect word, comfortable! I’m grateful that I found your blog and thank you so much for sharing your talent and for teaching me!
    Take care,
    Laura

    1. Hi Laura,
      What a treasure that your grandma taught you to crochet and you are able to use that skill now! I wish I had been taught when I was younger.
      Thank you so much for all of your kind words and encouragement about the blog. I haven’t made a dishcloth in a while, but your comment is a good reminder of how nice they are to make. I am sure that they were a hit indeed! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment Laura and to let me know what you like about my style. It means a lot and it really helps me to know what you and others appreciate.
      You’re welcome for the patterns, and THANK YOU again for taking the time to write to me.
      Best!
      Jessica

    1. Hi Julie! Thanks so much for all of your kind comments and support. I know how busy we are with blogs and mommy’ing, so it means a lot. It’s so nice of you to take the time to follow along!

  6. I just recently found your blog. I enjoy the crochet blanket sweater patterns. They are so comfy and cute. I also enjoy your nature photos and little tidbits that you share about your life. Your blog is very refreshing!

  7. Hey!!!! XD Those were adorable words!! I´ve laughed reading it, beacuse just today I arrived to your blog (atracted to the fair isle cowl, SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!) by Pinterest, and don´t know how ended up reading this, and know what? I started algo knitting after my son was born, cause I also wasn´t working (ended a temporal project before and that allowed me to stay with him without gilts of any kind) and too: I needed to create, use my brains.
    Now he´s three and I´ve started teaching some classes -just once a week- at university (I had never donde teaching, and never imagined I would enjoy it that much)…and well, since that first skarf, I never stopped to look for simple, original things to knit! So, I understand you 100% per cent and feel deep joy that you can live life authentically, inspired, lovingly and joyfully! Will subscribe now!! And now that you´mention you welcome ideas, etc, you now what? I know it doesnt have much to do with knitting but I´ve been wondering what about making knit contemporary jewllery… (I don´t know if that´s well written). Big hughs from Argentina!

    1. Hi Florencia!!
      I’m so happy to hear from a fellow “mama” and I’m so happy that you found my blog! How wonderful that you’re able to teach some classes to keep your brain going at the university! That would be a dream job for me too! Yes, this knitting thing is so addicting, isn’t it? Thank you so much for the idea on contemporary jewelry! That is definitely something that I’ve never tried before and it would be so unique. I love it! My best to you there in Argentina!! Abrazos! XO Jessica

  8. My lovely friend! You always were a creative, special person and so is your bog! I’m delighted to see your fun patterns and inspirational ideas – one day we’ll get together somewhere in the world and crochet together over a (big) glass of red wine! Lots of love to you all the way from Germany, Gabrielle xx

    1. Aww Gab! You’re so sweet to come by and leave me a note (all the way from Germany 😉 ). You are so special lady – and your crochet skills are out of this world! Yes, we must meet and crochet over some giant glasses of wine. 😉 I miss you!

  9. I am so addicted to your patterns! When I see one in my inbox, it is always the first thing I read! I love how easy your projects are because my brain don’t work so good no more after a heart attack and regular mini-strokes 🙁 I learned how to knit at 10 years old and have been doing it off and on for 50 years now. Clearing my land and building my little house by myself has been a full time job! Here in PA, I get a lot of wind and sometimes (like this year) heavy snow all winter. When I got back into knitting during one bad snowstorm a few years ago, my hands would go to sleep because my blood circulation was so bad. But you inspired me to keep at it, and now my hands never go to sleep! Thank you mass!!!
    If you’re ever on the east coast, come to visit and I’ll teach you how to shoot guns!

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