Do you love resolutions? I do—but not in a strict, perfectionist way. I don’t swear by them or track streaks or declare grand before-and-after moments. They’re more like intentions. Things I want to drift toward over the course of the year, without a ton of pressure attached.
I don’t do streaks because the minute you break one, you’re tempted to say “F-it” and quit altogether. I don’t swear things off—or on. I just try to make changes over time. And if something doesn’t fit anymore, I toss it. For someone who’s tightly wound a lot of the time, I’m surprisingly chill about this stuff.
I also like having a theme or mantra for the year.
Back in my past life at the College-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named, my 2019 mantra was “Fuck It.” In 2020, it escalated to “Fuck Off.” Long story short: on January 5, 2021, I offered to buy Ann’s By Design, my local yarn store. By the end of that year, I had left my tenured faculty position, taken out a business loan, and was buying inventory to open Tink & The Frog in March 2022.
Things don’t always happen fast—but they do happen.
If someone had told me years ago that I’d have a bunch of kids and open a yarn store, I would have laughed in their face. And yet, here I am: kids, dogs, and a yarn shop. Life-changing things happen with or without intention, so I don’t pretend I have much control over the big stuff. I just act where I can.
Which brings me to 2026.
My theme for the year is Simple & Good.
Keep things simple where I can. Only do things that feel genuinely good—for me, my family, and my business. I’ve learned that when I feel stressed or resentful, it’s usually because there’s a boundary I didn’t know I needed… or one I had but didn’t enforce. That’s my cue. Time to act. Time to reclaim the “good” part I need.
With that in mind, here are my Stitcher Resolutions for 2026:
- Only choose yarn I’m excited about.
- Finish what I start—but frog without guilt.
- Learn something new.
- Make time for my maker community.
- Make room for Craft Joy.
Zooming out a bit, my broader goals include business growth, creating community with boundaries (my favorite reminder: If it costs me peace, it’s too expensive), and creative joy—including making projects just for me.
I also want more systems and sanity (delegating, asking for help, and actually accepting it), better personal well-being (more walking, some weight lifting here and there), and a more balanced household where we all pitch in—and my home doesn’t make me lose my mind.
To kick things off, I’m doing a January Minimalist Challenge. On the 1st, I got rid of one thing. On the 2nd, two things. And so on. If I stick with it, I’ll have let go of nearly 500 things by the end of the month.
I love getting rid of stuff, so honestly? I’m excited.
So here’s my wish for you this year: find what inspires you. The world is a little unhinged right now, but you can still find joy in it. Protect your peace. Do what’s fun. And don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself.
Craft Joy counts, too.
