Hi everyone

Are you interested in astrology? Do you know your star sign? This is an easy pattern that can be used over and over again to make fun, personalised gifts using mini hoops.

Zodiac has the symbols for each of the 12 star signs – Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces – in two different sizes and colourways. Mini hoops are a nice gifting idea and so the pattern includes printable cards for making mini hoop necklaces to give away. This way you can use the pattern over and over again to stitch star signs for everyone you know.

The gift cards come in small and large, for the two different mini hoop sizes, and have notches for the necklace chain and three positive personality traits for each sign. The colours on each card are those associated with that particular sign of the zodiac, giving you options when it comes to threads.

Zodiac is available as an instant download, PDF pattern from my shop, and Dandelyne mini hoops are available from stockists around the world and online.

Mini hoops are playful and quick to stitch. For afternoon embroidery projects, there’s (clockwise from top left) Snowflakes, Desert Dreams, Shy Rabbit, Heart Sampler, Micro Monograms and Festive Tree.

An aficot, which looks like a lobster claw, can help blend and smooth your satin stitching.

House of Embroidery has joined forces with South African artists and designers this Women’s Month to raise funds for two projects that support women in need. The Fight for Flight fundraiser takes the form of a raffle to win a hamper of locally made products. Enter from anywhere in the world by 30 August.

Karen Barbe has teamed up with Whitney Chiu of Joone craft company and podcaster Fifi Buchanan to create Threads of Affirmation, stitching kits that come with pre-punched postcards and “guided reflection audio” to “facilitate active meditation through embroidery”.

It was great to see the models McIntyre chose to use in the lookbook for their winter range of merino knitwear.

The recent #hoopyourself challenge started by Carissa Caples provided an opportunity to see the stitchers behind the stitching. And it’s ongoing.

Embroidery on Knitting by Britt-Marie Christoffersson is the third instalment of the Swedish textile designer’s decades-long project exploring “the technique, tradition and development of hand knitting”.

Take care and keep stitching, Kelly

PS. Wire that could be yarn. It made me smile.