January: The 429-Day Month

January is finally ending, which is frankly a mercy, because it felt like it lasted 429 days. I’m Tattoo’d Cross Stitch Man, and for most of that time, my usual post-work stitching ritual was more of a faint suggestion than a reality. I did pick up a needle here and there, but it was a struggle—threads tangled, patience fraying, and motivation practically nonexistent.

I spent more time staring at floss than actually using it, occasionally muttering to myself like a cranky artisan haunted by a calendar. Rockin’ That Needle survived anyway, quietly waiting while I argued with fabric and my own willpower. This post isn’t a triumphant return. It’s a shove, a reminder that stitching still exists and maybe, just maybe, so does the part of me that enjoys it.

Stepping Into a Bigger Hoop

So, what does moving forward actually look like? Well, besides threatening my couch cushions with more abandoned projects, Rockin’ That Needle is stepping out of my living room and into a slightly bigger hoop.

This year, it’s less “me staring blankly at fabric while sipping tea that’s gone cold” and more of a magazine-style space: interviews with stitchers who actually know what they’re doing, articles about the weird, wonderful, and occasionally infuriating world of cross stitch, and occasional glimpses into my own WIPs—flaws, frustrations, and all.

The Chaos We’re Embracing

Expect a mix of things that actually make sense and things that make me question my life choices—mostly the latter.
• Interviews with stitchers who are somehow competent, inspirational, and probably slightly insane.
• Articles about the quirks, oddities, and surprisingly dramatic moments of the cross stitch world.
• My own WIP updates—probably featuring knots, dropped stitches, and the occasional “I can’t believe I spent three hours on this” moment.
• Glimpses into life outside the hoop, because apparently humans have other responsibilities, some worth sharing.

What Rockin’ That Needle Will Be in 2026

🪡 More conversations: interviews with stitchers who are smarter, faster, and more patient than me.
🪡 More articles: exploring quirks, frustrations, and tiny victories, and occasionally why it’s basically therapy disguised as embroidery.
🪡 More honesty, less perfection: because nobody wants to read about flawless stitches and unicorns.
🪡 A slightly bigger hoop: taking this blog from my living room into something that feels a little more like a magazine, a little more like a community, and a lot less like me talking to myself.

The Plan: Same Needle, New Year

I’ll keep picking up the needle, keep flailing, keep sharing, and hopefully keep making this a place worth reading—even if it’s mostly to watch me struggle through a project.
Consider this your official invitation to stitch along, comment, laugh at my mistakes, or quietly lurk while I figure out how to make a 429-day January feel like anything less than eternal.
Same needle, new year, same sarcastic chaos—let’s see where it goes.

I’ll stitch, I’ll swear, and I’ll be back. Words done, thread out—time to stab fabric with intent.