July 2026
Peaceful Happenings
What a year! We want to thank everyone for helping us get to our first-year anniversary and celebrate this amazing accomplishment. We are so happy to have such a wonderful community, and we thank everyone for coming out to celebrate our first-year anniversary ribbon cutting! It’s been an amazing year.
Peaceful Highlights
As we pass our one-year anniversary, I want to take a moment to highlight my partner, Jenna. I know you all know this lovely, fun, chatty Jenna, but I’m not sure you all know what Jenna has done to build Peaceful Making. Jenna is actually the backbone of our lovely store. She has built us corporately, kept our books, created our e-store (this is HUGE), created social media platforms, and kept track of all our orders. In addition, she has taught classes, taken on being the crochet queen, worked many, many hours in the store, planned events, attended fiber festivals and trade shows, and oh—so much more.
Many of you don’t know that Jenna actually owns Peaceful Making. She is Peaceful Making. Next time you are in the store, stop and say hello to her, and thank her for building and sustaining this amazing store!
Welcome to New Members of the Peaceful Making Family
We are very pleased that Susan Zimmerman has joined us as manager at Peaceful Making. Susan is a lifelong fiber arts enthusiast and lover of color, pattern, and all things textiles. She has enjoyed a variety of careers, most recently as a sales rep in the quilting and sewing industry covering Washington DC to Miami FL. She is an east coast native who has made her full-time home in Duck, North Carolina since 2022 with her husband Doug and their beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. In addition to knitting and crochet, Susan is an experienced needle pointer, quilter, and sewist. She loves the ocean and singing choral music.
We are delighted that Bella White and Edie Youngblood joined the Peaceful Making community as interns this summer. Both are rising seniors at the North Carolina State University Wilson College of Textiles and arrived on the Outer Banks eager to share their educational experience, enhance their knowledge, and gain practical experience working through the summer at our store in Kitty Hawk.
Bella is majoring in textile technology with a concentration in medical textiles and non-wovens, and she is minoring in English. While Bella’s educational background focuses on the technical aspects of fiber and textiles, she enjoys crochet to unwind.
Edie is majoring in fashion and textile design with a minor in textile technology. She also weaves, knits, crochets, dyes, felts, and spins.
Both Edie and Bella have been instrumental in providing support in all areas of the fiber arts at Peaceful Making, learning new crafts, assisting us with our social media, and documenting the store’s processes and procedures.
Fourth of July Week!
Happy Fourth of July Week! To get into the festive spirit we will have drop in classes every day until 7/8 from 1pm-4pm! Join us to learn any of the classes we have or to ice dye your own Peaceful Making Shirt or Sweatshirt.
We will also be holding a Woobles sale until 7/8/26 for 10% off any Woobles kit! Woobles are perfect for beach crafting or learning crochet at any age!
We will have shortened hours on the Fourth of July from 10am-12pm to assist any fiber arts emergencies over the holiday. If you’re running out of yarn before the fireworks show, stop by to pick some up!
Community
Anniversary Ribbon Cutting
On Thursday, June 11, Kitty Hawk Mayor - Charlotte Walker, members of the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce, and members of the community joined us to celebrate our one-year anniversary with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at the store. It was truly an honor to be recognized by our colleagues and friends and to enjoy another opportunity to highlight Peaceful Making as one of the rising businesses on the Outer Banks.
Fiber Guild
In May, Jenna and I were elected co-presidents of the Outer Banks Fiber Guild, which officially promotes fiber arts in this region. Linda Sears was elected secretary, and Denise Skinner was elected treasurer.
We are very grateful to the past officers and the Guild members for the extensive work they have done promoting weaving, spinning, knitting, and basketry in this area. We are looking forward to working with the current members and recruiting new members as we continue the goal of promoting awareness of the fiber arts throughout the Outer Banks and beyond.
As we move forward, you will see changes as we develop and grow. We have already added many new things and volunteers and we hope you will join us! You can find us at www.obxfiberguild.com.
We hope you will accompany us on this journey and volunteer to help us!
In order to take a fresh look at the Guild as we move forward, we have formed a new Guild Advisory Board. This Board will serve to grow the Guild. Board members create their own groups to help expand their areas. They will report out at the quarterly Guild meetings. This will be a collaborative and transparent process. We will develop the guidelines and bylaws around this process over the next year, but will move forward with the work each board member is leading.
- Guidelines and Bylaws—Rosemary Loftus Wheeler has agreed to serve as parliamentarian and will lead us in developing a mission statement, bylaws, and new processes to help our Guild function and grow.
- History and Documentation— As librarian/historian, Melissa Paulson will continue working with the well-documented history of the Guild. We have many articles and newspaper clippings in our records that tell the story of the Guild’s work, and Melissa will make sure that we continue that initiative as we move forward.
- Dare Arts—As Dare Arts liaison, Carol Beal will work with the other arts-related organizations on the Outer Banks to spread the word about the Guild’s work and to coordinate our work with theirs through classes, exhibitions, and shows.
- Education—Helen Corbett will work with area schools and other educational institutions to encourage children and young people to develop interest in the fiber arts.
- Weaving and Spinning—Our local weaving and spinning expert Inger Seitz will combine her knowledge, experience, and artistry to promote weaving and spinning throughout the Guild and the area.
- All Needlework—Susan Zimmerman will coordinate the Guild’s efforts to promote and encourage all aspects of needlework, including (but not limited to!) embroidery, needlepoint, cross stitch, and punch needle embroidery.
We also have open positions on the Advisory Board for
- Knitting and Crochet
- Fiber (felting, dying and processing)
We encourage anyone interested in serving in these positions to contact us at boardlead@obxfiberguild.com.
If you feel we need an additional board position and you would like to volunteer, please send us an email at the same address. Everyone in the fiber arts community has something to contribute!
Our next meeting will be held in person and via Zoom on July 25, 2026, at 11:00 am. Everyone is welcome to attend, either in person at Peaceful Making or by Zoom. We will send the Zoom invitation out the week prior. Please let us know if you are interested in joining us by contacting us at info@obxfiberguild.com.
We are excited about our new structure, our new meetings, and our new way of joining the Guild, and we are inviting you to become a member and explore the many ways we can learn about the fiber arts and promote them in our community through education and awareness.
Peaceful Makers Society: Makers-in-Residence
We have so many talented and prolific artists in the Peaceful Making community, and we are thrilled that we can showcase one or more Makers-in-Residence every month.
This month, we are delighted to highlight the work of July’s Makers-in-Residence, Sharon Phillips and Helen Corbett.
Sharon has knit a beautiful version of the Wilson Sweater, by Knitting for Olive. This is a great display of holding mohair with a base yarn to make a lovely fabric.
Helen has nine items displayed this month, including the Paris Skirt by me and Simone; Pink Fizz by Andrea Mowry; and Broadleaf by Wool and Pine. Please stop by to see all of July’s Makers-in-Residence works in person and, if you see Helen or Sharon, please compliment them on their achievements and their artistry.
The Makers-in-Residence program honors the makers in our community. The store displays Makers’ finished projects that have been made using Peaceful Making products (either our fibers or our equipment). In addition to displaying Makers-in-Residence creations in the store, we also showcase them in the newsletter and online on our Peaceful Makers community page. If you would like to submit a project, please email us at info@peacefulmaking.com. If you are chosen as a Maker-in-Residence, we will give you 50% off your next purchase of the equivalent amount of the yarn that you used to make your original project.
We are very excited to share our community’s work!
Peaceful Making Communication Corner
Here are links to ways to Communicate with the Peaceful Making Community:
New Things in the Store This Week
La Bien Aimee update: we have a huge update from La Bien Aimee. We received more than 700 new skeins! All lovely colors including a nice collection of Big Kumo! So lovely!
Spincycle update: we will be receiving the last shipment from our last order on July 3. We have many new colors in Dyed in the Wool and Plump coming in.
Farmers Daughter Fiber Update: Peaceful Outer Banks, the custom color dyed for us by Farmer’s Daughter Fibers, has been a big hit with our customers, so much so that we have reordered it, and it is now in stock in Juicy DK again in the store and online. If you have visited us at the beach, if you live here, or if you plan to visit in the future, don’t miss the opportunity to purchase this very special memento from the Outer Banks. We have it available in Oh Dang, Bear Paw Sock, Bear Paw DK, and Juicy DK!
Needle update: we have a huge restock that just came in from ChiaoGoo and Addi! We now have needles for all of your project needs.
Beaded boxes: Edie, Bella and Alisson were creative and made some beautiful beaded notions tins! They are so beautiful and very useful for all your stitch markers and notions! Another special Outer Banks souvenir!
Twice Sheared Sheep update: we loved the trunk show so much we kept a lot of the extra notions! There are gauge rulers, lots of stitch markers, bags, and more. All our favorite Twice Sheared Sheep things!
Hedgehog Fibres update: we had a big yarn and fibre update from Hedgehog Fibres! Just love the colors—as usual!
Dog Leash Kits: We now have cotton rope to create beautiful and sturdy dog leashes through Kumihimo weaving! Grab a kit today and join us for a class to learn the Kumihimo braiding technique.
Knit-alongs
The Tolsta Tee (by Rebecca Clow) Knit-along has been very popular, and we are continuing the sessions during Thursday Making Nights (which begin at 4:30 pm and end at 8:00 pm). Although the Tolsta Tee classes officially have ended, we can provide you with additional support during scheduled office hours (see below for more details). Once the tees are finished, we are planning a Tolsta Tee fashion show to highlight everyone’s accomplishments. Stay tuned to Instagram, Facebook, and the website for more information.
Weaving and Spinning
Inger’s large floor loom is currently warped with a navy blue yarn. This loom is set up to allow students to practice weaving and play on. No specific pattern is being followed, instead students are encouraged to experiment and come up with their own!
Bella is currently working on a delicate mohair shawl! She is following the “Diaphanous Mohair Shawl” pattern found in Inventive Weaving on a Little Loom by Syne Mitchell. This project is unique because the warp and weft density is very low, which creates a gauzy fabric. This is Bella’s first ever weaving project and it is coming out beautifully!
Edie just finished warping her loom to weave a set of hand towels. She has a total of 432 ends! A white Cottolin yarn is being used for the warp. Fabric made from Cottolin is soft while still holding its shape, making it great for many different weaving projects. Edie will be using a decorative pattern she found online as she begins weaving.
The third WolfPup floor loom is currently warped with Knitting for Olive cotton merino in the color Japanese Anemone. To contrast with the light colored warp, a dark navy blue is being used for the weft. The final product will be a colorful scarf featuring a geometric pattern!
Mischel has been working on a shawl on her rigid heddle loom! The striped warp and striping in the weft creates a beautiful plaid pattern, which she designed herself. She is using a white and dark grey natural yarn.
Our Schacht standard loom is warped with a brightly colored stripe pattern! This loom is also set up for anyone to practice weaving on. Since there are only two treadles in use, this loom is perfect for beginners to weave on and gain an understanding of how the loom works.
Peaceful Making Society
The Peaceful Making Society is an outstanding way to participate in our making community. As a Society member, you can benefit from the following and more: 10% off on purchases through both the Peaceful Making online store and the Kitty Hawk store (great for purchasing required materials for classes); a $20 coupon to the Peaceful Making online shop; free access to two office hour sessions per week; access to the Peaceful Making classes, workshops, and skills update series; personal shopper access by appointment; a coupon code for unlimited use of equipment in the equipment lab (once you complete the 101 class for the equipment you would like to use); a Peaceful Making Society project bag; and access to the Peaceful Making Society Digital Hangout Space.
We have extended Early Bird pricing ($200 for a year’s membership) through August 1, 2026. Automatically renewable membership is $150.
Membership in the Peaceful Making Society is invaluable for any maker living or visiting on the Outer Banks or purchasing items through the online store. It also is a great gift idea for the makers in your life!
Office Hours
Every once in a while, the most experienced and enthusiastic of us hits a wall with even the simplest knitting project. A design, stitch, or technique that seemed straightforward and logical at first glance or in class suddenly becomes confusing and seems impossible to understand and overcome. We can help!
We are happy to provide scheduled office hours, either in person or through Zoom, for $35 per session. We can work together to study the pattern, examine the stitches, or come to grips with a technique that causes frustration and seems to be insurmountable. If you are interested in working with a mentor who will help you successfully complete (and enjoy!) your project, please take a look at our website for more information: https://peacefulmaking.com/products/office-hours?_pos=1&_sid=9aa9d87ef&_ss=r
In Person office hours are scheduled on Mondays from 10:00 am to 11:00 am and on Wednesdays between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm, and virtual office hours by Zoom (or occasionally in person when possible) from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm on Thursdays.
Welcome our Newest Knitting Teachers
We are delighted that Helen Corbett will be joining us as a knitting teacher. In addition to her extensive knitting experience, Helen is an experienced educator who teaches elementary school. She will be helping us by further developing our curriculum, scheduling classes, and teaching not only beginning students, but also assisting knitters with more advanced skills.
We are also welcoming Sidney Evans! She retired to Colington from Lexington, Virginia after a career in higher education. Her first fiber arts experience was smocking dresses for her daughter when she was a little girl. Sidney taught smocking classes for several years at a fabric store in Memphis, Tennessee. She then learned to quilt, needlepoint and knit. She still does all of those, but knitting is her passion. Conquering socks and then teaching a friend to make her own was so much fun for her. She loves colorwork and finished her first Shetland Wool Week hat on a trip to Nags Head back in 2021.
Classes
Here at Peaceful Making we offer many fun craft classes!
The Kumihimo Dog Leashes and Bracelets class is fun for all ages! Kumihimo is a traditional Japanese technique of braiding strands of yarn or cord into colorful ropes. Depending what size disc is used, we can make bracelets or dog leashes!
Our Bracelet and Bookmark Looms are great weaving classes for beginners! These small, handheld weaving looms are perfect for learning the basics of weaving. You get to warp the loom, weave in your yarn, and beat it down. The final product will be a unique bracelet or bookmark!
We also offer a Peg Loom weaving class! If you want to make something a little bigger than a bracelet or bookmark, the peg looms are another great weaving option. These looms are great for small tapestries, coasters, potholders, and napkins. You will gain an understanding of the basics of weaving, and the possibilities of what you can create are endless!
Learn to Felt in our Beginning Felting class! Felting is a textile craft that involves the interlocking and matting of loose fibers together to create a solid form. Using a barbed needle and colorful fiber, you can create cute shapes and figures. Your final felted piece can be turned into an ornament or garland!
In our Beaded Buddies class, you can create a little animal by stringing together beads! These little guys make cute keychains or charms.
The week before the 4th of July and the week after will be our 4th of July Craft Fair! We will be doing classes from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm each day (except the 4th when we will be closing at noon to allow our staff to enjoy the festivities). We hope you can make it in to have some fun with us! Sign up online so we know how to prepare your class for you! https://peacefulmaking.com/collections/drop-in-classes?_cd=80a1a99201a8b591b8970bfd6ef998adf321799342ae6272623c48006a1ae712&_uid=119361208632&preview_theme_id=179376718136&preview_token=ia89iuh2a10ltb3xmurqxn5jonetfqxk
FO’s
Tolsta Tee by Rebecca Clow—as a part of the Tolsta Tee Knit-along I knit several of the classic tees with a few modifications. I did one in Camillia Fibers Rainbow Sprinkles DK (this one has ¾ length sleeves and twisted rib collar, sleeve and bottom rib) and one in Farmers Daughter Fibers Outerbanks Peaceful Making Juicy DK with a smaller and bit larger rib neck. Love this classic pattern and all the mods you can do to make this what you want it to be.https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tolsta-tee
Tolsta Tee by Rebecca Clow —Hi! This is Helen, and I too jumped on the Tolsta Tee bandwagon, but with Jenna’s help we made it fancy! I used Knitting For Olive cotton merino in Thundercloud, with a little bit of La Bien Aimee’s Howl and Sophie. The neckline and the cuffs are in Howl and Sophie, and across the back I have a stripe of the La Bien Aimee. I also included a back panel of lace in the gray, and for my ribbing I used a twisted rib—if I were to give this a name—it would be Choose Your Own Adventure
Paris Skirt by me and Simone—Helen again—this one was lots of fun. A whole skirt in various mohair yarn. When you get sick of one color—switch it up! This one goes pretty quickly because you use large needles. I think it will look great with the Tolsta Tee I made. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-paris-skirt
Innisfree by Penny Straker—Knit by Rosemary. I found this pattern deep in my pattern library (notes on the pattern indicate that I had knit it for a cousin’s child—also named Rosemary—in 1995). I made a few modifications, and I knit it again this spring in double-stranded Knitting for Olive Cotton Merino. A genuine classic, the pattern is no longer available for purchase on Ravelry, but it appears to be available through Amazon. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/innisfree
The “Fairytales” Hooded Bolero Cardi by Heather Cummings - Jenna here with crochet! I have been in a WIP mindset for months and finally pulled out a few finished objects this month! This adorable bolero screamed perfect for the summer months. I made this with yarn from Nash Yarn Fest and a little Lang Lame for sparkle (because can we imagine Jenna without sparkles) and it is perfect for summer! It is the perfect garment to wear in the hot months when it is too warm for a sweater outside, but you still need something to combat the air conditioning indoors. https://tinyurl.com/3s66dyhj
Granny Tee by Biray Celik - Jenna again! This was the perfect combination of granny squares and solid fabric for a cute sweater! It was super quick to make, combine, and finish. I would suggest following instructions and not trimming the magic loop tail too tight, but mistakes are inevitable and fixable. I love it as a granny square project that can be accomplished pretty quickly and the completed object fits fantastically! I may wear it as an off the shoulder top and sew elastic in though so more to see soon! https://tinyurl.com/yc8za97h
WIPs
Mischel:
- Phoebe by Natasja Hornby in Knitting for Olive Merino in Oatmeal—I really love the way this looks on Natasja, not sure how it will look on me…it looks great on the mannequin in the store :). The pattern is challenging due to the large amount of short rows, increases and decreases for the front and shaping, combined with the stitch pattern—I ripped out a lot! I have finished all the complicated parts and hope to be finished this week! Don’t let this being a vest fool you… it is a lot of knitting and is challenging! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/phoebe-37
- Sea Foam Tee by Joji Locatelli in La Biene Aimee Alix and Farmers Daughter Fiber Peaceful Outerbanks Oh Dang—This starts with an I-cord and moves to a simple round yoke. I am excited to knit this simple short sleeve top! I think our store color mixed with La Biene Aimee will be lovely! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sea-foam-tee
- Ruffleveil Blouse by Natalja Ledvanova in ITO Kinu and ITO Sensai—I love this flirty little summer top. The front is so unique (I will wear this with a tank) and I love the mohair ruffles! I am excited to knit with ITO again! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ruffleveil-blouse
- Apple Flower by Clara Eggers—I finished the bottom of this lovely colorwork sweater from the book - 52 Weeks of Sweaters . I started the sleeves—it is a unique bottom up construction. And I have put it to rest for the summer. I’ll pick this back up at the end of summer for a sweet winter sweater!
- Jelly Top by Mei Bruns— Still working this cute bubble tee. I am working through the cap sleeves in the bubble pattern. I’ve never done sleeves quite like this! Hope to finish soon. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jelly-top
Helen:
- Olive’s Blanket by Knitting for Olive— Did you know that Knitting for Olive has some fantastic patterns—especially for babies! This grandma-to-be found a beautiful blanket that I wanted to make! I am using a sock yarn because it calls for a fingering weight, and the name is perfect for a baby blanket—Hedgehog Fibres’ Snuggle Bug. I am a one-pattern-at-a-time girl, so hopefully I finish soon. https://knittingforolive.com/products/olives-blanket
Rosemary:
- Hey Sailor! by Andrea Mowry in Knitting for Olive Pure Silk—Sadly, I am conducting intensive sweater surgery on this lovely, nearly finished top. It was a joy to knit, and once all the knitting was finished, except for the button bands, I blocked it and set it outside to dry. I didn’t realize until after I started knitting on the button bands (and after hundreds of Google searches to determine why they were white while large areas of the ribbing, shoulders, and cuffs were a pale shade of yellowish-tan), that silk can yellow in the sunlight. Fortunately, I have a ball and a half of the colorway left over, so I have cut off the yellowed sections and am reknitting them. Lesson learned #1: Be very careful about what you dry in direct sunlight, especially if you are working with plant-based fibers. Lesson learned #2: Always buy more yarn than you think you need. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hey-sailor-2
- Tulipan Tee by Le Knit (Lene Holme Samsøe) in Sandnesgarn Line—I am really enjoying knitting this light, airy summer tee. The yarn is delightful to work with, the drape is amazing, and the pattern is straightforward and easy to follow. Once finished, it will be perfect for the hot days ahead. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tulipan-tee
- Nr 3 Doble tøfler (also known in the shop as “No-sew Felted Double Slipper”) by Liv Stangeland—Large needles and Sandnesgarn Fritids Garn are the perfect combination for my designated project for watching the World Cup. These slippers knit up quickly, are great for tv knitting, and make wonderful gifts. (It’s not too soon to start knitting for Christmas!) https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nr-3-doble-tfler
Jenna:
- Always Bright by Drops Design - I am one row and a little wire from completing this adorable sun hat. I made it in Lang Eternity which is the cutest color changing cotton I have ever seen. Can’t wait to get it finished and ready for the beach! https://www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=9187&cid=17
- Faelace Moon by Under Your Skein - This skirt is just in the beginning stages, but is my new passion project. I can’t wait to have a full crochet skirt to wear! I am currently swatching for it using the Gist Yarn Duet and so far it is going well. It is a very lovely pattern for learning chart reading in crochet as well because every chart has written out instructions as well! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/faelace-moon
Mischel’s Favorite YouTube
https://youtu.be/3tI4j3-H5NU?is=qKi3rhDXJcvySUuR - How to add short rows to a top down sweater
Recipes
Egg Roll in a Bowl
Keeping in the Bowl theme and by request—here is my latest Egg Roll in a Bowl Recipe
- 1 lb ground beef or pork
- 1 onion halved and sliced thin
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ rice wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- salt to taste
- 1 (16 ounce) package coleslaw mix or chopped cabbage
- 1 bag of match stick carrots (or cut your own ;))
- Any other veg or mushroom you would like (zucchini, peas, pea pods anything)
- ¼ cup toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
- Saute onions, garlic and ginger, add beef and cook until beef is brown.
- Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sugar, salt cook for a few minutes.
- Add all veg and cook until veg is done to your liking.
- Add Cilantro and sesame oil - serve over rice.
I like this with cucumbers and Kimchi… Super easy and yummy!
Wrap up
Just when we think it is settling down…we shake and move! We have so many lovely new yarns and colors as well as updates! The most exciting update we have is the growth of our community. We have new Makers-in-Residence each month, new teachers, new office hours, new classes. Can’t wait to see what happens next month! Thank you all for a great year and thank you for each and every day you are making with us!
Mischel, Jenna, and the Peaceful Making Family
This post was published
Maybe you will also like
This is a link to a post.This is a link to a post.
This is a link to a post.
Excerpt from post: Peaceful Making Newsletter 32
April 2026
Peaceful Happenings
What a crazy few weeks. I am so sorry…
This post was published
Excerpt from post: Peaceful Making Newsletter 31
4/3/2026
Peaceful Happenings
Spring is in full bloom! We spent the la…
This post was published
Excerpt from post: Peaceful Making Newsletter 30
3/20/2026
Peaceful Happening
It’s Guild week! Welcome Tidewater Knitt…
This post was published