Crochet Podcast 178: My 2026 Yarn Plans and Fresh Start

Crochet Podcast Episode 178: Starting 2026 With Yarn, Plans, and a Big Fresh Start!

Happy 2026! I’m Christa from Secret Yarnery, and this Crochet Podcast episode is the first one of the year, part of one of the Best Crochet Podcasts around. I’m coming into January feeling encouraged, motivated, and already in the groove. I’ve been cleaning like crazy, I’ve got crochet plans brewing, and I’m ready to spend this year connecting with crocheters all over the world. While this is a crochet-focused show, I also enjoy listening to knitting podcasts and other fiber shows. Enjoy it in Video Format right here or Audio Format on your favorite podcast platform.

Welcome back (and welcome if you’re new)

If you’re new to the YouTube Channel, I’m Christa, and this is Secret Yarnery. I share simple crochet tutorials that are beginner-friendly, and I also host a Crochet Podcast live chat on Fridays (almost every Friday) where we can hang out, ask questions, and see what everyone’s hooking on.

One of my favorite parts is how global our handmade community is. We have friends joining from the US, Europe, Australia, England, and Africa (I’m in Kenya, and we also get lots of friends from South Africa).

Here’s how Friday timing usually works out:

• Friday morning for most of you
• Friday afternoon or early evening for Europe and Africa
• Friday night, sometimes close to midnight, for Australia

If you enjoy these chats and videos and want to keep up with everything, here are the official links and platforms:

• Subscribe to Secret Yarnery on YouTube
• Join the channel
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher

My 2026 yarn label challenge (track how much yarn I crochet)

During a premiere chat (when a video is released and we can all chat together live in the comments), Shannon suggested something that made me stop and think.

She asked: how many meters, yards, or even kilometers of yarn did I use in fiber arts like crochet last year?

My answer was basically, “A lot.” But her idea for 2026 is so simple and so fun: keep your yarn labels all year, then total up the meters at the end to see how far you crocheted and feed those yarn obsessions.

I’m doing it.

How I’m keeping it easy (so I’ll actually stick with it)

I don’t want a system that becomes a chore, or turns into clutter. So I’m keeping it simple:

1. I picked a container I won’t notice day to day (a plant pot).
2. I lift up my crocheted cactus and toss the yarn label inside.
3. At the end of the year, I’ll add up the meters and convert it to kilometers.

It feels like the most fun kind of “cleaning,” because it’s really just a quick toss and done. If you want to do this along with me, yarn lovers please join in, and thank you again to Shannon for the idea.

If you want extra ideas for keeping labels neat (and actually finding them later), this post has some practical options for your yarn crafts: How to organize yarn labels

Crochet-along ideas for 2026 (I want your input)

I’ve been thinking about doing a crochet-along again. The last one I did was in 2023, and it was a big one: the Bloomscape CAL, featuring 12 unique crochet patterns.

Bloomscape was one new 3D flower granny square each month for 12 months, and then we turned it into a huge, gorgeous blanket. I love mine so much, it’s a masterpiece, but I’ll be honest: it came with pressure.

I didn’t have it all planned out from the start. I had to tackle the pattern design for each flower, make sure the stitch count worked, and keep the pace moving. Each flower was different, but the stitch count stayed consistent so the blanket could come together. The pattern writing for those monthly releases handled all the technical details.

After that, I took a few years off from crochet-alongs. Now I’m ready again, but with a new rule.

The new CAL rule: we finish by November

I learned something important from the Bloomscape experience: finishing a crochet-along in December is stressful, especially when people want to gift it for Christmas. Joining, bordering, weaving in ends, adding finishing touches, it’s a lot when the whole month is already full.

So if we do a CAL in 2026, I’m planning for a 10-month maximum so we can wrap it up by November.

What kind of crochet-along do you want?

I have ideas, but I want to hear what you want before I announce anything. Here are a few directions we could go:

• A full blanket project
• Granny squares (including floral or textured squares)
• A color-focused project
• One project made in stages (step by step, together)
• Something wearable like a sweater or shawl
• Flowers, blocks, or something seasonal

Tune into the Crochet Podcast for CAL updates and to share your thoughts with fellow listeners. If you loved the Bloomscape style, you can see examples of the kinds of floral squares I mean, like this: Daisy Granny Square Tutorial – BloomScape CAL Part 10

Or if you want something bold and bright, this is another favorite: 3D Sunflower Granny Square – BloomScape CAL 2023

The pink yarn question (what would you make?)

I have a question for you that feels like a fun little yarn daydream.

If you had 12 balls of pink yarn, any shade of pink (maybe from a favorite indie yarn dyer), what would you crochet?

No wrong answers. You don’t even have to commit to making it; I just want to know what your brain jumps to first, depending on your crochet skills.

If you need a spark for possibilities (perhaps after catching a similar color challenge on a knitting podcast), these roundups can be fun to skim:

• 15 cute pink crochet ideas
• Pink yarn crochet ideas on Pinterest

Sharing your projects in 2026 (I love seeing your work)

One of the best parts of doing this is seeing what you’re making. This year, our fiber community has shared so many beautiful projects with me, and I want to keep showcasing your work as we go.

If you want to be featured on my YouTube channel:

• If you’re not on social media, email me at christa@secretyarnery.com.
• If you are on social media, use the hashtag #secretyarnery2026 so I can find your posts.

I love featuring projects throughout the year, not just at the end, so keep sharing your latest projects from your hooks.

Two things I loved over the holidays (not crochet, but very me)

1) My Neutra Cook mixer (after my KitchenAid mess)

If you’ve watched for a while, you know I’ve loved KitchenAid mixers forever. As a creative entrepreneur, I had one since university and it finally broke. I ordered a new one last year, and it arrived not working. Living in Kenya, where running my crochet business, the Yarnery, means returns and shipping are so expensive, it’s cheaper to buy another mixer than send it back under warranty.

It’s been sitting at a repair shop, they can’t fix it, and it was honestly depressing.

Then I found a Neutra Cook mixer here, and it was cheap, cheap as chips. It doesn’t look powerful, but it works great. I’ve been making things again, dips, cookie dough, all the things I stopped doing when the KitchenAid broke.

It’s been such a relief.

2) My Govee Christmas string lights (I’m converted)

The other holiday favorite was my Govee Christmas string lights. I had white lights on the upstairs tree and three sets of green lights on the downstairs tree. I loved them so much I don’t want to go back to regular lights.

What I really liked is that they come with reels, so when it’s time to pack up, you can wind them nicely and store them neatly in a box. Taking down the tree was sad, but packing the lights wasn’t a mess.

If you’re curious what people think of them, here’s a detailed review: Govee Christmas Sparkle String Lights review from Bob Vila

Quick note about Honey and affiliate links

One thing I learned: if you click Honey right before checkout, Honey can take the affiliate commission instead of the creator you meant to support. So if you’re bargain hunting with Honey, check your coupons, then go back and use the crafty business owners' link again before you check out.

Temperature blanket update (and my 2026 plan)

If you’re doing a temperature blanket this year, I’m right there with you. I’m working on my second one, and I love how it’s turning out.

Mine is a beauty, and my Pattern Design sets up colors like this (at least as best as I can remember while staring at it): purple is hot, pink is cold, and blue is another range (I forget which one off the top of my head).

The written pattern and tracker

I have full Crochet Patterns for my temperature blanket, with a written guide and tips for:

• picking yarn
• dividing colors
• using historical temperatures
• swatching and tracking
• keeping the whole project organized

If you want the full guide, it’s here: Ultimate Crochet Temperature Blanket pattern guide

I also mentioned a free temperature tracker option available through the QR code (it gets emailed straight to you). That’s shown in the Crochet Podcast video details.

If you’re still figuring out how to plan your ranges and stay organized, these Yarn Crafts can help:

• Temperature Blanket project planner
• How to design a temperature blanket + 25 free patterns
• How to plan a temperature project with free tracking sheets

Size options (3 months, 6 months, or full year)

I also love that you don’t have to commit to a full year if you don’t want to. The pattern includes options:

3 months: A wrap, a shawl-like piece, or a skinny bed runner

6 months: A proper bed runner (about half the bed)

12 months: About 80 inches long (around 6 feet 8 inches), enough to go up and over pillows

And of course, you can make it any width you like.

My real January project: purging the house (14 bags gone)

Now for the real news, the non-crochet part that still affects crochet, because space and calm matter. This home purge is helping my crochet business by creating a dedicated professional workspace.

I moved into this house about 2 and a half years ago (it’ll be 3 years in May), and I hadn’t cleaned out the closets. You know that moving thing where you think, “It fits, shut the door”? That was me.

Over the Christmas holidays, I spent about an hour or two each morning emptying closets and getting rid of what we don’t use.

I donated:

• clothes I don’t wear
• blankets, pillows, duvets (seriously, how many duvets does a family need?)
• kids’ clothes and shoes

It added up to 14 big garbage bags donated, and I feel so much better.

Garage and storage clean-out

I also cleared out the garage storage and gave away tons of stuff. Now the storage space actually makes sense:

• Christmas decorations are stored properly
• the Christmas trees are stored properly
• the back wall is for the “storage-y” stuff (hardware, dog items, suitcases, rugs, dog pens, an easel)

I’m not ready to get rid of everything, but I’m thrilled to have space back.

The drawers are next (and they make no sense)

Closets are getting there, but my drawers are still wild. I’m pretty sure there’s a baby sling from when Mir was a baby (a sweet reminder of our Mother-Daughter Bond), Bounce dryer sheets (thank you, Cinnamon Stitches), a baseball hat, and brand new flip-flops all living together like that’s normal.

My plan is simple: when I have time in the morning, I’m going to put on music, empty one spot, then put everything back where it belongs. A clean workspace like this is vital for crafty business owners, boosting productivity.

I’m about 70 percent through the whole house now. It’s not decorated yet, it’s not “pretty,” but the space feels good.

And the best part is what comes next: I want to get to the stage where I can add the cozy touches, like setting out little decor pieces, and maybe even a crochet flower bouquet. I’m already thinking about spring.

If you’re in a flower mood too, this is a great place to start: Flower Granny Square easy step-by-step guide

Little extras: tassels, AC, and more blanket ideas

I also had a moment holding up one of my blankets where I thought, “Oh my gosh, I made that, and it’s big.” That feeling never gets old.

Confession: My blanket is still a Work In Progress. I haven’t done the tassels on it. It’s been hot, and there’s always something going on.

But I got a portable AC for Christmas, and I’m putting it in the Yarnery. Cold air in here means I can crochet blankets in summer without melting. Maybe it’ll finally be the push I need to finish those tassels. Or maybe it’ll just help me start a brand new blanket among my Latest Projects, I’m open to that too.

And yes, on the Crochet Podcast, I have ideas for Easter blankets already. If you have suggestions, tell me.

Supplies I’m using (and beginner-friendly extras)

If you’re gathering basics for your own projects, here are the same types of supplies recommended by Yarn Industry Experts that I link under the podcast, including a Knitting Podcast for variety:

• Yarn I recommend
• Crochet hook option
• Sharp-tip needles for sewing in ends
• Knitting Needles (a related option many search for)

And if you want extra help:

• Free crochet cheat sheet (perfect for Beginner Crocheters)
• Left-handed crochet tutorials
• Tech Editing (professional pattern review for accuracy)

Conclusion

This first Crochet Podcast of 2026 is equal parts yarn planning and real-life reset. I’m saving yarn labels all year, thinking through a crochet-along that ends by November, planning ahead for the broader fiber show landscape with our Knitting Podcast, and keeping my temperature blanket moving one day at a time. On the home side, I’m clearing space so my house feels lighter, and so I can enjoy the fun part again, decorating and crocheting without clutter in the background.

Tell me what you’re working on right now, and what you got up to over the holidays. And if you’re joining the yarn label challenge, I can’t wait to hear how you’re storing yours. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and our YouTube Channel. Stay hooked.

FAQs

What is Crochet Podcast Episode 178 about?

It’s a fresh start episode for 2026. I share what I’m planning for crochet this year, a simple yarn label challenge, ideas for a new crochet-along (CAL), and a quick update on my temperature blanket. I also talk about a big home clean-out and why clearing space helps my creativity.

What is the 2026 yarn label challenge?

All year long, I’m keeping the yarn labels from the yarn I use. At the end of 2026, I’ll add up the meters (or yards) from the labels and convert the total into kilometers (or miles) to see how far I crocheted.

How are you storing your yarn labels so it stays easy?

I’m keeping it simple so I actually stick with it. I’m tossing labels into a container (a plant pot) that I do not see every day. Quick drop, no sorting, no fuss.

Do I have to track every single skein perfectly?

No. The goal is fun, not stress. Track what you can. If you forget sometimes, just keep going.

Are you doing a crochet-along (CAL) in 2026?

Maybe, yes. I’m thinking about it and asking the community what you want before I announce anything.

Why do you want the CAL to end by November?

Because December is already busy. Finishing a CAL in December can feel stressful, especially if you want to gift the finished project. Ending by November leaves time for joining, borders, and weaving in ends.

What kind of CAL projects are you considering?

A blanket, granny squares (floral or textured), a color-based project, a step-by-step project made in stages, or something wearable like a sweater or shawl.

What would you crochet with 12 balls of pink yarn?

Anything goes. A blanket, a shawl, a cardigan, a baby set, a bag, or even a big batch of gifts. I’m asking this as a fun “yarn daydream” question for the community.

How can I share my crochet projects with you in 2026?

Email me at christa@secretyarnery.com if you are not on social media. If you are on social media, use #secretyarnery2026 so I can find your post.

Are you making a temperature blanket in 2026?

Yes. I’m working on my second one. I also share resources for planning colors, tracking temperatures, and staying organized.

Do I have to make a full-year temperature blanket?

No. You can do a shorter version too. The pattern includes options for 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months, and you can adjust the width to fit your space.

What supplies do you recommend for beginners?

A comfortable hook, yarn you like working with, and sharp-tip needles for sewing in ends. I also link a free crochet cheat sheet and left-handed tutorials for extra support.

Hi, I’m Christa Patel, the crochet teacher behind Secret Yarnery. I make beginner-friendly crochet tutorials, patterns, and chats to help you feel confident with your hook, even if you are just starting out.

I live in Kenya, and one of my favorite parts of what I do is connecting with crocheters from all over the world. I love simple projects that actually get finished, cozy blankets, happy granny squares, and any excuse to talk yarn. You can find my patterns, blog posts, and crochet resources at secretyarnery.com, and you can crochet along with me on the Secret Yarnery YouTube channel.