Sara Ann O'Sullivan

Since getting back to the States—and especially while on vacation—I’ve finally had the chance to reconnect with crafting. Last month, during my vacation, I decided to revisit punch needling, a hobby I tried before but never quite mastered. I got a punch needle kit last Christmas, and was determined to like it. I’m not entirely sure what drew me to it in the first place—maybe it was all my family conversations about rug hooking.

Crafting runs in my family. We bake, knit, quilt, stamp cards—you name it. My sister is definitely more naturally crafty than I am, but we all have our thing. One of my favorite moments this past vacation was revisiting my grandmother’s card stamping room. It’s a space filled with inks, stamps, punches, and years of handmade love. There’s something incredibly special about homemade cards. Before I left Barbados, I counted every card and postcard I’d received—72 in total. Seventy-two moments of feeling the love from back home.

Punch needling partly appealed to me because it seemed simple. And it is—sort of. Like most crafts, the basics are straightforward. But turning that simplicity into something expressive or meaningful? That’s the art of it. Knitting, for example—once you’ve learned the purl stitch, you can technically knit. But knowing how to build from that into a sweater, a scarf, a piece of art? That’s where the magic (and the struggle) happens. Painting too—drawing a red circle with a stem gives you an apple. But giving it depth, giving it emotion, that’s the next level (That I am not quiet good at either yet lol)

The first time I tried punch needling, I struggled. Eventually, I did something I rarely do: I watched a YouTube tutorial. That video helped more than I am willing to admit. It wasn’t about brute force—it was more about tension and hand placement. I could finally understand those intermediate crafting books that used to scare me. Big shout-out to the creators who patiently teach their craft online—you truly make a difference!

Now, punch needling is something I can do anywhere: on planes, in the car, or while watching TV. And when I don’t feel like punch needling, I pick up my yarn and crochet. Sometimes, I even crochet during lectures—it helps me focus better, giving my hands something to do while my mind soaks in the words. Plus, crafting means I can make thoughtful gifts for the people I love.

I hope everyone finds a craft they love and get decently okay at it. It really does make life a little more colorful, a little more meaningful. Thanks for reading, and thank you for being on this adventure with me. I can’t wait to see where my crafting—of yarn and of words—takes us next.