Back After 4 Months - Health Struggles, a New Book, and Beginner Knitting & Crochet Patterns Ahead

Originally published on July 6, 2026

Hello my dearest yarn friends,

If you've been visiting this little corner of the internet over the past few months and found nothing new, I want you to know – I haven't forgotten you. Not for a single day. I've been thinking about you while I was away, imagining you sitting with your knitting or crochet, maybe with a cup of tea, wondering where I had gone. And that thought has stayed with me.

I know it's been quiet here. Four months of silence is a long time – an entire season. And I've missed you more than I can say.

Before I explain anything, let me first say this: thank you. Thank you for not leaving. Thank you for still visiting this little corner of the internet, even when I disappeared. Many of you still come here every month – and that humbles me deeply. You are the reason I keep going, and I hope you know how grateful I am.

But I owe you an honest explanation for my silence. You deserve that. Not a vague "I was busy" or "taking a break," but a real, account of what happened. Because this blog has always been about honesty, about sharing not just patterns and tutorials but also the messy, beautiful, sometimes painful reality of life.

What Really Happened - The Hard Part (And Why I Couldn't Even Knit)

These last few months? Honestly, they were harder than I expected. It wasn't just the usual tiredness or stress we all deal with. This time it was different. It affected the very tools I use every day: my hands and my feet.

My doctor said it's called peripheral edema. Basically, fluid builds up and everything swells. Not fun.

At first, I noticed my hands felt tight in the mornings. Just uncomfortable, nothing too special. Then my fingers started looking puffy, like little sausages. I told myself it was just the heat. Or maybe I had too much salt. But it didn't go away. It just kept getting worse.

My hands felt heavy, tight, and sensitive. Holding knitting needles or a crochet hook became painful. Even writing by hand hurt, every letter was a small effort. And my feet? They swelled so much that standing or walking for long was uncomfortable. My favorite slippers didn't fit anymore. I couldn't even enjoy a simple walk in the park.

For someone who loves knitting or walking, this was devastating. I couldn't create the crafts I had planned. I couldn't test the best yarn for project that I had ordered. I couldn't even make simple handmade gift ideas for my family. The projects I had dreamed of sat untouched in my basket.

I visited my doctor, then a specialist. There were blood tests, ultrasound scans, endless waiting rooms. The diagnosis wasn't anything life-threatening, thank goodness, but it was stubborn. Fluid retention caused by a combination of hormonal changes, medication side effects, and stress. The treatment? Diuretics, dietary changes, rest, and, hardest of all for a crafter like me, giving my hands a break.

At first, I thought it would pass. A week or two of taking it easy, and I'd be back to my yarn stash, planning my next project. But it didn't get better on its own. The swelling came and went, but the pain lingered. I couldn't knit. I couldn't crochet. I couldn't even write properly.

And if I'm being completely honest, I didn't want to. The pain made me avoid the very thing that usually brings me peace. For someone who has always found healing in yarn, that was a strange and lonely feeling. I would look at my basket of half-finished projects and feel a mix of guilt and sadness. The skeins of soft merino wool that I usually caressed like treasures now felt like reminders of what I had lost.

I cried. More than once. I felt frustrated, angry, and honestly, a little sorry for myself. I kept wondering why this was happening to me, of all people, I'm just someone who loves creating beautiful things with yarn and sharing them with all of you.

After several doctor visits, a change in medication, and some strict self-care, the swelling finally began to go down. The pain eased. And slowly, I started to feel like myself again. I picked up my knitting needles for the first time in weeks, just a simple swatch in garter stitch, and it felt like coming home.

A Dream I Had Pushed Away - And How It Became a Book

During those painful weeks, I had a lot of time to think. When you can't use your hands to create, your mind becomes very busy. And one thought kept coming back, over and over: I have never fulfilled my dream of writing a book.

You see, when I was in school, I always loved writing stories. Our German teacher would take my exercise book, go to the teacher’s room and pass it around so all the other teachers could read my stories. My homeroom teacher told me, again and again, that I should become a writer. She believed in me. She saw something in my words that I couldn't see in myself.

But life doesn't always go the way you plan. I grew up, got a family and needed a job to actually make money. My husband got very sick and almost died. He is still very sick and struggles every day, especially in this heat wave. And somewhere along the way, I started believing that I wasn't good enough. That my writing wasn't special. That nobody would want to read what I had to say. Or did I actually ever believe in myself in the first place? That I don’t know.

So I pushed that dream aside. Year after year. I told myself that being a blogger was enough. That I didn't have time. That I wasn't a "real" author. That the world already has so many books.

But after my health scare, after realizing how quickly things can change, how fragile our bodies and our time really are, I thought to myself: Life is too unpredictable and too short to keep pushing things away because of fear. What if I never tried? What if I waited until it was too late? What if I reached the end of my life and regretted not even attempting the one thing my heart had always whispered about?

So I made a decision. A bold, scary, wonderful decision. I would put my blog on pause for a little while, and I would write that book.

Introducing: Dark Moon Book 1 – A Fantasy Born from Moonlight

I have always believed that the stories we love share something with the projects we knit. A scarf isn't just a scarf, it's a journey of loops, patience and love. A book isn't just a book, it's a world built thread by thread, moonrise by moonrise, and when you make a mistake you unravel the book back to the point and start over.

So it should come as no surprise that my first novel is a fantasy. A dark moon fantasy. It's called "Chronica Lunae' Dark Moon (Book 1), and it's the story of a child born under a forbidden moon, a mother's desperate flight through a marsh, and the ancient magic that has been waiting for a thousand years to be awakened.

Here's a little taste of the book:

The story follows a girl named Serrina, born with silver blood and violet eyes, whose very first breath heals her mother's twisted leg. Hunted by the Kings of the Iron Crown and their terrifying Gatherers, she finds her way to a hidden temple guarded by an ancient priest and the ghosts of his ancestors. Along the way, she befriends wolves, heals a dragon, and discovers that the prophecy she carries is not about destruction, it is about remaking the world with love.

If you love rich world-building, found family, quiet courage, and stories where the light fights back against overwhelming darkness, this book is for you.

Dark Moon Book 1

What's Next for Yarn Enchantment? Easy Crochet Patterns, Beginner Knitting Tips, and Cozy Winter Crafts

I am back. And I plan to stay.

I have so many tutorials still waiting to be written, I've been thinking about easy patterns, taking notes, and dreaming about all the things I want to share with you.

I also doubted myself a lot about the blog itself, because let's be honest there are already so many good bloggers out there. I have always questioned myself: Am I good enough? Maybe not for everybody. But even if no one comments, I know there must be at least one person who I can help. And that's why it is worth it. Never give up. Never doubt yourself. Even if the sky is full of stars, I always have the chance to shine if I just believe in myself.

I want to share new yarn reviews, more beginner-friendly patterns, and keep this space a quiet, kind place where we can learn and create together. I'm planning a whole series of cozy winter crafts and handmade gift ideas that you can finish quickly.

No pressure. No rush. Just us, some yarn, and honest stories.

So please forgive my long silence. I hope you understand. I hope you know that I never left you by choice, I was just finding my way back to myself. And now I'm here, with a book in one hand and knitting needles in the other, ready to continue this beautiful journey with you.

Let's Hear from You – What Dreams Are You Putting Off?

If you've read this far, thank you. Truly. I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. How are you doing? What have you been making while I was away? And maybe more importantly, what dreams have you been putting off? What would you do if you weren't afraid?

Let's encourage each other. Let's be brave together. Because life is too short to leave your dreams waiting in a drawer.

With all my warmth and gratitude,

Sarah 🧶