studio
knits
notes
studio
knits
notes
shop
pinterest
About
Shop
Videos
Explore
Creativity
KIUKIU
Life Plan
Study
Guides
Planning System
– Hobonichi Techo
– Traveler’s Notebook
Knitter’s Life
Archives
🇰🇷
Korean
connect
studio
knits
notes
studio
knits
notes
shop
pinterest
✖
search
Search for:
✖
About
Archives
🇰🇷
Korean
Shop
Videos
Explore
Creativity
KIUKIU
Life Plan
Study
Guides
Planning System
– Hobonichi Techo
– Traveler’s Notebook
Knitter’s Life
Month:
December 2024
Find What You're Looking For
Search for:
5 results
Go Back
Modifying My Crochet Granny Square Cardigan for a Perfect Fit
...Continuing my Granny Square Cardigan Journey: If you missed the beginning, check out my first post here. I’ve been working on creating a crochet granny square cardigan, and it’s been quite the journey! From adjusting the granny square cardigan pattern to figuring out how to adjust crochet cardigan size, I’ve learned so much along the […]
JHIA vs. TKGA: Which Knitting Certification Is Right for You?
...As the world of knitting grows, so do the options for formalizing one’s skills and gaining professional recognition. Two leading knitting certification programs stand out in this field: The Japan Handicraft Instructors Association (JHIA) in Japan and The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) in the United States. Both programs have distinct approaches to developing knitting expertise, […]
Brain Dump Technique: Simple Steps to Organize Thoughts
...If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a constant stream of thoughts, tasks, or ideas, the brain dump technique could be the answer you need. I started exploring the brain dump technique after feeling overwhelmed by the growing list of tasks both at work and home. It turned out to be a simple yet powerful way to […]
JHIA Knitting Certification: Is It Right for You?
...I first looked into the Japan Handicraft Instructors Association (JHIA) Knitting Certification after struggling to teach myself crochet through YouTube. When I started knitting—especially with garments in mind—I wanted a more structured way to build my skills. Many of the patterns I admired were from Japanese designers, so learning their techniques felt like the right […]
What to Expect on JLPT Exam Day: My Experience & Helpful Tips
...On December 1st, I took the JLPT N1, marking a significant milestone in my Japanese language learning journey. It was both challenging and enlightening, and I’m excited to share my experiences with you. In this post, I’ll discuss what to expect from the JLPT exam based on my personal experience, along with practical tips to […]
Recent Posts:
04/27
KIUKIU
Sourdough Journal for Home Bakers: Track Starter, Levain, and Bake in One Place
...Cutting back on flour sounded manageable until bread became the problem. I could swap noodles more easily, but finding the kind of bread I actually liked was harder than I expected. I love sourdough and ciabatta, and after struggling to remember what worked, what failed, and what my starter was even doing from one bake […]
04/22
Study
Best JLPT Study Materials for Beginners: What Actually Worked from N5 to N3
...Best JLPT study materials are something a lot of learners end up searching for sooner or later, usually after realizing that there are far more options than expected. Once you start looking, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by long recommendation lists that don’t really explain when certain books are useful or why they worked for […]
04/20
Creativity
Creative Hobbies for Stress Relief I Keep Coming Back To
...There is something deeply comforting about keeping my hands busy. Over the years, I have tried many different hobbies, but when I look back, most of the ones that truly stayed with me were hands-on hobbies. They were the kinds of creative hobbies for stress relief that gave me something to focus on when life […]
04/13
KIUKIU
Kids Activity Planner for Parents: A Summer Schedule for Better Home Days
...This year’s spring break felt a little harder before it even started. We already had car maintenance scheduled that week, which meant I would not be able to drive my child around much. Since we would be spending more time at home than usual, I wanted a better way to plan our days. I did […]
04/06
Creativity
Pilot Fountain Pen Review: Is Pilot Writive Perfect for Fine Line Lovers?
...When I started looking for a new pilot fountain pen, I was not simply shopping for another pen. I had a specific goal in mind: I wanted a fountain pen that could work well for fine lines and eventually for drawing. I already love the Platinum Preppy and still think it is one of the […]
03/30
Creativity
Printable Knitting Journal: For Knitters Who Want to Keep Every Project
...A printable knitting journal can be a lovely way to keep your projects together when scattered notes and half-remembered details no longer feel like enough. I still like using digital tools, and I do keep knitting records in Notion too, but I wanted something that felt a little different from a database. I wanted pages […]
03/23
Creativity
Nail Art Planner: Printable Nail Design Template + Color Swatch Sheets
...Nail art planner PDFs are everywhere, but I still couldn’t find one that matched how I actually plan sets—especially when I want to keep my ideas, swatches, and notes in one place. I’m a long-time gel nail hobbyist, and I love keeping records: designs I liked, color combinations I want to try, what I used […]
03/18
Creativity
Lantern Moon Knitting Needles Review: Ebony Wood in Real Use
...Lantern Moon knitting needles review—this is one I’ve been meaning to write since I actually started knitting with them. These are my second wooden needles after CarryC, and my first time using ebony wood. I was drawn in by the dark, elegant look, but once they were in my hands, I wanted to see how […]
03/16
Life Plan
Best 3 Hobonichi Weeks Layout Ideas for Busy Weeks
...In 2026, life felt heavier than usual. Family responsibilities increased, unexpected situations popped up, and there were weeks when my mental energy felt thin. At the same time, there were still appointments to manage, household tasks to run, workouts to squeeze in, and study goals I didn’t want to abandon. I realized my usual Hobonichi […]
03/09
Creativity
Best Pens for Hobonichi That Don’t Smudge on Tomoe River Paper
...If you’ve ever searched for the best pens for Hobonichi, you already know this isn’t a simple question. Hobonichi planners use Tomoe River paper — thin, smooth, beautiful… and completely unforgiving when it comes to ink. Some pens glide like a dream but smear for minutes. Others dry fast but feel scratchy. And if you […]
03/02
Life Plan
Hobonichi Weeks vs Weeks Mega: Who Really Needs Mega?
...When people search Hobonichi Weeks vs Weeks Mega, what they’re really asking is this: do I actually need 240 extra pages, or am I about to carry unnecessary bulk for an entire year? I’ve used both formats—Weeks Mega in 2024 and the regular Weeks in 2026—and the difference turned out to be less about specifications […]
02/23
Life Plan
Hobonichi Planner for Busy Moms That Actually Works
...Are you a busy mom who needs a better way to organize your life? Not a prettier planner. Not a complicated productivity system. Just something that helps you manage appointments, school notices, meal planning, and the invisible mental load that never seems to disappear. If you’re searching for a Hobonichi planner for busy moms, you’ve […]
02/19
Creativity
Affordable Knitting Needles from Temu for Sleeves and Socks
...Short knitting needles, especially short interchangeable circulars—often called shorties—are one of those tools that many knitters are curious about but hesitate to buy. I was in exactly that spot when I decided to try an affordable short knitting needle set from Temu and test it on a real project: the sleeves of my Nia Sweater. […]
02/16
Life Plan
How to Declutter a Closet When It Feels Too Overwhelming to Start
...I’ve written about decluttering before—general tips about a year and a half ago, and a more detailed post on reorganizing my skincare products last year. Both came from wanting less visual noise and fewer things to manage. But one space I kept avoiding was my closet. Life got busy. Clothes piled up, bags stayed tucked […]
02/12
Creativity
DIY Yarn Sample Cards: An Easy Way to Keep Track of Your Yarn
...As your yarn stash grows, it gets harder to remember what you already have. The ball band disappears, the project you bought it for is long finished, and all that’s left is a vague memory of how the yarn felt. You might remember that it was soft, or that it had good stitch definition, but […]
02/09
Creativity
Everything I Knit in 2025: 15 Projects and Lessons Learned
...When I look back at everything I knit in 2025, what I remember most isn’t how many pieces I completed, but how often I paused to adjust, rethink, and change course. This was the year I fully returned to knitting needles, learned to be more flexible with patterns, and found a comfortable rhythm between knitting […]
02/02
Life Plan
No Flour Diet While Traveling: How I Maintain It Without Quitting
...As we were getting ready for our last family trip of 2025, I found myself worrying about something I thought I had mostly moved past—cravings for flour-heavy foods. After weeks of intentionally cutting back, those constant urges had finally started to quiet down, and I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen once travel disrupted […]
01/26
Creativity
Knitting a Balaclava with Aran Yarn: A Cozy Korean-Fit Winter Project
...Balaclavas are funny projects. They look simple enough that you might think you already know how they’ll turn out, but once you actually start wearing one, the details suddenly matter much more than expected. How dense the stitches feel, how heavy the piece becomes, and even how the ties behave can make the difference between […]
01/19
Creativity
Uni-ball One P Refill Compatibility: The Best Gel Pen Setup with Signo
...Do you have a pen you feel oddly attached to — the one you reach for whether you’re journaling, making lists, sketching, or traveling? For me, that used to be my Pentel EnerGel pen in 0.38mm. I relied on Pentel refills for almost three years because they were familiar and always worked well. Then I […]
01/12
Study
Is JLPT Worth It? My Honest Reflection One Year After Passing N1
...The JLPT season rolled around again recently, and as always, my feed filled up with reactions — “Was the listening okay?”, “Reading felt impossible!”, “Why was the grammar so tricky this year?” And right alongside those reactions, I saw the same question pop up from people who are still deciding whether to start studying: “Is […]
Stay Connected
studio
knits
notes
studio
knits
notes
shop
pinterest
Trending Posts
02/17
Life Plan
🌟
Best Hobonichi Weeks Layout Ideas for Your Needs
...The Hobonichi Weeks planner is a versatile tool that allows users to create customized layouts based on their needs. Whether you are balancing work and personal tasks, managing your time efficiently, tracking habits, or focusing on mental wellness, the right Hobonichi Weeks layout can make a significant difference. After using Hobonichi Weeks for a couple […]
02/03
Study
🌟
JLPT Test Results: How I Passed JLPT N1
...The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is a major milestone for many learners of Japanese worldwide, and the December session each year offers a critical chance to demonstrate advanced language skills. It also became a personal milestone for me, marking the end of months of juggling full-time work and structured study sessions. I took the […]
Popular Videos
➜ see more
Browse By Keywords
journaling guide
knitting & crochet
video included
hobonichi techo
stationery review
productivity tips
japanese language learning
jlpt study tips
mental health & balance
traveler's notebooks
