Small Wins I’m Celebrating This Week (and Why They Matter)
As April wraps up, I reckon this has been my most productive month since starting the Wear The Quiet project.
At the start of the month, I set one clear goal: learn to embroider.
That meant pouring most of my energy into understanding my machine, getting comfortable with its operation, and building a daily practice around it. I only skipped days when I was away — and honestly, while the wins might seem small on the surface, each one represents a major leap for someone who had never touched an embroidery machine before (not even a single-needle!).
Here are the highlights from this past week — and why they matter:
1. Replaced threads on the Halo X (and it wasn’t as scary as I thought!)
I had been dreading the idea of replacing threads — it felt complicated in my mind. But once I got started, it wasn’t nearly as intimidating. Even when the thread broke midway, I simply followed the Echidna Sewing tutorial and rethreaded it from the top without panic.
Why it matters: I learned that most of the fear was in my head — and now, replacing threads feels like just another manageable step instead of a roadblock.
2. Completed a tension test with my new threads.
After carefully balancing the bobbin and upper thread tensions on the original setup, I made the decision to swap out most of the threads for colours that better suit future projects. That meant starting over with a whole new round of tension tests.
Why it matters: Even though the process was long and detailed, I noticed I could troubleshoot much faster this time. It proved that real skills are building beneath the surface, even when progress feels slow.
3. Made my very first Instagram post for Wear The Quiet (huge emotional milestone!).
I originally planned to delay posting on social media until June. But after seeing early progress with my embroidery, I felt encouraged to start sooner. On April 22nd, I finally shared my first Instagram post — and have set a goal to post weekly for now.
Why it matters: Starting before I felt "ready" showed me that momentum builds confidence, not the other way around. This small act shifted Wear The Quiet from an idea into something real and shareable.
4. Prepped my Mother’s Day gifts for final embroidery.
After lots of back-and-forth on designs, thread colours, and tension testing, I finally sampled the embroidery files onto test jumpers — and the results made me so proud. Everything’s now ready to embroider on the final gift jumpers for my mum and sisters.
Why it matters: This will be the very first time my embroidered pieces are worn first by people I love. It’s not just a ‘gift’ — it’s the beginning of a new chapter in my creative journey, bringing a brand new craft (embroidery!) to life.
5. Decided to learn digitising with Embrilliance.
I’ve officially committed to learning digitising by purchasing Embrilliance Essentials. I see digitising not just as a way to expand Wear The Quiet, but as a skill that could eventually help other businesses too.
Why it matters: Investing in this skill means investing in my long-term creative freedom — and planting seeds for future possibilities I can’t even fully see yet.
I wouldn’t say I’ve “mastered” embroidery (yet!), but I’m feeling much more confident operating the machine day-to-day. There’s still so much to learn — and that’s part of the excitement. I know I’m definitely on the right track.
What’s one small win you’re celebrating this week? I’d love to hear!