Slow and Steady Cuteness: Meet the Baby Turtles

It’s been a few years since I last stitched up a set of my baby turtles, so this week felt a little bit like catching up with old friends. There’s something comforting about returning to a pattern you haven’t touched in ages — the familiar rhythm of the stitches, the little quirks you’d forgotten about, and that moment when the shape finally starts to look like a turtle again. It was a lovely reacquainting.

This pair was extra special because they weren’t destined for a toy shelf or a nursery this time. Instead, they’re heading straight for the Christmas tree. Their new owner asked if they could become ornaments, so I added a little loop to the top of each turtle’s head. Suddenly these tiny watermelon‑coloured cuties transformed into the sweetest festive decorations. I love when a small tweak gives a pattern a whole new purpose.

They worked up quickly too — the kind of project you can happily finish over the course of a couple of Netflix docos. (Honestly, I think these turtles now associate themselves with true‑crime narrators and dramatic reenactments.)

Once they were finished, I had a bit of fun with their launch photos. I played around with AI backgrounds and placed them in a couple of different “habitats” — nestled in a Christmas tree, and then sunning themselves at the beach. Both felt fitting in their own way. The tree shots were adorable, but the beach ones made me laugh… two tiny watermelon turtles living their best summer holiday life.

There’s something about their colours — that juicy watermelon shell with the soft green and pink tones — that makes them especially charming. They’re small, sweet, and full of personality, and it was such a joy to bring them to life again.

A gentle reminder that sometimes the simplest makes are the ones that spark the most delight. And these two definitely did.