From the Couch: 11 Things I Loved and Did in Q2 2025

Including 2 affordable summer outfit staples (and 1 that isn't worth it)

Hi, friends.

This is my quarterly From the Couch post, in which I deviate a bit from my focus on books to pretend we’re hanging out on my couch. If we were, I’d undoubtedly talk your ear off about all the random things I’ve loved and done lately. None of it’s sponsored content; it’s just the stuff I’d talk your ear off about if we got together in person.

While I’ve still got a pretty wide variety of things to talk about this time, as you’ll see, yarn played a big role in my life over the past three months. In case you missed it, I’m a lifelong crocheter teaching myself to knit so that I can make Christmas stockings in the style of my late great-grandmother; I’ve got giant shoes to fill, and I’m honored to become the one who makes these heirlooms for my family. I’m almost done with a solid-colored practice stocking in some scrap orange and blue yarn — it’s been an adventure of trying to learn the stitches, follow the pattern, and puzzle out (and document) the ways she deviated from that pattern. Next, I’ll find a small project that will help me learn intarsia, the colorwork technique this pattern requires. Then it will be time to get started on the (already lengthy) list of stockings needed for recent spouses and babies (including mine!). Oh, plus the handful of crochet projects I have planned….

Anyway, on to the things I loved and did!

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A few summer staples I’m now obsessed with (and one you can pass on)

The perfect affordable solid t-shirt…

I work from home full-time, which means I’m constantly looking for clothes that are comfortable and lounge-worthy but still give me the feeling of getting dressed. Thus, I have been hunting for the perfect solid t-shirt for what feels like years. I wanted one I could get in many colors, dress up or dress down, layer all year long, and put through the wash after wearing over and over again. Oh, and I didn’t want to pay $50 or $60 just for a t-shirt?!

Reader, I found it. And it’s only $22.95.

It’s this L.L. Bean Tee, and I now own it in five colors. I’m wearing one of them in the photo above, and another in the photo below. The fabric is the perfect weight, soft and stretchy but with just the right amount of substance and structure. It comes out of the wash looking exactly the same as I first tried it on; same shape, seams lying flat, no ironing or steaming required (who is out here steaming t-shirts?).

And because I’m not here to gatekeep good t-shirt intel, here’s one you can pass on: this organic cotton V-neck from Pact. I bought three because you save 20% that way, but I wish I hadn’t. After one wash, the seams were all rolled up and wrinkly and the shape was gone. It’s soft and comfy, but it definitely feels closer to pajamas.

…and the perfect linen shorts to go with them

On the other hand, here’s something I bought in three colors that I’m utterly delighted with: these high-waisted linen shorts from Old Navy. I am also wearing them in the photo above (and as I type this!). The length is perfect, the thigh gobbling is minimal, the elastic waist is comfortable, and they come out of the wash in pretty darn good shape.

And they’re on sale for $15 today?!? Run, don’t walk!

Speaking of shorts that don’t get gobbled

This one is for my fellow runners. I tried a few different pairs of flowy running shorts last month in search of some that will stay down and help prevent chafing, and after a few duds, I fell in love with Oiselle’s high-rise long Roga shorts. Oiselle is a by women, for women running apparel brand I love anyway (their sports bras are my favorite I’ve ever owned), so I’m not surprised by this. They have tons of pockets and also come in regular-rise and shorter inseam versions. They are also on sale for 30% off right now, so if you’re in the market, do it do it do it!

Allllll the yarn and knitting things

My local yarn store

It’s called Oliver’s Originals, and it’s like, a quarter-mile away from me. I could literally walk there if the road outside my neighborhood wasn’t so busy. The woman who owns it is so nice and helpful; I’ve already gone in just to pick her brain on the Christmas stocking project at least twice, and she’s equipped me with a few essential pieces of gear, like rubber stitch holders and a blocking board. They also do “open stitch” nights twice a week where anyone can come spend time in their community room just working on their WIP. How lucky we are to have places like this in our communities. Do you have a local yarn store?

A yarn tension ring

This little guy has been a lifesaver (er, hand saver) over the past few months. You slip the yarn around the ring to help keep your tension even without having to curl your fingers around it for hours. This seller on Etsy has soooo many options; I got the sterling silver leaves because my skin is sensitive to metals with nickel, and it’s been great.

KnitCompanion

What a revelation to discover that there’s an app out there that’s tailored perfectly to your favorite hobby. To be clear, I’m late to the party here; I first heard about knitCompanion while browsing VeryPink Knits YouTube channel (her videos have helped me through every question I’ve had on this knitting journey — thanks

Kelly Marble

for the rec!), and that playlist was started 5 years ago.

So far I’ve mainly used the highlight bar to keep track of where I am in a crochet pattern, but that’s ALREADY a game-changer. Once I start making these Christmas stockings with intricate intarsia charts (personalized with family members’ names, no less), it’s going to become invaluable.

Two very cute projects

In Q2, between Christmas stocking sessions, I crocheted a baby blanket for a friend who’s due next month and stuffed letters spelling out REMI, the name of a cousin’s daughter who turned one year old, in colors matching her bedroom.

One of the best gifts I’ve ever received

Once, I made an offhand comment to my sister about how I couldn’t believe that I was having trouble finding prints for sale on Etsy pairing asters and goldenrod together, given that they play such a prominent role in Braiding Sweetgrass, which is such a well-known and beloved book. Quietly, months later, she commissioned custom paintings from our artist cousin as a birthday gift. 😭

I received these in Q1, but I finally hung them in Q2, and they’re absolutely perfect.

Oats Overnight

I was influenced to try this brand of convenient overnight oats packets by Chelsea at

The Eclectic Reader

. Y’all, I love them. They’re super convenient and suuuuuper tasty. I’ve been particularly drawn to their baked good flavors like french toast, blueberry muffin, etc. They’re the perfect thing to scarf down post-run for some protein recovery (I mix them in soy milk) or to get me through a busy lunch hour at work. This isn’t sponsored, but they do have a regular referral program — if you’re interested, you can use my link to get $20 off.

A stay at the Library Hotel

In early May, I had a company retreat on Long Island, and I tacked on one extra night in NYC on the way home to see Jordan Fisher in Moulin Rouge on Broadway with a few friends (we LOVE Jordan Fisher). I decided to stay at the Library Hotel, a literary-themed hotel located only a block or two away from the NYPL’s flagship location, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

It was DELIGHTFUL. The rooftop bar served fun book-themed cocktails, all the rooms are named and numbered with the Dewey Decimal System, and of course there are books everywhere. Here’s a photo roundup I posted on Instagram, ICYMI:

deedireads

A post shared by @deedireads

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As always, thanks for sharing your corner of the internet with me! It would mean a lot if you were to take a second to like this post. I’d love to hear about something you’ve loved lately in the comments, too.

Finally, if you like this newsletter, please send a few friends my way.

Until next time!

— Deedi (she/her)