Project Update: 28.04.2026

Hello Friends and Welcome Back!

Even though this is a Fibre Arts blog, it's been a few weeks since I've shared any stitching, so I think it's a good time for a new Project Update!

Throughout the move, I've done my best to keep piecing and experimenting!

Even working at a slower pace, I still have some new progress that I'm excited to share! Let's take a look!

Midnight Circus Sample Quilt

This quilt is a little hard to share an update on, since it still hasn't moved into the new house, which means I also haven't made any new progress since the move.

But before moving, I did find some time to add some new quilting along the background areas of the quilt borders!

Unfortunately, since I don't have the quilt with me, I don't have a new picture to share. But since all I've found time for is a little extra quilting, it looks pretty much the same from a distance!

Hopefully, once I've got the sewing studio up and running, and my machines have had a visit to the mechanic, I'll be able to get back to quilting again!

Midnight Circus is my own original design, by Valerie Anne of the Fibre Arts blog, and is currently running as a free quilt along.

Cherish Quilt

After we moved out of the old house, there were a few weeks that I spent without my sewing machine, so I decided to get back to working on some hand stitching!

The pattern I chose to work on is one I've been thinking about for a while, but which I haven't shared much about here on the blog, Cherish!

Cherish is another English paper pieced pattern by Jodi Godfrey of Tales of Cloth. I've made a few of her patterns in the past and have been excited to work on a new one!

For the fabric, I wanted to use some Wizard of Oz fabric from an old Quilting Treasures line that I bought on clearance back when I was in university.

I had some yardage in four different prints; the yellow brick road, the poppy field, blue sky with movie quotes and stills, and a border print! Unfortunately, I didn't think to take pictures of any of the fabric before I started cutting it up, whoops!

So far, I've begun cutting and basting fabric from those prints, and collecting some coordinating fabric to fill out the rest of the requirements for the pattern. I also plan to use scraps and remnants from my collection to add some variety!

My Cherish quilt is based on a pattern by Jodi Godfrey of Tales of Cloth.

Crochet Experiments

With most of my fabric packed away during the move, I was interested in learning a new skill!

When I was younger, my Grandma taught me how to knit, in fact, she tried several times to teach me. Around the same time, my Guide group learned about crochet. Though neither skill really stuck, I remember experiencing less frustration with crochet, so I thought I'd give it another try!

It's been over ten years since my last attempt, so I knew I would need a little help getting started, but I didn't have home internet at the time. Instead, I borrowed a book from the local library; Beginner's Guide to Crochet by Sarah Shrimpton!

I found that book really helpful in teaching the basic stitches, and made several swatches using acrylic yarn and the same plastic hook I originally got as a Guide!

With the basics figured out, I wanted to try making something a little more interesting, so I tracked down another library book!

What I took some time to realize is that the first book was written using English terminology, and the second using American. They use some of the same terms for different stitches, so it took a little adjusting to figure out what I was doing, but eventually I was able to dive in!

The second book I chose to work from was Granny Square Flair by Shelley Husband. It has patterns for 50 different Granny Square patterns, and I decided I wanted to try making every one of them!

So far, I've completed twelve different squares:

From left to right, top to bottom are Deco, Camellia, Salish, Happy Hexie, Ianthe, and Arafura!

And in the second picture; Crop Circles, Rosette, Clover, Berry Flower, Fhool, and Corona!

With those blocks finished, I'm working on the next square; Dahlia!

I've learned so much about crochet from this first handful of Granny Squares and I can't wait to continue learning! And once I've finished all the patterns in this book, I'm looking forward to seeing what I else I can make!

My Granny Squares are based on a variety of patterns designed by Shelley Husband.

Friends, I've had a so much fun slowing down with some hand work and branching out into new forms of Fibre Arts!

If you have any tips for me as I explore crochet, I'd love to hear them! Please share those in the comments below, or by sending me an email!

Or, if you're interested in keeping up with my progress between blog posts, feel free to visit me in Instagram!

Next week, I'll be sharing the final update of the Midnight Circus quilt along, so be sure to join me again then!

Until Next Time, Keep Creating!

~VA