Do you have a favorite instrumental soundtrack?

I ask because I'm working on a new book about fiber art (to be published in 2024) and to write it, I've found that instrumental soundtracks really help me focus. At the top of my list is The Hours composed by Philip Glass. Do you have an instrumental soundtrack that you love? Just reply to this email and let me know! I welcome all recommendations.

ICYMI: this little fox was the most clicked link in the last newsletter.

👇 Scroll down for crochet jack o' lanterns, animated embroidery, and where to find old Project Runway clips on TikTok.

​

​

​

Admittedly, I don't have a lot of time to try new crafts (I wish I did), but something I've enjoyed learning in 2022 is needle felting. Artist Niki Dionne first captured my attention with her oil pastel drawings, but she also creates portraits using the needle felting technique. Here, I love how she's able to imbue the piece such detail—that sweater!—while keeping the essence of her drawing style.

​

​

​

I mentioned that I was writing a book, and it will feature a variety of fiber artists—including the great Hillary Waters Fayle. If you aren't familiar with her work, she forages for leaves and embroiders atop them, sometimes joining them together as she did in these two pieces. The detail she's able to achieve on top of leaves never ceases to impress me.

​

​

​

​

It's been hard to get into the spooky season spirit here in Seattle. By the end of September and beginning of October, I expect there to be more rain. But, it's been nothing but sunny and warm here. Looking at Lindsay Swearingen's work, however, always puts me in the mood for Halloween. She recreated the Addams Family in cross stitch and placed the portraits inside of this house frame.

Lindsay is the author of Creepy Cross Stitch.

​

​

More Fiber Art

🧶 Adeline Wang created a crochet cardigan that looks super cozy—like you're wearing a big blanket.

🎃 Rock this dress and you'll sure look festive for Halloween!

👻 Needle-felted ghosts aren't just for October. Rachel of Needle Ghost has created them for all sorts of occasions.

🖼 Display your stitching in a different way when you stretch it over a canvas panel. This DIY from Lolli & Grace shows you how.

🦖 This animated embroidery recreates the Dino Run game you see (sometimes) on Google sometimes. (IYKYK)

✂️ Early Project Runway was appointment TV for me and my friends. This TikTok shares clips from it, and it's so good. I think about "cry and cut" a lot.

🌲 I love how the use of two embroidery hoops creates a hidden forest in the composition.

🐶 I shared some of the pet portraits I stitched this summer on my blog.

​

Stitch for Yourself

🍁 Earlier this week, I updated my growing list of fall-inspired embroidery patterns. Here are 36 to stitch, including a few needle minders, too!

🎃 Why carve your own jack 'o lantern when you can crochet it?

🪡 I gave away a set of overalls and I've come to regret it. Luckily, the Meadow Overalls pattern exists.

🧶 Want to make a cozy cardigan like Adeline? Little Golden Nook create the pattern she used, and here is a cardigan geared towards beginner crocheters.

🕸 Stitch the Gardener's Thread pattern to "celebrate nature's creepiness." It's part of M Creative J's pattern club!

🍄 Mushrooms two ways: as amigurumi crochet and thread painting embroidery patterns.

🪦 And here's more thread painting, this time on a grassy gravestone.