Going Round in Circles with Herma de Ruiter

On 20th April 2020, a few weeks into the first Covid-19 lockdown, life-long quilter Herma de Ruiter started stitching squares as a way of staying sane in the strange new world we all found ourselves in. Slowly, these self-help squares developed into a textile art project titled Going Round in Circles which she shared online, along with video tutorials to help people make their own. 

Going Round in Circles square by Herma de Ruiter

Almost three years later, Going Round in Circles is still going strong - it even has its own Facebook group. "The ingredients are simple - scraps of fabric, thread, and buttons," Herma explains, "and with this material  I create small squares that are held together with circular stitching. They can be used as small pieces of art or joined together to make quilts, cushions, boxes, bags, needlebooks and tiny quilted hugs to give to someone who needs a hug." 

Japanese Box and Small Hug by Herma de Ruiter

Going Round in Circles Bag and Needlebook by Herma de Ruiter

Herma will be exhibiting some of her Going Round in Circles work at Quilt Festival Noord Groningen in June 2023. Showing alongside smaller pieces and her fabulous 'lockdown bras' (made as a way to make herself and other people laugh and forget the stress of the pandemic for a moment), will be 25 spectacular panels made from the 365 squares she created in the first year of the project. 

A Day at the Seaside Lockdown Bra by Herma de Ruiter

Going Round in Circles panel by Herma de Ruiter

Why not come and see them on our holiday to Quilt Festival Noord Groningen, which also includes a fascinating hands-on workshop with Herma? Find out more here