Moogly update spotlights crochet-along blocks, shawl progress, alphabet resources

A catch-up that feels like a real crochet desk drawer

Tamara Kelly’s latest Moogly update works because it gives you something to make, something to learn, and something to plug into. With 24 CAL designers, a finished shawl already in rotation, and live community events on the calendar, it reads like the kind of crochet bulletin you actually save.

The shawl on her shoulders is not just a pretty prop

One of the first things Kelly points to is the Odds Are Shawl, which she says she is wearing in the update. That matters because this is not a random finished object, it is a one-skein wrap that started life as a January 2025 Moogly crochet-along and was originally released in four parts. The pattern is sized for real wear, too, with a finished measurement of about 44 inches long by 29 inches wide at its maximum.

That combination is why the shawl still lands. It has the appeal of a fast, self-contained project, but it also has enough fabric to feel like a true wrap instead of a token accessory. For crocheters who like visible payoff without committing to a blanket-sized slog, that is a strong sell.

MooglyCAL2026 is moving into the kind of rhythm people can follow

The other big anchor in the update is MooglyCAL2026 Block 10, which was published on May 14, 2026. This square is the Luscious Lattice Square by Justina of Polly Plum, and it fits neatly into the larger structure Moogly has built around the project: a year-long crochet-along made up of 24 afghan squares or blocks from 24 professional crochet designers.

That scale is the story here. A CAL with 24 separate designer contributions gives makers plenty of room to drop in for a single block or stay with the full year, and Moogly says the series itself started in 2014. That long runway is part of the appeal, because it turns the CAL into a familiar annual habit rather than a one-off release.

The yarn list says this CAL is meant to be practical, not precious

Kelly also calls out the yarns being used in the 2026 project: Brava Worsted, Swish Worsted, Jimmy Beans Wool Beanstalk, Berroco Vintage, and MadTosh Vintage. That is the kind of detail that tells you the project is built around approachable worsted-weight choices, not a single hard-to-find signature skein.

For everyday crocheters, that matters more than hype. A CAL becomes more usable when the yarn options feel familiar and workable across budgets, stash levels, and color preferences. It also makes the finished squares easier to mix and match, which is exactly what you want in a block project that is meant to hold together over a full year.

The alphabet resources are the quiet utility piece in the mix

Alongside the pattern news, the update points readers toward refreshed uppercase and lowercase crochet alphabet resources. That is the sort of practical content that rarely gets the same attention as a new square, but it is often what people come back for when they are trying to personalize a blanket, make signage, or build a name project without winging it.

Kelly also highlights a how-to about cutting off the sides of crochet rows, which is the kind of shaping help that can save a project from looking lumpy or improvised. Put that next to the alphabet pages and you get a clear signal: this update is not just about finished objects, it is about solving the little construction problems that come up while you are making them.

The roundup also includes a spiral-bound Tunisian stitch dictionary giveaway and a Thread + Maple telescopic tool case giveaway. Those additions reinforce the same point, because both are the sort of tools and references that matter once your crochet habits move beyond casual browsing and into daily making.

The community side is doing as much work as the patterns

The social pull of the update is just as concrete. Kelly points readers to Stitch With Us, a free virtual stitch circle scheduled for Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM CDT. The format is simple: conversation, crafty show-and-tell, and a nudge to bring a work in progress. That is exactly the kind of low-pressure event that makes crocheters more likely to show up, because it offers company without requiring a polished finish.

She also flags the Biggest Little Getaway with Jimmy Beans Wool, set for June 17 through 21, 2026, at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. It is billed as an all-inclusive event for knitting, crocheting, and learning, which gives it a different energy from a quick online hangout. Together, the two events show the range of what the Moogly audience is being invited into, from a one-hour stitch circle to a multi-day retreat.

Why this update sticks

What makes this Moogly catch-up useful is that it keeps all the moving parts in view at once: the Odds Are Shawl on Kelly’s shoulders, the Luscious Lattice Square in the CAL, the yarn lineup, the alphabet tools, and the live community events. It feels like a working crochet table rather than a polished showroom, and that is why it holds attention.

The best crochet updates do not just announce something new. They show you what is already in motion, what is worth copying, and what is worth joining next.