Our Story

From Childhood Memories to Cherished Fibres:
A Little About Me and My Yarn Journey

Welcome to Cherished Fibres! I’m so happy to have you here visiting my little online yarn shop.

My name is Angela Wu, and I live in Toronto, Canada, with my husband and our two boys. My older son, Oliver, is only five years old, but he already knows how much his mama loves knitting and crochet. He always compliments my handmade creations and has even promised to buy me lots of yarn for my birthday when he grows up!

My yarn journey began long before I ever imagined opening a shop. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of sitting next to my nanny, “Mumu,” and watching her knit. Mumu lived just a block away from us. My sisters and I spent countless after-school afternoons and weekends at her apartment. She would sit with her knitting while telling us stories and sharing funny things that happened around our neighbourhood.

One activity I particularly enjoyed was stretching a large hank of yarn across my arms while Mumu wound it into balls. Back then, she knitted sweaters seamlessly using a set of four long, slender bamboo double-pointed needles. I was completely mesmerized watching her turn the work round and round, rocking the needles swiftly in and out as the sweater slowly grew, stitch by stitch, with the yarn flicking fluidly over her fingers. I begged her to teach me, and eventually I learned the backward-loop cast-on and the knit stitch using scrap yarn.

Mumu kept a drawer filled with fine wools inside her wardrobe cabinet. They were protected with mothballs, and we were not allowed to touch them with dirty hands. Those precious skeins were reserved for making the family’s “Sunday best” garments. I still remember the pride and joy on her husband’s and son’s faces when they tried on newly finished sweaters. Even as a child, I learned that garments made with yarns that we kept with care were expressions of love and appreciation for the people closest to us.

My yarn journey continued after moving to Canada when I was fourteen. On the very first day we moved into our first home, I discovered a crochet hook left behind in one of the kitchen drawers by the previous owner. My mom knew how to crochet, so the following weekend she took my sisters and me to Walmart, where we picked up dishcloth cotton, a few more crochet hooks, and a beginner’s crochet booklet. Learning to crochet reignited my love for yarn crafts, and I haven’t stopped since.

During high school, I mostly made small projects like placemats, scarves, and hats. Just as my nanny had done, I tried to source the best materials I could afford as a teenager — usually classic worsted wool for accessories and cotton thread for small home décor projects. I always saved the leftovers to practice new stitches and techniques.

In my first year of university, I began knitting garments. After examining my very first sweater, my mom suggested that I should knit at a tighter gauge. At the time, I insisted that I had met pattern gauge. It was only after knitting many more sweaters that I finally understood her perspective. My mom grew up during a time of scarcity, and her mindset was shaped by the importance of making things last. She wanted my handknits to be durable, more resistant to pilling, and able to hold their shape through seasons of washing and wearing. Looking back, it was such a humble and thoughtful approach to sustainability and conservation.

Both my nanny and my mom shaped my philosophy toward handmade items, and they inspired the creation of my own brand, Cherished Fibres, which focuses on sourcing yarns spun from high quality, minimally processed natural fibres. They also influenced my appreciation for fine craftsmanship and my approach to designing and making knitwear with both comfort and longevity in mind.

Knitting and crochet are more than just hobbies to me. They are my way of slowing down, creating with intention, and reconnecting with the warmth and peace I remember from childhood. Whether you knit, crochet, weave, or simply love beautiful fibres, I truly hope you’ll find something here that inspires you to cast on your next project.

Thank you so much for supporting my small business and for being part of this journey with me.

Warm wishes,
Angela Wu
May 2026