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Making Stitches Podcast

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A podcast celebrating creative crafts and inspiring makers.

by Lindsay Weston

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Making Stitches Podcast

About Making Stitches Podcast

A podcast celebrating creative crafts and inspiring makers.

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Episodes

New episodes usually come out every two weeks.123 episodes
  1. Nov 6, 2026 · 28 min

    Behind the scenes at Wool Warehouse with Charlotte Hancock

    If you're anything like me, there's a good chance you will have spent some time browsing for new craft supplies online - perhaps looking for new yarn for your next project or to add to your ever-growing stash. But have you ever stopped to wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a large craft business when you click buy? What actually goes on behind the scenes? How do you keep track of all the colours and brands,…

  2. Oct 23, 2026 · 34 min

    From Woven Textiles to Knitting an Heirloom Blanket with Annah O'Leary of Needle & Feather

    Hello and welcome to Making Stitches Podcast! This time, my guest is Annah O'Leary from Needle and Feather, a colourwork knitting designer. Annah has led a very creative life, studying woven textiles at university, working in poduct design and then teaching, before knitting took over. When Annah first tried knitting, she found it frustrating and just didn't 'get it', however during a period of time when she was…

  3. Oct 9, 2026 · 51 min

    YARNDALE 2026: A Festival of Yarn & Woolly Creativity

    It's 10 years since I first visited Yarndale and thanks to me living a lot closer to Skipton now than I did back then, I am lucky enough to be able to visit each year. Last month, I made my sixth visit Skipton Auction Mart for this brilliant event celebrating all things yarn and creativity. As is now the tradition, I took my microphone with me to capture some of the atmosphere and to give myself the excuse to chat…

  4. Sep 25, 2026 · 33 min

    From Doctor Who to stress-relief knitting with Alice O'Connell

    Hello and welcome to Making Stitches Podcast, my guest this time is Anglo-Irish former TV and Theatre actor, now knitting teacher, Alice O'Connell. Knitting first came into Alice's life when she was sitting around waiting to be called onto set and soon changed her life. We spoke about times when it's been incredibly important to her, including when she first became a Mum for the first time, and during her…

  5. Sep 5, 2026 · 34 min

    The Healing Power of Crochet with Sam Sabido

    Hello and welcome to a brand new series of Making Stitches Podcast! My guest for this first episode is crochet designer and teacher Sam Sabido. Sam first learned to crochet after being gifted crochet lessons around 15 years ago. At the time, she was having a tricky time and hoped crochet would give her a creative outlet and some time to concentrate on her own wellbeing. Little did she know back then what an impact…

Earlier episodes (118)
  1. Jul 18, 2026 CARRY ON CRAFTING 2026: A Weekend of Crafting, Camping & Fun
    This time last weekend, Carry on Crafting celebrated its 5th birthday. The festival, based at Ardingley Showground in Sussex, played host to craft stalls, workshops, vintage stands, tasty food, music and fun. Last March, I spoke to the festival's founder, Justine Robson on this podcast (for episode number 94. At the time, she invited me along to the festival - over a year later, I got there! It was everything I…
  2. Jul 3, 2026 Sheep, Actually: A Film About Wool & a Sheep Named Cow with filmmaker Paul Wyatt
    In this episode of the Making Stitches Podcast, I'm joined by documentary filmmaker Paul Wyatt, director of the beautiful documentary film Sheep, Actually. Although this conversation is a little different from my usual chats with makers, it explores something at the very heart of many of our crafts: wool. Paul's documentary asks us to look beyond the skein and back to its origins, exploring the connections between…
  3. Jun 19, 2026 Reconnecting with your imagination with textile artist, Murron Fraser
    In this episode, I'm delighted to be joined by contemporary textile artist Murron Fraser. Based in Manchester, Murron's work is inspired by nature, folklore and storytelling, creating richly layered textile pieces that invite us to look more closely at the hidden wonders of the natural world. Through a combination of machine embroidery, printmaking, and mixed media techniques, she creates artworks that are full of…
  4. Jun 5, 2026 Connection, Confidence & Community with Melissa Santiago-Val from Sew Positive
    Hello, and welcome to Making Stitches Podcast! This time, I'm delighted to be joined by Melissa Santiago-Val founder and CEO of Sew Positive. What began during the pandemic as a community effort making face masks to raise money for NHS charities has grown into an inspiring charity using sewing, mending and up cycling to support peoples' mental health and wellbeing. In our chat, Melissa shares her own creative…
  5. May 22, 2026 Stitching History: Inside the Knitting and Crochet Guild Collection
    Upstairs in an historic industrial building in the centre of the West Yorkshire town of Slaithwaite is a vast collection of handmade items, tools and publications charting the history of knitting and crochet in the UK. The Knitting and Crochet Guild Collection was started in 1991 and is cared for by a team of dedicated volunteers. Hidden away in this fascinating archive is an extraordinary collection of handmade…
  6. May 8, 2026 Pattern challenges, THAT paper dress and life after Sewing Bee with Kit Giroux
    This time on Making Stitches Podcast, I’m joined by Kit Giroux, semi-finalist from the 2025 series of The Great British Sewing Bee. In our chat, Kit talks about their sewing journey, from first learning as a child to rediscovering a love of making a year or so before appearing on national television. We also chat about what it was really like to take part in series 11 of The Great British Sewing Bee. Kit shares…
  7. Apr 24, 2026 Yarn, Fibre & Community with Gareth from Manchester Wool & Yarn
    I'm taking you out on the road with me today to Stockport to visit a fabulous yarn shop, Manchester Wool & Yarn. The shop celebrated its 2nd birthday earlier this year and is owed and run by Gareth, a passionate maker and supporter of the yarn community. Stocked with familiar brands and products from independent yarn dyers based across the North West of England, it's a positive treasure trove of colour, squishyness…
  8. Apr 10, 2026 From London 2012 to Peru: Anna Nikipirowicz's fabulous yarn adventure
    My guest for this episode of Making Stitches Podcast is the wonderful Anna Nikipirowicz. Anna first learned to knit and crochet as a child in Poland, but she says she found it boring - luckily for us, as an adult she found a new passion for both crafts and is passionate about sharing her love and knowledge of them. Anna has published a series of books on crochet techniques, embroidery onto crochet, Tunisian crochet…
  9. Mar 27, 2026 TexStyle Festival 2026: A weekend of community, colour & creativity
    Two weeks ago, the first ever TexStyle Festival threw open its doors at Manchester Central. It was an amazing weekend of creativity, community and lots and lots of chatting! It was the idea of the mother and daughter team behind the Buxton, Cumbria & Stafford Wool Gatherings, (Michelle Greaves and her Mum, Carole) to create a bigger show encompassing other textile and fibre crafts in their home town of Manchester.…
  10. Mar 13, 2026 Granny Squares Galore! With Katy Mitchell from Kate's Crochet Creations
    Katy Mitchell is the crochet designer behind Kate's Crochet Creations, known for her vibrant granny square patterns and beautifully themed blanket designs. Her work celebrates colour, creativity and the joy of crochet, her patterns inspire crocheters of all skill levels. I was thrilled to be able to chat to her about how her hobby turned into a full-time job. Katy's work has been featured in magazines, she is a…
  11. Jan 2, 2026 EPISODE 100 - From Postcard from Gibraltar to Making Stitches
    Hello and welcome to the 100th episode of Making Stitches Podcast. Way back in April of 2020 when I published my first ever Making Stitches Podcast episode, I had no idea that over 5 years later, I would be publishing episode 100! That blows my tiny mind! In the months leading up to this milestone, I had a couple of conversations with my lovely yarny friend, Christine Perry (aka Winwick Mum) and she suggested…
  12. Dec 19, 2025 Happy Stitchmas 2025!
    Hello there and Happy Stitchmas! It's that time of year again when I take a look back at the past 12 months and choose some of the highlights of my podcasting year. 2025 has been a big year for me, I celebrated 10 years of blogging (Postcard from Gibraltar and then Making Stitches Blog) and 5 years of Making Stitches Podcast. In this episode I share some of the chats I have had this year and you may have heard…
  13. Dec 5, 2025 From an Amigurumi Pig to Crocheted Patchwork with Anita Gibney from Made by Anita
    In this episode of Making Stitches Podcast I chat to Anita Gibney — the designer behind Made by Anita and the author of the brand-new book; Patchwork Granny Square Blankets. Known for her beautiful crochet blanket deisgns, Anita has become an ambassador for Stylecraft Yarns and has just published her first book. We chat about how her love of crochet began, the inspiration behind her quilt-inspired granny-square…
  14. Nov 28, 2025 Merry Crochet Makes with Justine Robson & Nicky Ward - BONUS EPISODE
    December starts next week which means we are officially on the countdown to Christmas, but there's still time to make a few Christmas gifts for special people or some decorations for your home. In this special 'Bonus Episode' I'm sharing a chat I had with Justine from Little Box of Crochet and Nicky Ward from A Heart Shaped Cherry. Followers of Little Box of Crochet will know that 2025 has been a difficult year for…
  15. Nov 21, 2025 Quilts, Blogs, Podcasts & Live Shows with Kat Molesworth
    My guest for this episode of Making Stitches Podcast is Kat Molesworth, the creative force behind the Blogtacular Podcast & Festival. With Blogtacular, Kat helped countless creatives and bloggers find their voice and their community online. These days, Kat's work means she's serving another creative community, working for Immediate Live, on the Knit & Stitch Show, the Stitch Festival & the Festival of Quilts. Kat…
  16. Nov 9, 2025 TexStyle: Looking ahead to a new festival for 2026 with Michelle Greaves
    Welcome to Making Stitches Podcast! In this episode I share a chat I've had with Michelle Greaves, one half of the team behind the brand new TexStyle festival which is coming to Manchester next year. Michelle and her Mum, Carole, have been hosting yarn festivals for a number of years including the Buxton, Cumbria and Stafford Wool Gatherings, next year, they are hosting a much bigger event spanning all sorts of…
  17. Oct 24, 2025 All Things Amigurumi with Amy Ting from Curious Papaya
    My guest for this episode of Making Stitches Podcast is Amy Ting, a crochet designer from the US who specialises in amigurumi. Amy is a passionate advocate for the Japanese technique of crocheting in the round to create soft toys. She has been crocheting amigurumi creatures for 7 years and shares her work online on her website: https://curiouspapaya.com/ and on social media too…
  18. Oct 10, 2025 YARNDALE 2025 : Celebrating Yarn & Community
    On the weekend of 27th & 28th September, Skipton Auction Mart was again transformed into Yarndale. The festival of all things creative brings stall holders and crafts people from far and wide to share their love of their creative passions. While knitting and crochet take centre stage with every imaginable colour and type of yarn, there are many other crafts to enjoy, including embroidery, sewing, spinning, felting,…
  19. Sep 26, 2025 THE RED DRESS with Kirstie Macleod
    The Red Dress, recently recognised by the Guiness World Records as the largest collaborative embroidery project, is a truly stunning piece of work. It was created by Kirstie Macleod, a British artist, over a period of 14 years with the help of 380 different embroiderers. The dress is made of 87 silk panels which have been embroidered by people from 51 different countries and includes techniques passed down through…
  20. Sep 12, 2025 World Stitch Day 2025
    Back on 1st June this summer, the Woven in Kirklees Festival kicked off with World Stitch Day at Oakwell Hall in Batley. Among the attractions of stalls from local community groups, textile artists, workshops and an interactive fabric 'Time Machine' was The Red Dress on display in West Yorkshire for the first time. The Red Dress is an award winning collaborative embroidery project which was conceived by the British…
  21. Aug 29, 2025 LET'S CELEBRATE with Eleonora Tully from Coastal Crochet & a look ahead to Series 10
    Hello and welcome to the first episode in this new series of podcasts from Making Stitches. This time, I'm sharing a chat with my crochet friend Eleonora Tully from Coastal Crochet. Eleonora and I have both celebrated a special blog birthday this year. It's 10 years since we both began our blogging adventure. While there's no doubt that Eleonora's blogging and designing has taken her to extraordinary places…
  22. Jun 13, 2025 PASSIONATE ABOUT PUNCH NEEDLE with Micah Clasper-Torch
    When Micah Clasper-Torch first designed a coat using fabric which had been embellished with punch needlework, her passion was born. Moving from the intense world of fashion design in New York to a more laid back lifestyle in California, Micah embraced the craft of punch needle and ran with it. Her passion for the craft is infectious, so much so that she launched Punch Needle World, a platform to celebrate the art,…
  23. May 30, 2025 Looking Ahead to 'Woven from Kirklees' with Nat Walton
    The 'Woven in Kirklees' textiles festival first launched in 2019 and is due to kick off for its 2025 edition this weekend. The community festival celebrates all kinds of textiles and related crafts with yarn bombs, textile art exhibitions, workshops and talks. The biennial festival runs for a whole month and this year will have 130 different events happening throughout June. Initiated in 2019 by Kirklees Council,…
  24. May 23, 2025 From Sewing Wedding Dresses to Crocheting a Turner Prize Winning Doily with Rachael Mills
    When Rachael Mills took up crochet as a means to giving up smoking, little did she realise that it would one day lead to her making a Turner Prize winning doily! Last year, when the Glaswegian artist Jasleen Kaur was named the winner of the Turner Prize, crocheter Racheal was celebrating at home in Blackburn. I was thrilled when she agreed to come onto the podcast to share her side of this amazing story. Rachael's…
  25. May 9, 2025 Celebrating 10 years of the Winwick Mum Sockalong with Christine Perry
    My guest for this episode is my yarny friend, Christine Perry, who first made an appearance on the podcast back in 2021. Since chatting back then, we have become friends and when I heard that she was gearing up to a big milestone in her sock-knitting journey, I asked her if she would like to come back onto the podcast and chat about it. Last weekend, on Saturday 3rd May, Christine celebrated a whole decade of…
  26. Apr 25, 2025 Spreading Joy Online with Sara & Sean from Crochet in the Glen
    When I first approached Sara from Crochet in the Glen and asked if she would like to be a guest on Making Stitches Podcast, she couldn't understand why I'd want to speak to her. Like many (thousands) of other people who follow her Instagram account I'd enjoyed seeing her posts from her home on the picturesque Cowal Peninsula on the West Coast of Scotland - not just for the scenery, or her beautiful crochet…
  27. Apr 11, 2025 The Gift of Crochet with Marianne Rawlins aka MazCrochets
    For so many of us, crochet (or any craft) is as gift which offers mental release, a chance to focus on something away from the day-to-day worries of life and that creative spark so many of us need. When Marianne Rawlins was working part-time whilst raising her very small children, crochet arrived in her life. It gave her a creative outlet and ultimately an additional career, as her hobby developed into writing and…
  28. Mar 28, 2025 Carry On Crafting with Justine Robson
    After dreaming about a craft festival one night, Justine Robson woke up and decided she should arrange one. Two months later, she’d booked the venue (the South of England show ground) and ten months later Carry on Crafting opened its doors for the first time. This summer sees the fourth edition of the summer craft festival and with over 600 people camping (tickets to camp sold out in a week) a huge range of craft…
  29. Mar 14, 2025 MENOPAUSE MAKES with Jenni Smith & Kay Walsh
    My guests for this episode are a pair of friends who met at a tap dancing class and went on to become creative business partners. They have been sewing for more than 30 years, many of which were spent working together in their sewing studio in Ilkley in Yorkshire. Since Covid, their classes in sewing and quilting have gone from in person, on a local level, to online and a world-wide audience. They say their mission…
  30. Feb 28, 2025 Talking Colour, Yarn, Sound & Knitting with Felix Ford from KNITSONIK
    It’s so good to be back with you bringing another series of Making Stitches Podcast to your ears! My guest for this episode is Felicity aka Felix Ford, an artist who works in colour, sound and yarn. I first heard about Felix’s work when a mutual friend contacted me and suggested she might be a good guest for the podcast – she was right! Before our chat which features in this episode, Felix asked to send me a couple…
  31. Dec 20, 2024 MAKING STITCHES 2024 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
    Hello and welcome to the Making Stitches 2024 Christmas Special! As always at this time of year, I'm taking a look back at some of the year's highlights for Making Stitches. Included in this year's extravaganza is Tansy Forster from The Longest Yarn, author and academic Barbara Burman, Emma Varnam, Dr Gemma McKenzie from Threads of Protest, Heather Gibbs from Keep Calm And Crochet On, Lisa & Lynda-Rose from The…
  32. Nov 8, 2024 Learning Lessons from History with Becky Davies-Downes
    Thank you for joining me for the 80th episode of Making Stitches Podcast! This time I'm sharing a chat I had with Becky Davies-Downes from William and Tilda, who, after almost two decades working in TV & film costume departments, is now sewing beautiful bags and other accessories inspired by 1940s wartime Britain. I first bumped into Becky in September this year at the Yarndale Festival. There, she spoke to me…
  33. Oct 25, 2024 A FARESHARE FESTIVE FEAST
    This time on Making Stitches, I'm doing something a little bit different. I want to speak to you about food poverty, especially in my home city of Manchester and how I need your help to try to making things a bit easier for those who are finding it tough. As the weather gets colder and we head towards winter, the terrible decision between heating and eating affects many people. FareShare Greater Manchester is a…
  34. Oct 11, 2024 YARNDALE 2024
    Hello and welcome to the latest episode of Making Stitches - back after a longer than anticipated break! This time, I'm sharing a bumper episode featuring lots of creative chats with some of the lovely people I met at this year's Yarndale festival in Skipton two weeks ago. You will hear from: Zoe Coates from British WoolEleonora from Coastal CrochetLindsey from Curate Crochet Box and Lottie & AlbertCathy from Dear…
  35. Aug 16, 2024 THREADS OF PROTEST with Dr Gemma McKenzie
    My guest for this episode of Making Stitches Podcast has a background in law and human rights and a passion for crochet too. Dr Gemma McKenzie is a researcher in the Midwifery Department at King's College London specialising in maternity rights and obstetric abuse. She has decided that in order to raise awareness about her work in the field of maternity rights, she is going use crochet (and knitting) to help her.…
  36. Aug 2, 2024 CREATING A DIGITAL YARN COMMUNITY with Jane Abraham, The Cornish Knitter
    When my guest on today's episode was about to leave a career in London for a quieter pace of life on the Cornish coast, one of her first concerns was where she would be able to buy yarn from. Fast forward a few years and Jane Abraham not only has her own yarn shop, she hosts creative retreats, has her own You Tube channel and has built an online community for crafters 'of a certain age' - the Cornish Flock. Jane's…
  37. Jul 19, 2024 Finishing a Creative Legacy with Jen Simonic from the Loose Ends Project
    One of the unexpected things many people experience when they lose a loved one and have to sort through their posessions, can be unfinished craft projects. Maybe the person who has died was partway through making a baby blanket for a new family member, a quilt for a forthcoming wedding or simply a pair of socks or jumper for a loved one. If there's someone within the family with the skills and ability to finish…
  38. Jul 5, 2024 Finding Joy in Making with Emma Varnam
    This time on Making Stitches Podcast, I'm thrilled to be sharing a chat I had with knitting & crochet designer, Emma Varnam. To date, Emma has written 13 books filled with inspiring designs for your home and to gift, from granny square homewares to adorable cuddly toys and crocheted pot plants! Emma is also a regular columnist for Inside Crochet magazine where she shares her passion for crochet and creativity. It…
  39. Jun 21, 2024 Selling Your Makes on Etsy with Claire Reed
    For some of us makers, there's the desire to take our creativity beyond something which is purely a hobby. Whether we opt to teach our craft to others, design patterns or sell finished items at craft fairs or online, there are many ways to potentially make money from making. In this episode, I looked at Etsy as a platform for selling creative makes with Claire Reed, an Etsy mentor who guides handmade business…
  40. Jun 7, 2024 THE LONGEST YARN: Commemorating D-Day in Yarn
    Yesterday marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. Along with the military commemorations, there was a very special one created in yarn, by hundreds of knitters & crocheters around the globe - The Longest Yarn. Tansy Forster, who has lived in Normandy for over 20 years, was inspired by the Post Box toppers she saw when she traveled to visit Arundel, in southern England. She thought she would…
  41. May 24, 2024 Creativity for Mental Health : a Dive into the Making Stitches Podcast Archives
    Hello, I’m thrilled to be back with another series of episodes of Making Stitches Podcast. This time I’m doing something a bit different, instead of launching the new series with a new interview, I’ve taken a dive into the archives. Since I last spoke to you, Making Stitches celebrated its 4th birthday (which I think is pretty decent in podcasting) so I thought I’d indulge in a look back at some of the voices which…
  42. Mar 15, 2024 A Decade of Keeping Calm and Crocheting On with Heather Gibbs
    Ten years ago, Heather Gibbs was looking for an outlet for her crochet creativity and set up her blog; Keep Calm and Crochet On UK. Little did she know that her blog would be going from strength to strength a whole decade later, but that she would also end up working with a selection of different crochet magazines and yarn companies as well. In this latest episode of Making Stitches Podcast, I chatted to Heather…
  43. Mar 1, 2024 WHY SEWING MATTERS with Barbara Burman
    Hello and welcome to Making Stitches Podcast! My guest for this episode is the historian and writer, Barbara Burman, whose latest book is 'The Point of the Needle - Why Sewing Matters'. Barbara, a retired academic from the University of Southampton and the University of the Arts, spent more than 40 years teaching and researching the history of dress and textiles. In her latest book, Barbara takes an in-depth look…
  44. Feb 16, 2024 Spinning, Weaving and Niddy-Noddies with Cathy Wright from Lazy Kate Textiles
    Welcome to the first episode of Making Stitches in 2024! Sorry for the longer than anticipated break. This is the first of the final three episodes in series seven. This time, I’m sharing a chat I had late last year with Cathy Wright from Lazy Kate Textiles. Cathy’s a spinner and weaver sharing her love of creativity by teaching these heritage crafts to anyone who wants to learn. Based in Liverpool, Cathy sells the…
  45. Dec 22, 2023 MAKING STITCHES 2023 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
    Hello there and welcome to the Making Stitches Podcast 2023 Christmas Special. Join me for a selection box of treats looking back at the past 12 months in my podcast world. You can hear from guests including Dr Mia Hobbs from the 'Why I Knit' Podcast on the mental health benefits of being creative, Dr Fran Darlington-Pollock from the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity about their yarny Christmas appeal this year…
  46. Dec 8, 2023 LOVING THE LANGUAGE OF CROCHET with Jane Czaja
    Jane Czaja has been trying to spread the love of crochet for decades, from teaching beginners groups back in the 1980s to running a crochet and chat group in her local library now! Jane has always been a maker, and since her retirement from computer programming and lecturing students about it, she has turned her attention to crochet full time. You can find Jane's name in the credits of crochet books, through her…
  47. Nov 24, 2023 Deck the Halls with the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity
    This time on Making Stitches Podcast, I want to share a great initiative which is happening in my home city of Manchester. Homelessness is a problem all year round in towns and cities across the world, not just here in the UK and it's a complex problem to solve. Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity was set up after our Mayor, Andy Burnham was elected. He chose to donate a percentage of his monthly wage to combatting…
  48. Nov 10, 2023 THE GREAT NORTHERN TEXTILE SHOW 2023
    Hello and welcome to this latest episode of Making Stitches Podcast where I'm taking you out on the road with me to the second Great Northern Textile Show which happened a couple of weeks ago in Manchester. You'll hear from a selection of traders who brought their products to sell to visitors, several crafts guilds and three hugely talented textile artists who were invited to exhibit their work. In this episode I…
  49. Oct 27, 2023 Black Sheep Wools at 40 & looking ahead to the Great Northern Textile Show 2023
    Back in July, Black Sheep Wools, the largest independent yarn shop in the UK celebrated its 40th birthday. Friends of Black Sheep Wools were invited to join in with a two-day-long birthday party at the Craft Barn in Culcheth, Warrington. I went along to join the festivities and this episode shares a little bit of what went on. You can find the Black Sheep Wools website here, they are also on Instagram and Facebook.…
  50. Oct 13, 2023 KNITTING IS THERAPEUTIC with Dr Mia Hobbs
    When clinical psychologist, Dr Mia Hobbs, was studying at university, her mother suggested taking up knitting would be a great antidote for intensive study. Mia took her Mum's advice and started knitting a shawl which grew gradually as she worked. From then on, knitting became an important activity for Mia and over time crossed over into her work with colleagues and patients both within the NHS and private…
  51. Sep 29, 2023 From Food Styling to Sewing with Jen Rich
    Hello and welcome back to Making Stitches Podcast, it's so good to be back with you. I had to take and extended break from podcasting due to a lot of 'stuff' going on, but I'm thrilled to be back with you now with the first episode of Series 7! My guest this time is Jen Rich, a food stylist & photographer who bought her first sewing machine back in the days of Covid lockdown. Just three years on from teaching…
  52. Sep 15, 2023 MAKING STITCHES PODCAST SERIES 7 TRAILER
    Hello! Making Stitches is coming back very soon for a 7th series. Among my guests in the coming weeks will be food stylist & photographer turned sewing designer Jen Rich to talk about her new book aimed at beginners and established sewists alike, I'll take you along to the Black Sheep Wools 40th birthday weekend and clinical psychologist and knitter, Dr Mia Hobbs from Why I Knit Podcast will be speaking to me about…
  53. Jul 7, 2023 TAPESTRY CROCHET with CATHERINE CROCHETS
    Way back in December 2022 I promised you this episode of Making Stitches with crochet designer Catherine from Catherine Crochets. Unfortunately, life rather got in the way of those plans, so now, six months later than originally promised is the final episode of the current series of Making Stitches. Catherine got hooked on crochet while expecting her second child and since then, her passion for tapestry crochet has…
  54. Dec 30, 2022 2022 CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR SPECIAL PART 2 : REVIEW OF THE YEAR
    It's that time again, as 2022 draws to a close, I'm taking you on a romp through this year's Making Stitches back catalogue with a few of my highlights. You can hear from Figen Murray, Amanda Bloom from Cosy Life Boxes, Rafael Alcaide from Amoami, Beth Gillions, Conservation Officer at the People's History Museum, Eleonora Tulley from Coastal Crochet, highlights from the first Great Northern Textile Show, Leah…
  55. Dec 23, 2022 2022 CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR SPECIAL PART 1 : OLD FRIENDS
    In this, the first of two Christmas and New Year specials this year, I catch up with a few old friends of the podcast: Lisa & Lynda-Rose from The Crochet Sanctuary (my first ever guests on Making Stitches) and Christine Perry, otherwise known as Winwick Mum, who first appeared back in Episode 31). We look back at what's been happening in the worlds of The Crochet Sanctuary and sock knitting in 2022 as well as their…
  56. Dec 20, 2022 Stand With Ukraine Art Quilts Auction with Olesya Lebedenko
    We first met Olesya Lebedenko on the podcast back in March. Olesya is a Ukrainian textile artist who designs the most beautiful art quilts. She moved to Canada with her family back in 2014 and since then has become a Bernina ambassador as well as a regular on the quilt show circuit in Canada and the United States. In our last chat, in Episode 41, Olesya spoke about the evolution of her craft from making rag dolls…
  57. Dec 9, 2022 THE POWER OF SEWING with Clare Hunter & Michelle Edwards
    This time on Making Stitches, I'm sharing a couple of chats I had recently with authors who have written about sewing and the power it gives, from offering respite and hope in the hardest of situations and a voice to those who have had theirs silenced and the simple ability to fix a hole in your clothes. Clare Hunter has worked with textiles for many years, working as a community artist, exhibition curator and…
  58. Nov 25, 2022 Sewing to Save the Planet with Stitched Up!
    Disposable fast fashion is a huge cause of pollution and damage to the environment, but one community benefit society in Manchester has been doing its bit to help for the past decade. Stitched Up! which is now based in Stretford Mall in Greater Manchester has been rescuing unwanted fabric and teaching sewing skills in a bid to help people get more out of their clothes and slow down the damage being done to the…
  59. Nov 11, 2022 Amoami: A Symbol of Crochet Resistance with Rafael Alcaide
    A chance experience at an airport back in March left its mark on Rafael Alcaide. On returning home to Madrid, Rafael saw a large group of Ukrainian women and children who had just arrived from fleeing the invasion in their homeland. Wanting to do something to help, Rafael turned to his friend Rita, a crochet designer, and together they came up with a design for a small amigurumi bear which has become a symbol of…
  60. Oct 28, 2022 THE GREAT NORTHERN TEXTILE SHOW 2022
    Last Sunday, the first ever Great Northern Textile Show opened its doors to the public, welcoming crafters to mingle with artists and craftspeople from a wide range of disciplines and enjoy a celebration of creativity. The event was Tracy Fox's idea - my guest for the previous episode of Making Stitches - as an artist, print maker and dyer of fabric herself, she felt there was a gap in the market for a show…
  61. Oct 14, 2022 FROM RUSTY METAL TO WORKS OF ART with Tracy Fox ~ Dyer, Print Maker & Artist
    There are many strings to Tracy Fox's bow, she describes herself as a dyer, print maker and artist creating the most beautiful art fabrics in her home studio in Manchester. She also uses her fabric to make stunning art quilts and has exhibited her work and sold her cloth at various craft shows over the years. It was at one of those shows, the Nantwich Quilters Exhibition and Fabric Sale, that she was approached to…
  62. Sep 30, 2022 YARNDALE 2022 : A Festival of Yarn & Friendship
    It hardly seems a year ago that I last followed the Yarn Walk to Skipton Auction Mart for Yarndale 2021. Last year saw the yarn festival based in North Yorkshire return after Covid, and this year it's celebrating it's 10th birthday. Seeing as I had such fun on my last visit, I had to return - not just to squish some gorgeous yarn - but to meet more lovely crafty folk. This episode, the first of the sixth series of…
  63. Sep 26, 2022 MAKING STITCHES PODCAST SERIES 6 TRAILER
    Hello there! Making Stitches Podcast will be returning to your podcast feed again very soon with a brand new series. I'm looking forward to bringing you some more inspiring maker stories with guests from the world of yarn crafts, textiles and embroidery, as well as many other crafts too. Among my guests for the new 6th series will be Eleonora Tully from Coastal Crochet along with other crafts people I met at the…
  64. Jul 29, 2022 COLOURFUL SOCKS & JUMBO CROCHET HOOKS with Winwick Mum & Juey Jumbo Craft Tools
    Hello and welcome to Episode 50 of Making Stitches and the last episode in this series. As it's the end of the current series, I thought I'd reconnect with a couple of friends of the podcast and catch up with their latest news. My guests for this episode are Sock Knitting Champion; Christine Perry or Winwick Mum as she's known online and Juey from Juey Jumbo Craft Tools who I met at Yarndale in September last year.…
  65. Jul 15, 2022 KNITTING, CROCHET & THE ONLINE CRAFT COMMUNITY with Emmaknitty
    Hello and welcome to this, the penultimate episode of this current series of Making Stitches Podcast! This time, Emma Munn AKA Emmaknitty is my guest sharing the story of her creative journey into knit & crochet design. Originally from the South of England, Emma and her family now call Oviedo in Northern Spain home and it's from there she manages her small craft business alongside her job as an adult education…
  66. Jul 1, 2022 YARN, FOOD, NATURE & THE UNIVERSE with Kitey from the Yarn Whisperer
    The last couple of years have seen many of us take a step back and reconsider what it is we want to do with our lives. The pandemic gave us a new perspective and often forced us to change paths. Kitey from the Yarn Whisperer is no different. After a 30 year-long career in teaching in various countries around the world, he found inspiration in a plate of Padron Peppers whilst on holiday in Spain and decided yarn was…
  67. Jun 17, 2022 FROM LAW TO CROSS STITCH with Sally Wilson from Caterpillar Cross Stitch
    Like so many makers, despite loving all the creative subjects at school, Sally Wilson took a traditional route of study and then a 'conventional' career which for her was as a lawyer. However, whilst on maternity leave, she began to question whether a return to law was really what she wanted at the end of her family time away from her job. Sally found time to shoe-horn in an e-commerce course and to build a website…
  68. Jun 3, 2022 A NEW VENTURE FOR THE CROCHET PROJECT with Joanne Scrace
    This time on Making Stitches Podcast, crochet is under the spotlight and Joanne Scrace from The Crochet Project in particular. The Crochet Project was set up to design and write beautiful crochet patterns using natural yarns and with inclusivity high on the agenda. Crochet Project patterns come in a wide range of sizes to fit all bodies, avoid gender assumptions and even come with directions for left-handed…
  69. May 20, 2022 PRESERVING THE FABRIC OF OUR HISTORY with The People's History Museum
    This time on Making Stitches Podcast, I'm taking you out on the road with me to the People's History Museum in the centre of Manchester. It is the national museum of democracy and home the world's largest collection of trades union banners. Being custodians of the literal fabric of our history requires painstaking conservation work to keep the banners in a stable condition for future generations to enjoy. I tagged…
  70. May 6, 2022 CROCHET & KNITTING AT THE WOOLNEST with Lynne Rowe
    Crochet & Knitting designer Lynne Rowe is my guest for this episode of Making Stitches Podcast. Lynne first learned to knit and crochet as a child, but it was after the birth of her own children that she turned to yarn crafts in earnest. Firstly knitting for pleasure, then to raise money for charity, Lynne then ventured into crochet and knitting design and has written several books as well as working with a number…
  71. Apr 12, 2022 COLOUR, CREATIVITY & A COMMUNITY KICK-STARTER with Clare Albans from hellohooray.com
    Hello and welcome to this episode of Making Stitches Podcast celebrating the joys of colour and creativity as well as community support. When Clare Albans left a career in music behind, hand embroidery helped fill the gap leaving her job had left her with. After blogging about her life and makes for several years, Clare launched her small embroidery business selling designs and haberdashery and filling her…
  72. Apr 8, 2022 CROCHET-TASTIC with Hannah Cross from Hanjan Crochet & Amanda Bloom from Little Box of Crochet
    Welcome to a crochet-tastic double bill of Making Stitches featuring not just one, but two inspirational makers; Hannah Cross from Hanjan Crochet and Amanda Bloom from Little Box of Crochet. My first guest, Hannah Cross has been designing crochet garments, toys and soft furnishings for over a decade and has been featured in Simply Crochet Magazine many times over those years. After leaving a career in Midwifery,…
  73. Mar 25, 2022 FROM UKRAINIAN EMBROIDERY TO CANADIAN QUILTING with Olesya Lebedenko
    Hello and welcome to the first episode in this new series of Making Stitches Podcast! Kicking off the series is a chat I had with Ukrainian artist Olesya Lebedenko. Olesya first got creative as a young child making up stories for her toys, then at the age of 5 she was taught to cross-stitch by her grandmother. Crafts would stay with her throughout her life - she says she has never been able to sit and do nothing…
  74. Mar 21, 2022 MAKING STITCHES PODCAST SERIES 5 TRAILER
    Hello there! Making Stitches Podcast will be returning to your podcast feed very soon with a new series. I'm looking forward to bringing you some more inspiring maker stories with guests from the worlds of quilting, crochet and embroidery as well as many other crafts as well. Among my guests for the new 5th series are Olesya Lebedenko, a Ukranian artist who makes the most amazing quilt blocks and appliqued items.…
  75. Jan 14, 2022 FORGIVENESS, HOPE & KNITTED BEARS with Figen Murray
    Figen Murray first took up knitting seriously to help her cope with hearing loss. At the time, she was working as a psychotherapist, and decided to practice what she preached and turned to creativity to help lift her mood. Little did she know then that just a few years later her knitting would help her cope with the dreadful loss of her son, Martyn Hett, who was one of the 22 victims of the Manchester Arena attack…
  76. Dec 31, 2021 CELEBRATING FREEDOM & CRAFTY RESOLUTIONS FOR 2022 : The Making Stitches Podcast Review of the Year (Part 2)
    I hope you've had a lovely Christmas! I have one last gift for you this year before the clock strikes midnight again and we begin another year. Following on from the Happy Stitchmas episode published on Christmas Eve, this is my Hogmanay offering with a celebration of some of the freedoms I was able to enjoy this year as well as hearing about peoples' crafty New Year's Resolutions for 2022. Among my guests for this…
  77. Dec 24, 2021 HAPPY STITCHMAS 2021! The Making Stitches Podcast Christmas Special & Review of the Year (Part 1)
    It's Christmas Eve, so here's my Christmas gift to you dear listener! This year I'm splitting my Christmas Special into two halves, the first one is here for you today, and the second one will be out one week from today on New Year's Eve. In Part 1 I look back at a few of my personal highlights of the year so far on Making Stitches and feature little snippets from interviews with Sara Huntington - Editor of Simply…
  78. Dec 17, 2021 MOORIT AND THE WONDERS OF CROCHET with Alyson Chu
    When Alyson Chu spotted a gap in the market for a high-end crochet magazine, she decided to draw on her publishing experience and put one together herself. With Kick-Starter backing of over 600 individuals and the support of a group of crochet designers, Moorit was born this autumn showcasing beautiful crocheted garments to make as well as articles and a very cute sheep project too. A podcaster herself for more…
  79. Dec 3, 2021 CRAFTING A DREAM SEWING BUSINESS with Freya Gilbert and Sarah Wadey of Crafty Sew and So
    When Freya Gilbert and Sarah Wadey met at a sewing workshop in 2014, they knew they had met a kindred spirit. Within months they followed their dreams of setting up a sewing business and opened their bricks and mortar shop Crafty Sew and So in Leicester selling fabric haberdashery and offering award-winning workshops. They used their skills gained in retail and the fashion industry to build their business which…
  80. Nov 19, 2021 THE POWER OF THE CRAFT COMMUNITY with Sara Mulvey of Black Sheep Wools
    I have been wanting to share this episode with you for a very long time. Back in the darkest days of Covid and lockdown in the Spring of 2020, one of the things which kept me going was watching the series of videos posted by Sara Mulvey from Black Sheep Wools. They ranged from chats about yarn supplies and things which could be ordered from the shop to projects she and the rest of the team were working on to…
  81. Nov 5, 2021 LIVING A COLOURFUL CROCHET LIFE with Emma Leith
    When I sat down to chat with the self-named 'Queen of Colour' & crochet designer Emma Leith, I was in for a treat. Emma's enthusiasm for creativity and colour is infectious and she was a delight to speak to. She started out teaching mosaic but a couple of large scale yarnbombs brought Emma to prominence and two books of crochet patterns soon followed. Emma's mindful creations and colour choices are so zingy and…
  82. Oct 22, 2021 THE PATCHWORK GIRLS with Elaine Everest
    For many of us, our crafts take a back seat as we concentrate on our careers and creativity can be stifled by everyday life. For novelist, Elaine Everest, a childhood growing up with a mother who made clothes and sewed for friends and family, that creativity stayed with her. From dressmaking as a young girl to making designer garments on a knitting machine for London boutiques to then setting up her own business…
  83. Oct 8, 2021 YARNDALE 2021 : A FESTIVAL OF YARN, CREATIVITY & COMMUNITY
    After a hiatus due to the pandemic last year, Yarndale returned to Skipton Auction Mart on 25th & 26th September and I was thrilled to be able to go along! As well as my mask and hand sanitizer I took my microphone and met so many truly lovely people. This episode is my experience of Yarndale 2021, which in a nutshell was wonderful, friendly, colourful and utterly uplifting. In it you will hear from yarn dyers,…
  84. Sep 24, 2021 TEACHING THE WORLD TO KNIT SOCKS with Christine Perry aka Winwick Mum
    Hello and welcome to the first episode in series four of Making Stitches Podcast. It has been a very busy summer for me researching stories and makers to share with you on the podcast as well as working on my own creative projects too. It's a real joy to be back with you! In this episode we hear from Christine Perry, who you may know better as Winwick Mum, a champion of sock knitting who has made it her life's work…
  85. Sep 20, 2021 MAKING STITCHES PODCAST SERIES 4 TRAILER
    Hello! Making Stitches Podcast is returning with a brand new series very soon. I'm looking forward to bringing you more inspiring maker stories and sharing more inspiring conversations. Among my first few guests will be the a a queen of colourful crochet, a sock-knitting champion who wants to teach the world to knit socks and a novelist who has used her love of patchwork quilting and sewing as the inspiration for…
  86. Aug 5, 2021 A FLOCK OF CANARY CRAFTIVISTS - BONUS EPISODE
    Hello there! Although Making Stitches is supposedly on a summer break, here's a little bonus episode all about a project I've been involved with recently which began with a previous episode of this podcast. Back in May, I released Episode 25 of Making Stitches which featured a chat I had with Sarah Corbett from the Craftivist Collective. In it, she told me about her plan for a summer of 'craftivism' featuring…
  87. Jul 23, 2021 SEW ON THE GO with Mary Jane Baxter
    Back in the days before Covid, when the notion of being able to pack up a camper van and do a road trip of Europe was a thing, former BBC Brussels Correspondent Mary Jane Baxter did just that. She did it in style in a 1986 Bedford Bambi van adorned with vintage wallpaper. Taking just a few possessions with her, including her hand-crank sewing machine and a collection of her own hand-made hats, she set off on a…
  88. Jul 8, 2021 FROM SEWING SCRUBS TO SEWING BEE with Adam Brooks
    I don't know about you but this year's Great British Sewing Bee was just what the doctor ordered for me. After a spring of lockdowns, isolation, burst bubbles and home schooling, the creativity, colour and humour of GBSB was so uplifting. The standard of the contestants this year was really high, and many of them could have gone all the way to final had it not been for one bad day when things didn't go exactly…
  89. Jun 24, 2021 HOOKING A BRIGHTER FUTURE with Louise Murray from Hooked by Lou
    So many of my guests on the podcast so far have spoken about the healing properties of their crafts, the mindfulness of repetitive stitching, be that with a sewing needle or machine, a pair of knitting needles or a crochet hook. For my guest in this episode, Louise Murray, crochet and other crafts have helped her in her journey since losing her brother suddenly four years ago. Back on 22nd May 2017, a terrorist…
  90. Jun 10, 2021 CROCHET, CHERRY BLOSSOM & FRIENDSHIP - A DAY OUT AT THE CROCHET SANCTUARY
    I'm so happy that I've been able to bring you this latest episode of Making Stitches. Back in the spring of 2020 when I was recording my first episode of Making Stitches, I imagined that before too long, I would be able to travel to meet inspiring makers and record their stories in person. Thanks to Covid lockdowns and restrictions, that hasn't been able to happen until now. That first episode of the podcast…
  91. May 27, 2021 GRANNY SQUARE APPRECIATION with Heather Griffith from HG Designs Crochet
    Crochet can be a form of therapy for so many of us, but for Heather Griffith of HG Designs Crochet, it was through using the craft as rehabilitation after an injury, which set her off on a whole new adventure. At the time, Heather was training to be a lawyer and the repetitive movements of making granny squares helped her physically and mentally throughout her training. It was last year though, during a period of…
  92. May 13, 2021 THE ART OF GENTLE PROTEST with Sarah Corbett from The Craftivist Collective
    A chance conversation about a small embroidery project while on a long train journey led Sarah Corbett to unite her interest in craft with her passion for activism. Sarah says that at the time of that conversation, while working on a cross-stitch kit during a 5-hour-long train trip, she was feeling burned out by her job as an activist. But she realised there was a way to marry the mindfulness of stitching and other…
  93. Apr 30, 2021 THE EVOLUTION OF A CROCHETER with Rosina from Zeens & Roger
    Specialising in bright colours and most recently items of clothing like cardigans, mittens and cowls, Rosina from Zeens and Roger is a prolific crochet designer. Based in Devon in the south west of England, Rosina balances her work and family life with creating beautiful crocheted designs, a blog and a popular YouTube channel. Rosina was first taught to crochet by her Nan but it was only when she went on maternity…
  94. Apr 16, 2021 STITCHED with Textile Artist, Matthew Downham
    Welsh textile artist Matthew Downham always knew he wanted to be an artist, and when he picked up a needle and thread, he knew that was the medium for him. Matthew, who has exhibited his art in the United States, uses layers of stitches to cover teddy bears in his work. For him, the act of threading a needle and tying a knot is as much part of the art as the finished piece itself. In this episode, Matthew shared…
  95. Apr 2, 2021 FROM CHRISTMAS MAKES TO AMIGURUMI APRIL with Hayley Shelton from Dotcraftstudio
    Hello again! Last episode we heard from Louise Armitage aka Gini's Dorset Buttons, and how a friendship blossomed between her and Hayley Shelton from Dotcraftstudio while they were competing in Kirstie's Handmade Christmas last year. Well it didn't seem right to only hear from one half of that crafty partnership, so in this episode I share the chat I had with Hayley all about her craft and her amazing end to 2020.…
  96. Mar 19, 2021 KEEPING A HERITAGE CRAFT ALIVE with Gini's Dorset Buttons
    Until I watched last year's Kirstie's Handmade Christmas (in December 2020), I had never heard of Dorset Buttons before. That was until Louise Armitage (also known as Gini) created the most beautiful picture using Dorset Buttons to depict the seasons of the year and clinched the trophy for the Handmade Decoration competition. Dorset Buttons originated from the county of Dorset (the clue's in the name) on the south…
  97. Mar 12, 2021 MAKING STITCHES PODCAST SERIES 3 TRAILER
    Hello there! Making Stitches is coming back for a third series very soon. I can't wait so share some more fascinating conversations with inspiring makers with you. Over the next few weeks you'll be hearing chats I've had with people from the world of textile art and crochet including two TV stars and a YouTuber! Please make sure you subscribe to Making Stitches on your favourite podcast app so you don't miss the…
  98. Jan 22, 2021 MAPPING THE WORLD IN TEXTILES with Janet Browne, Textile Artist
    Hello and welcome to the twentieth episode of Making Stitches. After two episodes almost exclusively focusing on crochet, our attention is turned to textiles and textile art in particular this time. Late last year I spoke to Yorkshire-based textile artist Janet Browne about her beautiful observational work which maps journeys she has made as well as townscapes, gardens and allotments. Like all of us, 2020 and the…
  99. Jan 8, 2021 DOING WHAT YOU LOVE with Sara Huntington, Editor of Simply Crochet Magazine
    Happy New Year and welcome to the first episode of Making Stitches for 2021! In this episode you can hear from crochet designer and Editor of Simply Crochet Magazine Sara Huntington. Sara has been crocheting for 20 years and several years ago made a conscious decision to follow her dreams and turn her passion for her craft into her profession after juggling two jobs as well as motherhood to get there. Sara has seen…
  100. Dec 25, 2020 HAPPY STITCHMAS! The Making Stitches 2020 Christmas Special
    Happy Stitchmas! In the words of one of my guests for this Christmas Special episode '2020 has been a year like no other', not least because lockdown was responsible for setting me off on this Making Stitches podcasting journey. Back in spring as we were locked down during the first wave of the pandemic, I decided to focus some of my time on speaking to inspiring makers and telling their stories. Since then I have…
  101. Dec 11, 2020 FINDING COLOUR INSPIRATION IN A LOCKDOWN VEG PATCH with Agnis Smallwood
    This week, designer, maker, educator and weaver Agnis Smallwood speaks to me about her craft, her creative journey and how she found inspiration for her work this year among the carrots and radishes she grew in her small veg patch during lockdown. Agnis, who is based in Yorkshire, works on solo weaving projects as well as collaborations with organisations like museums. She also teaches weaving and other crafts like…
  102. Nov 27, 2020 CREATIVITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH with Emma Jones from Vintage Sewing Box & Looking Ahead to Christmas with The Apex Singers
    Creativity whether it's music, craft or art has long been seen as having a positive impact on mental health, and after the year we have all experienced, it's something many of us have had to focus on. This week on Making Stitches, Emma Jones from Vintage Sewing Box speaks about the benefits of focusing the mind on stitching and how that simple repetitive activity can calm the mind. Emma also discusses her love of…
  103. Nov 13, 2020 FROM ALPACAS TO THE 3 WISE MEN with Kerry Lord from Toft UK
    Kerry Lord took up crochet for the first time when she went on maternity leave from her family's yarn business less than ten years ago. She watched some YouTube tutorials and created a cuddly elephant for her baby, who was still yet to be born. Little did she know back then that Bridget the Elephant would eventually go on to be made thousands of times by crocheters around the world and the book of crochet animal…
  104. Oct 30, 2020 STITCHING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GARDEN with Cathy Emmott from Dear Emma Designs
    Many of us choose to seek a different career path after starting a family, and Cathy Emmott is no different. She took the time she spent on maternity leave with her young family to look at ways of developing her creative side rather than returning to a job in finance. After a lifetime of being creative, she dusted off her sewing machine and began creating fabric pictures inspired by her surroundings in the…
  105. Oct 16, 2020 CROCHET AND COMMUNITY with Jill from Gum Leaf Crochet
    When Jill, a former nurse living on the eastern coast of Australia, joined Instagram to share her crochet makes three years ago, little did she know she would create a 14,000 strong community of like-minded people. In this episode of Making Stitches, Jill of Gum Leaf Crochet tells me all about how crochet and this online community has helped her in her 'second life' after injury and serious illness forced her to…
  106. Oct 2, 2020 BAG MAKING WITH MRS H & YARNDALE@HOME 2020
    This week on Making Stitches I have two guests for you; Bag Maker Extraordinaire Samantha Hussey (otherwise known as Mrs H) and Carole Rennison from Yarndale. Last weekend saw the first ever Yarndale@home as the yarn festival was forced to go online because of the current Covid restrictions. I caught up with Carole earlier this week to find out how the new-look festival had gone. Before that though, you will hear…
  107. Sep 18, 2020 MAKING STITCHES IS BACK FOR A NEW SERIES!
    Hello there! Making Stitches is back for a new series after a long summer break. In this series, as with the first one, I hope to be sharing the stories of interesting creative projects as well as hearing from creators themselves about their own creative journeys. In this first episode of series 2 I recap on what's been happening over the summer for myself, as well as some of my guests from series 1. Since I last…
  108. Jun 26, 2020 A LIFE IN DRESSMAKING with Dorcas Hammond
    Hello and welcome to the tenth and final episode in the first series of Making Stitches. This week I'm sharing a story which is very special to me, that of my sewing teacher Dorcas Hammond. With a career spanning more than 30 years, Dorcas Hammond is a well-known name in Gibraltar. Her dressmaking workshop has created gowns for many brides and beauty queens ahead of their big events - none more so than when Kaiane…
  109. Jun 19, 2020 CROCHETING UNDER LOCKDOWN with Esther from Essie Birdies
    Making Stitches this week, features its first international guest, crochet designer, Esther from Essie Birdies who lives in the Netherlands. Ether's interest in crochet was sparked when her daughter was given an amigurumi kit 10 years ago. She taught herself crochet so she could make it for her, that set her off on a path to designing small toys, shawls, bags and home furnishings. Esther's story just goes to prove…
  110. Jun 12, 2020 STRANDED KNITTING with Phil from The Twisted Yarn
    This week, Phil from The Twisted Yarn shared her story on Making Stitches. A knitter and crocheter in her spare time, Phil works as a clinical psychologist in her day job and is a mother of twin boys. Known as 'The Modern Knitter' in her quarterly column in Simply Knitting magazine, Phil has also appeared on BBC TV with her imaginatively reupholstered chair which was reborn as a yarny country cottage complete with…
  111. Jun 5, 2020 SEWING FOR FAMILY & FUN with Victoria Peat
    Sewing teacher, dressmaker and patchwork quilter Victoria Peat this week shares her story with Making Stitches. From getting a sewing machine for her 18th birthday and designing patchwork quilts to studying at the London College of Fashion and giving sewing lessons on live TV, Victoria has a true love of making. Victoria moved to Gibraltar last year and thanks to the recent relaxation of the lockdown rules over…
  112. May 28, 2020 LITTLE BOX OF CROCHET with Amanda Bloom
    This week on Making Stitches we hear from Amanda Bloom the driving force behind Little Box of Crochet. The bi-monthly subscription box delivers a yarny treat to crocheters around the world and contains a complete project with yarn and instructions along with what Amanda describes as 'knick-knackery' or extra little treats to enjoy. Amanda spoke to me from her home above her beautiful yarn shop 'Craftopia' in…
  113. May 22, 2020 CROCHET LESSONS with Marisa Alcock AKA Mariwish
    Hello and welcome to Episode 5 of Making Stitches! This week we hear from a friend of mine, someone who I met through our shared love of crochet and Gibraltar. Marisa Alcock was born and brought up here in Gibraltar but is now based in London and teaches music and crochet. We met a few years back through Instagram and I signed up for one of her Gibraltar based summer lessons to master the art of reading a crochet…
  114. May 10, 2020 YARNDALE 2020 WORLD CREATIVE PROJECT with Carole Rennison
    Around this time each year, the call goes out for knitters and crocheters to get busy making for the Yarndale World Creative Project. First there was bunting, and following that came Mandalas, mini Yarndale sheep, flowers and even socks. This year, the festival organisers are asking people around the world to put their time in lockdown to good use and make dishcloths which will be sold to raise money for a local…
  115. May 8, 2020 CREATIVITY IN CAPTIVITY a Coronavirus Lockdown Quilt
    A lot of us are turning to crafts at this time of lockdown and isolation. The act of making things can work wonders for our mental health, and being able to contribute that craft to a community project can help ease the sense of isolation. Inspired by the story of female prisoners of war making a quilt at Changi Prison in Singapore during World War II, a global group of quilters are contributing to a community…
  116. May 1, 2020 COASTAL CROCHET with Eleonora Tully
    It's a real treat to be able to share this episode of Making Stitches with you featuring Eleonora Tully from Coastal Crochet. Eleonora has been immersed in yarn crafts all her life, but 5 years ago began writing about her passion for crochet on her blog Coastal Crochet. Since then, she has published many crochet patterns on her blog, as well as leading crochet workshops and designing professionally for magazines…
  117. Apr 21, 2020 CROCHET SANCTUARY PANDEMONIUM with Lisa Hesketh & Lynda-Rose Simonini
    In the first ever episode of 'Making Stitches' I speak to the ladies behind the Crochet Sanctuary about their latest CAL (crochet-along) - the Pandemonium CAL - which was released in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. They also discuss how they first started with crochet and why they decided to put on crochet weekend retreats in Cheshire. You can find out more about the Crochet Sanctuary on their website:…
  118. Apr 13, 2020 Making Stitches Teaser
    Hello, and welcome to the brand new Making Stitches Podcast. I'm Lindsay and I have a passion for making things in my free time (and even when I'm supposed to be doing other things). This is a podcast which tells the stories behind the crafts, patterns and make-alongs which bind us amateur and even the professional crafters together in this huge online community we exist in. What better time to start that than now,…
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