Making Stitches Podcast

Making Stitches Podcast episodes:

• 06.21.2024

  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...

  
• 06.07.2024

  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...

  
• 05.24.2024

  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...

  
• 03.15.2024

  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...

  
• 03.01.2024

  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...

  
• 02.16.2024

  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...

  
• 12.22.2023

  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...

  
• 12.08.2023

  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...

  
• 11.24.2023

  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...

  
• 11.10.2023

  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...

  
• 10.27.2023

  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....

  
• 10.13.2023

  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....

  
• 09.29.2023

  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...

  
• 09.15.2023

  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...

  
• 07.07.2023

  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...

  
• 12.30.2022

  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,...

  
• 12.23.2022

  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...

  
• 12.20.2022

  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...

  
• 12.09.2022

  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...

  
• 11.25.2022

  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...

  
• 11.11.2022

  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...

  
• 10.28.2022

  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...

  
• 10.14.2022

  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...

  
• 09.30.2022

  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...

  
• 09.26.2022

  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...

  
• 07.29.2022

  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...

  
• 07.15.2022

  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...

  
• 07.01.2022

  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....

  
• 06.17.2022

  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...

  
• 06.03.2022

  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...

  
• 05.20.2022

  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...

  
• 05.06.2022

  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...

  
• 04.12.2022

  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...

  
• 04.08.2022

  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,...

  
• 03.25.2022

  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...

  
• 03.21.2022

  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...

  
• 01.14.2022

  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...

  
• 12.31.2021

  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...

  
• 12.24.2021

  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...

  
• 12.17.2021

  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...

  
• 12.03.2021

  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...

  
• 11.19.2021

  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...

  
• 11.05.2021

  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...

  
• 10.22.2021

  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...

  
• 10.08.2021

  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...

  
• 09.24.2021

  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...

  
• 09.20.2021

  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...

  
• 08.05.2021

  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...

  
• 07.23.2021

  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...

  
• 07.08.2021

  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...