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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 to fabulous creative people who were there too, both vendors and visitors. In this epsiode, you can hear me chat to Sara & Sean from @crochet_in_the_glen, Paulette Edwards from BBC Radio Sheffield @bobette10, Edith Sanders @edith.sanders, Tom from @theyarnartist, Lydia from @laurettecraftsuk, Annah from @needleandfeather, Stephen West @westknits, Clare Montgomerie @clairemontgomerie, Ailsa Stephen @ailsa.makes.things, Gordon Cree @manknitted, Stephanie Thompson @stephaniethompsoncoaching and Tracy Callaghan @tracythecreativetherapist from last year's Game of Wool @gameofwoolofficial, Sammy from Auspicious Stitch @auspicious.stitch, Jane Crowfoot @janiecrow, Becky from William & Tilda @williamandtilda, Bex from The Pigeon's Nest @thepigeonsnest, Steffi Glaves @steffi_glaves, Michelle Greaves from @Knitting4FunUK & @texstyle_festival. You can find out all about Yarndale over the festival's website here. Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson

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 successful treatment for breast cancer. Alice now teaches others to knit through online classes from her home in Amsterdam, and is hoping to share her passion for the many benefits of knitting creativity with as many people as possible. You can find Alice on her website and Instagram account. Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson.

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 crochet would have on her life. After mastering the craft herself, she began teaching others to crochet, she started designing her own patterns and was invited to appear as a regular guest designer on Sewing Street TV. In 2024, Sam published her first book: My Granny Square Wardrobe and will be publishing her second later this year. We met at Carry on Crafting in July this year - you may remember hearing me chatting with Sam briefly at Carry on Crafting in my last episode. When we spoke, I asked if she would like to come onto Making Stitches for a longer chat, and I was thrilled she said yes.  In this episode, Sam speaks openly about her struggle with Post Natal Depression after the birth of her third child and whilst expecting her fourth. She discusses the healing properties of making and how she has seen it help others as well as herself. I loved chatting to Sam, and I hope you enjoy listening too. Thank you for speaking to me for Making Stitches Podcast Sam! You can find Sam here at Sam Sabido Crochets and Adventures in Crafting. Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson

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 imagined it would be, and more. I met old friends and made new ones too, I crocheted, I chatted, I watched football, listened to music and even got to interview a radio legend called Graham! Thank you to everyone who spoke to me for this episode of Making Stitches Podcast including (in order of appearance): Kerry Lord from Toft Eleonora Tully from Coastal Crochet Annah from Needle & Feather Kitey from The Yarn Whisperer Bex from The Pigeon's Nest Making Stitches Podcast listeners, Clare & Sarah Graham - the voice of Radio CoC (Carry On Crafting!) Sam Sabido from Sam Sabido Crochets Nicky Ward from A Heart Shaped Cherry Justine Robson from Carry on Crafting As well as everyone to helped make the weekend run so smoothly for us - especially the wonderful Carry on Crafting volunteers (particularly Clare who gave me a lift back to the station!). It was a truly special experience! This is the final episode in the current series of Making Stitches Podcast, I will be back again (all being well) in the autumn, with some more inspiring creative chats for you. I hope you have a lovely summer! Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson

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 sheep, farmers, wool and the people who transform this remarkable natural fibre into the textiles we love. Inspired by the simple but powerful idea, "If you're going to work with wool, get to know how a sheep lives," the film follows the story of a sheep called Cow while opening up wider conversations about farming, sustainability, craftsmanship and our relationship with the materials we use every day. Whether you're a knitter, crocheter, spinner, weaver, feltmaker, embroiderer or simply someone who loves natural fibres, I think you'll find this a fascinating conversation. Find out more about Sheep, Actually, including screenings, news and ways to support the film: https://www.paulwyattfilms.com/sheepactually You can also follow Paul Wyatt Films on social media for updates on the documentary. Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson.

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 texture, colour and meaning.  Alongside her artistic practice, Murron is also a passionate educator and workshop facilitator, helping others reconnect with their creativity through community projects, courses and nature-inspired textile experiences.  In our conversation, we talk about the threads that run through her work, from Celtic folklore and the idea of hidden worlds, to the role of observation, curiosity and creative play in her practice. We also discuss how she balances life as a working artist, educator and community arts practitioner, and why slowing down can be such an important part of the creative process.  Thank you Murron for speaking to me for Making Stitches Podcast! You can see Murron's work over on her website: textilesbymurron.com You can sign up to Murron's newsletter here: https://www.textilesbymurron.com/newsletter Murron's Instagram profile is here and you can find her on Facebook here. Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson.

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 journey, the story behind Sew Positive and how stitching can be more than simply making something with our hands. We talk about creativity as a tool for connection, confidence and community, and explore how sewing can help people through difficult times while also encouraging a more sustainable approach to the clothes we wear. You can find out more about Sew Positive over on their website and you can find lots of other information on their linktree here. Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson

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 garments, patterns, yarns, tools, publications and shade cards, all connected to the rich history of knitting and crochet in the UK. Thousands of items have been donated by makers from across the country, preserving not just beautiful pieces of work, but also the stories, skills and social history behind them. The collection has grown into a real treasure trove, an invaluable research resource for academics and historians, but also an endless source of inspiration for contemporary designers, knitters and crocheters. I feel hugely privileged to have been invited along to see some of the Collection for myself. I loved chatting with Angharad Thomas a Volunteer Textile Archivist and Isobel Holland a Collection Volunteer over in Slaithwaite, and am very grateful to them for speaking to me for Making Stitches Podcast. You can find out all about the Knitting and Crochet Guild over on their website along with all the information we chatted about in our conversation about the Collection including when their upcoming events will be happening. Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson

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 some brilliant behind-the-scenes insights from their time in the Sewing Bee sewing room, including the story behind the unforgettable paper dress created for Pop Art Week, which went on to win Garment of the Week. We talk about the pressure of choosing and getting your hands on the right fabric when the challenges start, stepping through the screen to appear on a show you've loved for years, and the joy of making clothes that truly reflect personal style. As well as looking back on Sewing Bee, Kit also talks about their hopes for the future, including plans to release an original range of sewing patterns.  Thank you so much Kit for allowing me to come and visit you and for speaking to me for Making Stitches! You can find Kit on Instagram and TikTok. Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns designed by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson. Making Stitches Podcast is presented, recorded and edited by Lindsay Weston.

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 & is such a lovely place to visit. Regular 'Bitch and Stitch' socials support a welcoming community of yarn lovers, and Gareth is always happy to help answer any yarn or pattern queries he encounters from customers.  It was so lovely to visit Gareth at Manchester Wool & Yarn, and I'm so grateful he took the time to speak to me for the podcast - thanks again Gareth! You can find Manchester Wool & Yarn's website here and Gareth is also very active on social media, find him on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok. Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson

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 as well as a book on crochet & knitting too. Her passion for her craft is truly infectious and she loves to meet makers and help them improve their techniques and try new things in workshops across the UK and also abroad. Shawls, socks and blankets are Anna's favourite items to make and she wants everyone else to join her on her brilliant yarny adventure too.  Thanks so much for Anna for finding the time to speak to me for this episode of Making Stitches Podcast! You can find Anna's website & Instagram account here. Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson

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. It did not disappoint, it featured dozens of stands showcasing beautiful crafts and items to buy, a range of fabulous workshops, a break-out zone called ‘The Hive’ where visitors could escape the busyness and just sit and chat and even work on their wips. Plus there was a Textile Talks stage hosted by yours truly which showcased some fabulous creative folk speaking on their specialist subjects. I was thrilled and very honoured to be asked to host the Textile Talks stage, and loved every minute of it.  In this episode you can hear from all of the speakers who stepped up to the mic over the weekend along with other exhibitors too. My thanks to everyone who spoke to me for this episode of Making Stitches Podcast! You can find all of their websites below: Michelle Greaves from TexStyle Festival https://texstyle.uk/ Sophia Gardiner - textile artist https://www.instagram.com/sophiagardinerart/?hl=en Stephen West from Westknits https://www.westknits.com/ & https://www.stephenandpenelope.com/en-gb Amelia from Amelia Stitches https://ameliastitches.com/ Gareth from Manchester Wool & Yarn https://manchesterwoolandyarn.com/ Debbie from The Lace Knittery https://www.thelaceknittery.com/ Jane Smith from Atelier Nejiribana https://www.nejiribana.co.uk/ & http://www.japaneseembroideryuk.com/ Laili Cleasby from Emily Foulds https://www.emilyfoulds.com/ Victoria Salmon from Another Knitted Thing https://www.anotherknittedthing.com/ Tricia Bashan from Knitting & Crochet Guild https://kcguild.org.uk/ Alena Ruth from Manchester Tufting Workshops https://www.tuftingworkshops.co.uk/ Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson

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 Stylecraft yarns 'Insider' and, last year, published her first book; The Granny Square Book which features patterns for 125 different squares. You can find Katy on Instagram, Etsy & Ravelry. Thank you so much to Katy for speaking to me for Making Stitches Podcast! It's TexStyle festival time this weekend in Manchester, and if you would like to come along to enjoy the creativity & fun, please visit the TexStyle website to get your ticket! If you would like to listen to my chat with Michelle Greaves, who is one of the TexStyle festival's organisers, you can find it here. Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson. Making Stitches Podcast is presented, recorded and edited by Lindsay Weston.

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 marking this podcast milestone with a different kind of episode - one with me as the guest. After much consideration, I took Christine up on her kind offer and let her turn the tables - asking me the questions instead. At the start of December, we had a lovely time having a long chat and recording this episode.  Among the topics we covered were where I first learned to sew, knit and crochet, my career in journalism and how I got started in radio, our family's time in Gibraltar and how that led to starting my Postcard from Gibraltar blog back in 2015, making friends through the world of creativity, podcasting and blogging and, of course, 5 years of Making Stitches Podcast.  I hope you enjoy listening! Huge thanks to Christine for being the host of Making Stitches Podcast this time! You can find Christine's website here: https://www.winwickmum.co.uk/ You can find the Making Stitches Blog here: https://makingstitches.co.uk/ You can listen to Gibraltar Stories Podcast in all the usual podcast places as well as on the Gibraltar Stories Website: https://gibraltarstories.com/ Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson. Making Stitches Podcast is presented, recorded and edited by Lindsay Weston.

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 before as well as some new chats too.  Included in this episode are:  Christine Perry from Winwick Mum speaking about 10 years of the Winwick Mum sock along.Eleonora Tully from Coastal Crochet talking about 10 years of her blog and our celebration of a decade online with our Let's Celebrate Wreath collaborative crochet pattern.Sara & Sean MacLeod from Crochet in the Glen chatting about the fun they have together and how they love to share their silliness online.Kirstie MacLeod, the artist behind The Red Dress, who I met at Woven in Kirklees on World Stitch Day.Becky Davies-Downes from William & Tilda who appeared a couple of times on the podcast last year. I interviewed her again at Yarndale this September, and this is the first time I've shared our chat.Also at Yarndale, I spoke to Julie Park, a close friend of Amanda Bloom, who sadly died this year. Julie has taken on Amanda's social media accounts after her death and has raised funds to support the Yarndale Start-Up Bursary for fledgling creative businesses at the festival in memory of Amanda and her daughter Jenny.More recently, I was at the Christmas edition of the Crochet Sanctuary Crochet Days just last weekend. While I was there I spoke to Lisa and Lynda-Rose who run the Crochet Sanctuary and, who were my guests on the first ever edition of Making Stitches back in the spring of 2020.I also caught a quick few minutes with Heather from Keep Calm & Crochet On and Jess from Hook & Cwtch.I hope you enjoy listening, and that you have a great Christmas. I'll be back again soon, with the last episode of the current series - and my 100th episode!  Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast! For full show notes, please visit https://makingstitchespodcast.com/ To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops. The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown. You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs through Ko-fi. Making Stitches  Podcast is supported by the Making Stitches Shop which offers Making Stitches Podcast merchandise for sale as well as Up the Garden Path crochet patterns created by me & illustrated by Emma Jackson. Making Stitches Podcast is presented, recorded and edited by Lindsay Weston.