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  • 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 charity which rescues good-to-eat surplus food from the food industry and redistributes it to charities and community groups across the region.

    I started working for FareShare Greater Manchester earlier this year and since then, I've been wanting to do something with crochet to help spread the word about what we do and to raise much needed funds to support this organisation.

    I have designed a crochet pattern for a Christmas wreath based on a Christmas dinner, complete with sprouts and pigs in blankets. All the profits raised from the sale of the wreath will go to FareShare Greater Manchester.

    In this episode, I take you to work with me and introduce you to three of the women I work with, to share what they do to help those in our community who need help.

    You can find more information about FareShare Greater Manchester here.

    You can buy the crochet pattern for the FareShare Festive Feast Wreath here.

    I would like to thank Jane Czaja for her support in tech editing this pattern. My thanks also go to Ruth Downes, Sally Lamb & Kala Mandviwala for speaking to men for this episode of Making Stitches.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website.

    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 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 Emma DesignsAmanda from Joe's ToesBecky from William & TildaNat from Woven in Kirklees Festival

    You can find the websites for all my guests by clicking on the links above, and you can find the website for Yarndale here.

    Thank you to everyone who took the time to speak to me for this episode - it was such fun to record!

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website.

    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

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  • 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.

    Next year, Gemma is holding an exhibition called Threads of Protest in Southport in the North West of England and in central London too, to raise awareness about her work and yarn is at the centre of it. Gemma is collaborating with yarn artists to create works focusing on different aspects of abuse but is also asking for anyone who wants to join her, to send crocheted or knitted squares which will be used as part of a yarn bomb within the exhibition.

    The granny squares can be of any type, any colour, any yarn and use any design as long as they measure approximately 15 x 15 cm or 6 x 6 inches. They can be sent to:

    Threads of Protest
    PO Box 239
    Liverpool
    L37 8YU
    UK

    To find out more about Gemma's work and the Threads of Protest Exhibition, please check out her website. Gemma can also be found on Instagram.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website.

    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

  • 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 'Flock' focuses on knitting, crochet, health and the wellbeing of 'mature women'. Jane says "Many women of a certain age feel isolated, under valued and overlooked. They believe that their interests and feelings are underestimated and there's not enough digital content that connects with them and caters for their continued interest in fashion".

    You can find Jane at her website, on Facebook, Instagram & You Tube.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website.

    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

  • 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 that project, that's great, but in many circumstances that's not the case. That's where The Loose Ends Project can help.

    Two friends, Jen & Masey, decided that there must be people out there who have the skills and time to finish important craft projects which are left unfinished when someone dies or is no longer able to continue with it. They started matching unfinished projects with volunteer finishers, who complete and return the garments, blankets and accessories.

    In the space of less than two years, the friends' idea has mushroomed and they have registered 'finishers' in 64 countries around the world. To date, they have paired projects in 12 different countries.

    Jen Simonic, one of the founders of the Loose Ends Project, joined me for this episode of Making Stitches to tell me all about this remarkable organisation.

    You can find the Loose Ends Project Website here.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website.

    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





  • 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 was such a thrill for me to meet Emma and chat about all things crochet - as well the common curse of friends and families of makers who have handmade gifts thrust upon them whether they want them or not!

    You can find Emma's website here, and her Instagram page here.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website.

    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

  • 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 owners through their Etsy journeys.

    You can find links to Claire's services here.

    **PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A PAID ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE**

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website.

    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

  • 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 have a go at something similar for her garden gate to commemorate this special anniversary. That idea soon morphed to create an 80 metre long yarn masterpiece showcasing scenes from the build up to and of the landings themselves as well as the days immediately after.

    Tansy, with the help of Facebook, soon enlisted the help of hundreds of makers from around the world to create metre long panels, each with a scene from that time. Not only that, Tansy has written a book about the project too. The Longest Yarn has featured on TV shows and news programmes around the world, and is set for a tour around the UK, then onto the United States before returning to Carentan in Normandy, where it will remain on permanent display.

    In this episode, we hear from Tansy Forster and from Diane McCoombs and Gill >>> from the North West of England, who contributed one of the metre-long panels to the Longest Yarn.

    You can find out all about The Longest Yarn on their website.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website.

    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, 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 have featured up until this point.

    One theme which has been consistent throughout, is the very real benefit that being creative can have on your state of mind. It can be a light relief at a time of high stress, a positive outlet during anxiety and depression, a focus in the midst of paralysing grief.

    Quite a few of my guests (not all included here) have spoken about how their craft has helped them during hard times. Speaking from experience, my creativity, be that through crochet, sewing or even making this podcast has really helped me over the years. I am a real advocate for being creative as a result.

    Join me as I share chats from the Making Stitches archive:


    Lisa & Lynda-Rose from The Crochet Sanctuary about the Pandemonium blanket crochet-along during Covid https://www.crochetsanctuary.co.ukPatchwork quilter Emma Jones from the Vintage Sewing Box on the importance of making for mental health https://www.vintagesewingbox.co.ukTextile artist Matthew Downham on finding stitches to ease his anxiety. https://matthewdownham.wixsite.com/mysiteFormer BBC Brussels correspondent, Mary Jane Baxter on leaving a high pressure career for a creative life on the road. https://unbound.com/books/sew-on-the-goPeace & anti terrorism campaigner Figen Murray OBE on how knitting has helped her grieve the loss of her son, Martyn in the Manchester Arena bomb attack. https://www.figenmurray.co.ukDr Mia Webb, clinical psychologist, knitter and podcaster on the Why I Knit podcast on the benefits of knitting for mental health. https://www.therapeuticknitting.orgFor full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website.

    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


  • 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 about how the blog came about in the first place, how her design career first got off the ground and her hopes for the next ten years to come in her crochet adventure.

    You can find Heather here on her website; Keep Calm and Crochet On UK.

    To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website.
    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 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 at the social and cultural significance of sewing, drawing on contemporary voices as well as historical research. In it, Barbara asks what people are sewing, why they are motivated to sew and why people choose to mend?

    This was a fascinating chat, which covered lots of different aspects of Barbara's work - I hope you enjoy l listening to it!

    You can find a link to 'The Point of the Needle - Why Sewing Matters' here.

    To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website.
    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.

  • 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 equipment needed to take up the crafts and runs workshops to show students how to progress their technique. Cathy’s enthusiasm for her craft is clear and she’s dedicated to sharing her expertise.

    In addition to teaching, Cathy also runs a monthly meeting for anyone interested in yarn crafts to come together and build a community. TheWoollers runs on the first Saturday of each month in Northern Lights, Caine Brewery Village, 5 Mann Street, Liverpool L8 5AF

    You can find out more about Cathy and her work on her website.

    To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website. 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 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 and some more of my guests from the podcast this year. Also joining me are some of the lovely people I met at this year's Great Northern Textile Show who will be sharing what's on their Christmas wish list.

    Thank you to all of my guests who joined me on this episode, and throughout the year. Thank you to you too for listening! I hope you have a lovely Christmas and that 2024 is kind to you.

    My guests in this episode include:

    Catherine CrochetsDr Mia Hobbs from Why I Knit PodcastDr Fran Darlington Pollock from the Greater Manchester Mayor's CharitySara from Black Sheep WoolsJen Rich - @stitchcraftandcook on InstagramJulie from Tilly Flop DesignsLisa Wilde from Sunnyside Fabrics UKJane Smith - Japanese Embroidery artistHelen from Yarn Addicts ManchesterCheryl & Joanne from the North Cheshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers & DyersNikki from Allium ThreadsSheila Haldane - textile artistWendy Roby - textile artistDebbie from Why Knot Macrame

    And if you would like to support the Black Sheep Wools 'Deck the Halls' charity campaign in support of the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity, you can find all the details here.


    To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website. The theme music is Winter Trip by Audioflame from Melody Loops other music used in this episode is Happy Sunshine by Roman Cano, also 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.

  • 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 work as technical editor, she also does tech editing work for Inside Crochet and Disney Crochet Magazine. Jane is one of those amazing people who can spot a needle in a haystack - a pattern error!

    I think you'll find Jane to be evangelical about the craft of crochet, and if you had her as your teacher, I think that love of the craft would be contagious!

    You can find Jane's website here, and her crochet and chat group meets at Kingston Library on 2nd Saturday of the month between 10:30 and 12pm.

    You can also see Jane on justhands-ontv

    To join the mailing list for the Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website. 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.

  • 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 rough sleeping across the city, and it was thanks to that the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity was born. The charity doesn't just offer somewhere for people to stay, it also helps in other ways with food, clothing and help to get people off the streets

    Each year, the charity looks at new ways to raise funds to support it's 'A Bed Every Night' campaign, and in the run up to Christmas there's a concerted push to bring in more funding. It costs £30 to pay for one person to have somewhere safe to sleep for the night and to receive the wrap around care on offer.

    This year, Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity is calling on knitters and crocheters to help them in partnership with Black Sheep Wools. They have a range of knitting and crochet patterns for sale as well as yarn kits to make decorations. The proceeds from the sale of the patterns will go to the charity as well as 10% from the sale of every yarn pack and, if you would prefer to make a £30 donation through the Black Sheep Wools website, you will be gifted all the patterns for free, and that entire £30 will go to fund a bed for the night.

    I spoke to Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity Chief Executive, Fran Darlington-Pollock, who told me why she was calling on knitters and crocheters to help them this year.

    You can find out more about the work of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity here. If you would like to join the ‘Deck the Halls’ campaign and buy patterns of yarn packs, you get them from Black Sheep Wools.

    #DeckTheHalls23 #WeDontWalkOnBy #GMMayorsCharity

    To join the mailing list for the new Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website. 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 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 also spoke to the really inspiring Taslima from CDM UK Manchester which works with women and children (some of whom have suffered abuse) teaching them textile design and craft skills - if you think that listening to this section of the episode may upset you or someone you are listening with, you can skip the section between the 33.5 minute mark and 43.5 minute mark.

    Thank you to everyone who spoke to me for this episode including Domino Panton-Oakley from the Great Northern Textile Show, Debbie Davies from Why Knot Macrame?, Janet Markwell from The Corner Patch, Niki from Allium Threads, Julie from TillyFlop Designs, Lisa Wilde from Sunnyside Fabrics, Cathy Unwin from The Quilter's Guild, Cheryl & Joanne from The North Cheshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers, Helen from Yarn Addicts of Manchester. Also, textile artists Wendy Roby, Jane Smith & Sheila Haldane, as well as Taslima from CDM UK Manchester.


    To join the mailing list for the new Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website. The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops other music used in this episode is Happy Sunshine by Roman Cano, also available from Melody Loops.

    The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown.

    You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs by buying me a coffee 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. The latest design is 'Prunella the Pumpkin' an amigurumi pumpkin doll.

    Making Stitches Podcast is presented, recorded and edited by Lindsay Weston.

    Thank you for listening!

  • 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.

    This weekend, the Great Northern Textile Show is back at Urmston in Manchester for a second year. The show, which features traders, artists, exhibitors and crafts guilds returns, but this time with Domino Panton-Oakley at the helm. I went to meet Domino ahead of the big event to see how preparations were going.

    For for information about the Great Northern Textile Show 2023 and to buy tickets, please check out the website.

    Last year, I spoke to Tracy Fox, creator of the Great Northern Textile Show and went along to the first ever Great Northern Textile Show.


    To join the mailing list for the new Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website. The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops other music used in this episode is Happy Sunshine by Roman Cano, also available 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.





  • 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 practice.

    Mia became so intrigued by the positive impact working with your hands can have on mental health, that she started the Why I Knit Podcast so she could speak to other people who have found great comfort in their hobby too.

    As a passionate advocate for crafting to keep me on an even keel, I stumbled upon the Why I Knit podcast and asked Mia if she would like to come onto Making Stitches. Thankfully, she said yes!

    My sincerest thanks to Mia for agreeing to speak to me for Making Stitches Podcast.

    You can find Mia at her website : Therapeutic Knitting, on Instagram at @knittingistherapeutic, & Why I Knit Podcast.


    To join the mailing list for the new Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website. The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops other music used in this episode is Happy Sunshine by Roman Cano, also available from Melody Loops.

    The Making Stitches logo was designed by Neil Warburton at iamunknown.

    You can support Making Stitches Podcast with running costs by buying me a coffee 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. The latest design - published the same day as this episode is 'Prunella the Pumpkin' an amigurumi pumpkin doll.

    Making Stitches Podcast is presented, recorded and edited by Lindsay Weston.

    Thank you for listening!

  • 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 herself how to sew, Jen has written a book called 'Stitch: Sewing Projects for the Modern Maker'. She says she has written it with both beginners and established sewing enthusiasts in mind - there is plenty of inspiration inside with 30 different projects to have a go at.

    Jen says she wrote the book she wished she could have read when she was first starting out, taking you through the steps of each project. However, the projects should also appeal to established sewers providing short 'palette cleanser' projects for when you need a break after working on larger projects. The fact that they are small items also makes them ideal projects for using up scraps of fabric left over from previous makes.

    My sincerest thanks to Jen for agreeing to speak to me for Making Stitches Podcast.

    You can find Jen at her on Instagram at @stitchcraftandcook


    To join the mailing list for the new Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link.

    For full show notes for this episode, please visit the Making Stitches website. The theme music is Make You Smile by RGMusic from Melody Loops other music used in this episode is Happy Sunshine by Roman Cano, also available 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! 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 the therapeutic benefits of crafts.

    I can't wait to bring you these creative chats and lots more too in the weeks and months ahead.

    To join the mailing list for the new Making Stitches Newsletter, please click onto this link.

    For more information about Making Stitches Podcast, please visit the Making Stitches website. 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