Making Stitches Podcast

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.