Making Stitches Podcast

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.