May 2026 – Making Stitches Podcast

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.

A small section of the publications area of the Collection

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.

Isobel (left) & Angharad (right) at the K&C Guild Collection

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.

A filet crochet pattern sample book in the Collection

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.

A crocheted hat based on St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow

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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, a 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’s sketch book featuring the Pop Art Paper dress

Kit shares some brilliant behind-the-scenes insights from their time in the Great British 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 your personal style.

Kit’s Taekwondo Transformation Challenge

Kit in a self made outfit (including his famous jeans) — Kit’s Taekwondo Transformation Challenge

As well as looking back on Sewing Bee, Kit also talks about their plans for the future, including their hopes to release an original range of sewing patterns.

Thank you so much Kit for speaking to me for Making Stitches!

You can find Kit on Instagram and TikTok.

Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast!