Episode 64 : The Great Northern Textile Show 2023

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.

Cheryl & Joanne from the North Cheshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers

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.

Some of Wendy Roby’s exhibition
Sheila Haldane with Jupiter (on the top right)

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.

Jane Smith with her beautiful Japanese Embroidery
Yarn Addicts of Manchester (Helen is on the right)

Since the last episode I had a trip to London for the Independent Podcast Awards. Making Stitches was shortlisted in the Arts & Culture category. It was a wonderful event and a huge honour to be shortlisted alongside other such fantastic podcasts. Making Stitches didn’t win, but I was really pleased to see that Folk on Foot, another passion project podcast was the winner. It’s a super listen and would highly recommend it!

My trip to the Independent Podcast Awards in London!

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

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.

Episode 63 : Black Sheep Wools at 40 & looking ahead to the Great Northern Textile Show 2023

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.

Sara (right) and I at the Black Sheep Wools 40th birthday party

You can find the Black Sheep Wools website here, they are also on Instagram and Facebook.

One of my purchases from Black Sheep Wools on the big day

This weekend, the Great Northern Textile Show is back at Urmston in Manchester for a second year. The show, which features traders, artists 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 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. Next time on Making Stitches, I hope to be able to take you with me to this year’s event.

Making Stitches Podcast is a finalist in the first ever Independent Podcast Awards

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

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.