Independent Podcast Awards – Making Stitches Podcast

Photo Jen Rich wearing a striped jumper — Jen Rich

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!

Two houseplants sitting in stitched fabric plant pot holders — Fabric Plant Pots

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.

Orange and pink fabric jewellery roll — Jewellery Roll

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.

Pale blue denim sports bag with pocket zip open to show blue and white checked lining — Overnight bag

It’s a truly stunning book, and Jen’s experience both at the sewing machine and behind the camera are shown to their advantage. Among the 30 projects included are scrunchies, an insulated picnic bag, a reversible tote bag and Christmas stockings (along with all the projects featured in these photographs).

There are extensive instructions taking you through all the steps and techniques needed to finish each project. There are also tips on choosing the right fabric for what you are working on.

Book cover of Stitch: Sewing Projects for the Modern Maker. Cover is pale pink and shows spools of thread, scissors, pins, a chalk pencil and wooden buttons

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

Full length photo of Jen Rich wearing a blue denim jump suit. — Jen wearing the jumpsuit we mentioned in the podcast episode

Image of illustration in pink, turquoise, black and white, showing a microphone, smart phones, piano keyboard, musical notes, video games handset, headphones, sound waves & and eye. Wording reads: Independent Podcast Awards Finalist

Earlier this month, I was thrilled to learn that Making Stitches has been nominated for the first ever Independent Podcast Awards. It’s such an honour to be included in the shortlist!

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Hello there! Sorry for the long radio silence, life has been busy, but I’m thrilled to share with you the news that Making Stitches Podcast is coming back for a 7th series very soon. I have spent some time this summer speaking to some truly fascinating people and I look forward to sharing those creative chats with you starting next week!

To make sure you don’t miss out on that shiny new episode when it appears, make sure you have followed or subscribed to Making Stitches Podcast on your favourite podcast app. That way, it should slide into your to-listen-to list without you having to do another thing!

For a flavour of what’s coming your way, here’s a little taster:

In other news…..

Making Stitches Podcast has made the shortlist of the first ever Independent Podcast Awards!

The Independent Podcast Awards were created to celebrate the smaller independent podcasts which are created up and down the land by hobbyists and people in their bedrooms – well, I tick both of those boxes!

Making Stitches Podcast has been nominated in the the Arts & Culture category along with 9 other podcasts, and it’s a tough category. The quality of the other podcasts which have been chosen is so high, it’s a real honour to even be considered worthy enough to be alongside them.

I have no expectations of what will happen next, I didn’t expect to make the shortlist, but if nothing else, I will have a trip down to London at the end of October and will report back on the experience!

I have been contacted by quite a few people asking, very kindly, if they would be able to vote for Making Stitches in a public vote, but the decision is being made by a panel of judges. Thank you though, to those who asked, that’s really kind of you!

I shall leave it here, I look forward to being back in your podcast feeds again this time next week.

Until then, stay safe and enjoy your crafting!

Lindsay x