natural fibres – Making Stitches Podcast

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.

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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.

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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.

When my guest on today’s episode was about to leave a career in London for a quieter pace of life on the Cornish coast, one of her first concerns was where she would be able to buy yarn from. Fast forward a few years and Jane Abraham not only has her own yarn shop, she hosts creative retreats, has her own You Tube channel and has built an online community for crafters ‘of a certain age’ – the Cornish Flock.

Jane’s ‘Flock’ focuses on knitting, crochet, health and the wellbeing of ‘mature women’. Jane says “Many women of a certain age feel isolated, under valued and overlooked. They believe that their interests and feelings are underestimated and there’s not enough digital content that connects with them and caters for their continued interest in fashion”.

You can find Jane at her website, on Facebook, Instagram & You Tube.