Episode 114: From Woven Textiles to Knitting an Heirloom Blanket with Annah O’Leary of Needle & Feather

Hello and welcome to Making Stitches Podcast! This time, my guest is Annah O’Leary, a colourwork knitting designer, from Needle and Feather.

Annah has led a very creative life, studying woven textiles at university, working in poduct design and then teaching, before knitting took over. When Annah first tried knitting, she found it frustrating and just didn’t ‘get it’, however during a period of time when she was suffering from anxiety, she picked it back up again and, very quickly, started designing her own colourwork motifs.

Annah’s April Square for her Year by Piece blanket design

Annah started designing and knitting small squares, purely because they didn’t take long and could be completed in an evening, giving her something achievable and enjoyable to focus her mind. After sharing her designs online, she was encouraged to publish her own patterns.

When Annah decided to leave her job in teaching, designing took over full-time and this year, as well as attending numerous shows and festivals, she has launched an e-learning course on colourwork and has published her first book: Knit an Heirloom Blanket.

I first met Annah at Carry on Crafting in July this year, you can catch our quick chat in Episode 110: Carry on Crafting 2026. Our paths crossed again last month at Yarndale, listen to Episode 113: Yarndale 2026 to hear our chat then. But, in-between, those two events, and in the midst of a house move, Annah very kindly found the time to chat with me for this episode!

Thank you Annah! It was lovely to hear your story!

You can find out all about Annah’s work on her website: https://needleandfeather.com/

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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

Episode 113: Yarndale 2026: A Festival of Yarn and Woolly Creativity

Enjoying meeting up with lovely yarn friends at Yarndale!

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!

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.

Episode 112: From Doctor Who to stress-relief knitting with Alice O’Connell

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!

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.

Episode 106 : Stitching History: Inside the Knitting & Crochet Guild Collection

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

Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast!

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.

Episode 104: Yarn, Fibre & Community with Gareth from Manchester Wool & Yarn

I’m taking you out on the road with me today to Stockport to visit a fabulous yarn shop, Manchester Wool & Yarn. The shop celebrated its 2nd birthday earlier this year and is owed and run by Gareth, a passionate maker and supporter of the yarn community.

Stocked with familiar brands and products from independent yarn dyers based across the North West of England, it’s a positive treasure trove of colour, squishyness & is such a lovely place to visit. Regular ‘Bitch and Stitch’ socials support a welcoming community of yarn lovers, and Gareth is always happy to help answer any yarn or pattern queries he encounters from customers.

It was so lovely to visit Gareth at Manchester Wool & Yarn, and I’m really grateful he took the time to speak to me for the podcast – thanks again Gareth!

You can find Manchester Wool & Yarn’s website here and Gareth is also very active on social media, find him on Facebook, Instagram & TikTok.

Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast!

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.

Episode 103: From London 2012 to Peru: Anna Nikipirowicz’s Fabulous Yarn Adventure

My guest for this episode of Making Stitches Podcast is the wonderful Anna Nikipirowicz. Anna first learned to knit and crochet as a child in Poland, but she says she found it boring – luckily for us, as an adult she found a new passion for both crafts and is passionate about sharing her love and knowledge of them.

Anna has published a series of books on crochet techniques, embroidery onto crochet, Tunisian crochet as well as a book on crochet & knitting too. Her passion for her craft is truly infectious and she loves to meet makers and help them improve their techniques and try new things in workshops across the UK and also abroad.

Shawls, socks and blankets are Anna’s favourite items to make and she wants everyone else to join her on her brilliant yarny adventure too. You can find Anna’s website & Instagram account here.

Thanks so much for Anna for finding the time to speak to me for this episode of Making Stitches Podcast!

Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast!

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.

Making Stitches Podcast is presented, recorded and edited by Lindsay Weston.

Episode 101 : Granny Squares Galore! With Katy Mitchell of Kate’s Crochet Creations

Image shows Katy Mitchell from Kate's Crochet Creations sitting at a table surrounded by crocheted items and her book about Granny Squares

Katy Mitchell is the crochet designer behind Kate’s Crochet Creations, known for her vibrant granny square patterns and beautifully themed blanket designs. Her work celebrates colour, creativity and the joy of crochet, her patterns inspire crocheters of all skill levels.

I was thrilled to be able to chat to her about how her hobby turned into a full-time job. Katy’s work has been featured in magazines, she is a Stylecraft yarns ‘Insider’ and, last year, published her first book; The Granny Square Book which features patterns for 125 different squares.

You can find Katy on Instagram, Etsy & Ravelry.

Thank you so much to Katy for speaking to me for Making Stitches Podcast!

It’s TexStyle festival time this weekend in Manchester, and if you would like to come along to enjoy the creativity & fun, please visit the TexStyle website to get your ticket!

If you would like to listen to my chat with Michelle Greaves, who is one of the TexStyle festival’s organisers, you can find it here.

Thank you for listening to Making Stitches Podcast!

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.

Making Stitches Podcast is presented, recorded and edited by Lindsay Weston.

Merry Crochet Makes with Justine Robson & Nicky Ward – BONUS EPISODE

December starts next week which means we are officially on the countdown to Christmas, but there’s still time to make a few Christmas gifts for special people or some decorations for your home.

In this special ‘Bonus Episode’ I’m sharing a chat I had with Justine from Little Box of Crochet and Nicky Ward from A Heart Shaped Cherry. Followers of Little Box of Crochet will know that 2025 has been a difficult year for Justine. One of the things she has had to deal with involved being badly let down on a yarn order for her Summer Box of Crochet, which left her severely out of pocket and struggling through no fault of her own.

In an attempt to help Justine recoup some of her financial losses, a group of crochet designers have donated Christmas themed crochet patterns to be included in a special E-Book called Merry Crochet Makes, which was curated and edited by Nicky.

Last weekend, I spoke to Justine and Nicky about this special collaboration and how it all came together, including chatting about how difficult things have been for Justine this year. (During our chat, Justine became quite upset – for obvious reasons – however, she has listened back to this episode before being released, and it is being published with her blessing).

You can buy the Merry Crochet Makes E-Book here, and you can find Little Box of Crochet on Instagram here, also this is Nicky’s website and Instagram page – @aheartshapedcherry – please give her a follow!

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.

Making Stitches Podcast is presented, recorded and edited by Lindsay Weston.

Episode 96 : TexStyle – Looking ahead to a new festival for 2026 with Michelle Greaves

Welcome to Making Stitches Podcast!

In this episode, I share a chat I’ve had with Michelle Greaves, one half of the team behind the brand new TexStyle festival which is coming to Manchester next year. Michelle and her Mum, Carole, have been hosting yarn festivals for a number of years including the Buxton, Cumbria and Stafford Wool Gatherings, next year, they are hosting a much bigger event spanning all sorts of textile and yarn crafts in central Manchester.

(Photo Credit: Jenny Wood Photography)

TexStyle is a fresh celebration of all things textile, from knitting and crochet to sewing, weaving and sustainable fashion. It will bring together makers, artists, guilds and other enthusiasts for a weekend of inspiration and creativity in the historic Manchester Central (formerly GMEX).

I really enjoyed chatting to Michelle about how her career has swerved from fashion design to web design alongside organising yarn festivals with her Mum, Carole, who has decades of experience in the yarn industry.

I hope you enjoy listening to our chat!

If you would like to find out more information about the TexStyle festival, please check out the website: https://texstyle.uk/

(Photo Credit: Jenny Wood Photography)

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.

Making Stitches Podcast is presented, recorded and edited by Lindsay Weston.

Episode 95 : All things Amigurumi with Amy Ting

My guest for this episode of Making Stitches Podcast is Amy Ting, a crochet designer from the US who specialises in amigurumi. Amy is a passionate advocate for the Japanese technique of crocheting in the round to create soft toys. She has been crocheting amigurumi creatures for 7 years and shares her work online on her website: https://curiouspapaya.com/ and on social media too https://www.instagram.com/curiouspapaya/

This summer, Amy released her first book of crochet patterns called Amigurumi Critters which contains 25 patterns to make cute crocheted animal soft toys. In this chat we spoke about how crochet came into her life and led her to publish her first book.