Stitchery Stories

About Stitchery Stories

Stitchery Stories... Where textile artists share their life in fabric and thread. Embroidery. Textile Art. Inspiration, Techniques, Disasters and Delights. Join embroidery enthusiast and textile art dabbler, Susan Weeks, in her friendly chats with UK textile artists. Discover how they got started. Share the lessons learned along the way. Get excited about what they are working on at the moment. Learn how they keep their business growing, their creativity flowing, and get a sneak peek into what is coming next...

Publisher

Susan Weeks

Category

arts · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Jul 2017

Latest episode

3 Apr 2025

Latest episodes

137 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Apr 2025

   Owen Kelly: A Creative Storyteller With Distinctive Hand Stitched Style

   In this episode, host Susan Weeks sits down with Owen Kelly, a fifth-generation stitcher with over 50 years of experience. Working from his remote home on the SW coast of Ireland, and inspired by the natural beauty of the wild Atlantic coast, Owen shares his colourful creative journey—from traditional family techniques to his innovative “flow stitching” and narrative-inspired projects. Known for his playful globe-trotting character Seamus O'Comanssy, and his ever-evolving quilt project, Owen reveals how he blends art, storytelling, and textile heritage to create pieces that are as personal as they are visually striking. Key Talking Points: Family Heritage: Owen’s lifelong connection to stitching, passed down through generations. Remote Creativity: How life on SW Ireland's wild Atlantic coast and the surrounding natural world shape his work. Flow Stitching: His distinctive, freeform stitching style that tells a narrative as it evolves. Seamus O'Comanssy – The Creative Proxy: The story behind his character Seamus and how it bridges his passion for travel and art, sharing creativity and interesting insights into other people's creative lives. Quilt Project: Insights into his ongoing quilt project assembled from recycled, stitched squares. Commissioned Works: How Owen tailors designs—using personal motifs, astrological signs, and indigenous symbols—for bespoke commissions. Digital Storytelling: His use of social media (Facebook and Instagram) to share his creative process and connect with fellow textile enthusiasts. Narrative & Folklore: Drawing on Irish oral traditions and global folk tales to imbue his work with hidden meanings. Ambassadorship: His role as an ambassador for “World Peace One World, One People, One Stitch at a Time.” Challenges & Inspiration: Balancing multiple projects while embracing the spontaneity of creative expression. Relevant Links: View Links, information & Examples of Owen's work at https://stitcherystories.com/owenkelly Follow Owen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/owen.kelly.75 Follow Owen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Slavetothestitch Follow Seamus O'Comanssy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555416757284 World Peace, One World, One People, One Stitch at a time (Facebook Group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/968783837184739/ ==============================================================About Stitchery Courses! VISIT Stitchery Courses a brilliant new place to find expert teachers, helpful info & fun courses to learn stitching, making & crafting with thread, fabric & yarn https://www.stitcherycourses.com GET LISTED on Stitchery Courses if you teach you art, craft, skills with thread, fabric & yarn and tap into this unique place to regularly market your classes and courses and get a steady stream of eager new ‘eyes’ onto your business! DON’T MISS OUT! https://www.stitcherycourses.com/join ================================================== Support Stitchery Stories: Please share the podcast with friends and leave a review to help others discover the show. Buy Me A Coffee If you love Stitchery Stories, how about you 'buy me a coffee' and make a donation to help the show keep going? https://buymeacoffee.com/sueweekspodcast Are We Connected On Socials? Why not pop over to your fave social media places, connect and say Hello! I always LOVE to see what you are stitching and sharing! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stitcherystories Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SusanWeeksYoutube

2. 

   5 Feb 2025

   Sally McCollin: Inspiring Creativity Through Textiles, Teaching and Online Embroidery Courses

   In this Stitchery Stories episode, host Susan Weeks chats with Sally McCollin, a textile artist, designer, and educator with a fascinating career spanning publishing, design, and teaching. From early beginnings knitting mohair jumpers for pocket money to working with major craft companies like Patons & Baldwins (now Coats Crafts), Sally has had an incredible journey in the textile industry. She shares insights into her commercial design work, editorial roles, teaching, and her passion for inspiring others through online embroidery courses, and textile art courses. Key Talking Points: From hobby to profession: How Sally's love for textiles grew from childhood sewing to a career in knitting, embroidery, and design. Working in the commercial craft industry: Her experience designing knitting patterns and working in PR for Coats Crafts. Teaching and inspiring others: How she transitioned into teaching and developed unique textile art courses. Embroidery Skills Courses: The thought process behind creating courses that blend design and embroidery techniques. The importance of play in design: Encouraging creativity through experimentation rather than rigid instruction. Balancing creativity and deadlines: Funny behind-the-scenes stories of stitching projects for magazine features. Love for Shibori and fabric dyeing: Why fabric manipulation and color experimentation remain her favorite techniques. Relevant Links: For this episode... View Links, information & Examples of Sally's work at https://stitcherystories.com/sallymccollin Visit: https://courses.embroiderersguild.com/ Read: https://courses.embroiderersguild.com/p/blog?p=your-online-embroidery-tutor About Stitchery Courses! VISIT Stitchery Courses a brilliant new place to find expert teachers, helpful info & fun courses to learn stitching, making & crafting with thread, fabric & yarn https://www.stitcherycourses.com GET LISTED on Stitchery Courses if you teach you art, craft, skills with thread, fabric & yarn and tap into this unique place to regularly market your classes and courses and get a steady stream of eager new ‘eyes’ onto your business! DON’T MISS OUT! https://www.stitcherycourses.com/join Support Stitchery Stories: Please share the podcast with friends and leave a review to help others discover the show. Buy Me A Coffee If you love Stitchery Stories, how about you 'buy me a coffee' and make a donation to help the show keep going? https://buymeacoffee.com/sueweekspodcast Are We Connected On Socials? Why not pop over to your fave social media places, connect and say Hello! I always LOVE to see what you are stitching and sharing! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stitcherystories_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stitcherystories Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SusanWeeksYoutube Other Episodes You Might Like:

3. 

   21 Nov 2024

   Elizabeth Ashdown: Passementerie Artist Transforming An Endangered Craft

   Elizabeth Ashdown, a pioneering passementerie artist, shares her journey transforming an endangered craft, making traditional textiles accessible and exciting for modern life.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

83,900

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.6 / 5

63 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 73 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

92

Social presence

0

YouTube

85

Engagement

51

Contact Stitchery Stories

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.