More to Stitching than Needle & Thread
Oct 19, 2026
Show notes
Jen Goodwin’s blackwork lion.Sue Reed’s Garden Path.This week we’re sponsored by Avlea Folk Embroidery and our topic is the health benefits of needlework. The inspiration for our conversation is an Instagram post by @thedoctorofshopping that explores how much more you get out of that initial expenditure for a needlework kit. You’ll learn about things such as the IKEA effect and The Third Place. For Fiber Talk Patreon members, we continued the conversation to explore muscle memory, flow, and advancing your stitching. This was a fun one that prompted some thinking. Share your reactions in the comments section.—Beth, Cindy, Gary
Please support our sponsor, Avlea Folk Embroidery, at avleafulkembroidery.com.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this week’s. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.
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Lindsay Swearingen Converts Medieval History to Unique Cross Stitch
Oct 11, 2026
Show notes
Cross-Stitch from the Dark Ages is Lindsay Swearingen’s third book.Plague Patron Saint is one of 25 designs in Lindsay Swearingen’s new book.The Embroiderers’ Guild of America sponsors the return of cross-stitch designer Lindsay Swearingen of Tusk and Cardinal. Lindsay’s new book, “Cross-Stitch from the Dark Ages,” is likely one of the most unique collections of cross-stitch designs you’ll encounter. She did a ton of research into medieval arts and practices to come up with a collection of 25 projects designed to “plague your walls.” Throughout the conversation, we all share our favorite designs and learn about the inspiration behind the book and how Lindsay worked with sample stitchers and a great photographer to create a terrific book.—Beth and Gary
Visit the EGA website at egausa.org and consider joining.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this conversation with Lindsay Swearingen. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.
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Midweek Chat: Silk Threads, Jessica and Hazel Classes, Embroidery Cloth
Oct 08, 2026
Show notes
This could be your next travel magnifier lamp.Gothic Pansy is a free class Jessica Grimm will be offering to her subscribers on Oct. 4.It’s Midweek Chat time a week early. The show is sponsored by CyberPointers at cyberpointers.org. This week it’s all three of us talking about needlepoint canvas at Avlea Folk Embroidery, top-quality embroidery ground cloth, shiny silk embroidery threads, a new line of silk needlepoint threads, Beth’s new portable magnifier light, slate frame, and slate-frame alternatives. Sunday: Lindsay Swearingen—Beth, Cindy, and Gary
Join CyberPointers at cyberpointers.org.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy the show. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.
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Chicken Scratch and Quilting with Carolyn Forster
Oct 05, 2026
Show notes
Carolyn Forster’s new book will teach you how to do chicken scratch embroidery.Carolyn Forster went back in time for her 1930s Quilts book.Textile artist Carolyn Forster of Quilting on the Go is our guest this week. The focus of our conversation is her two new books, “20 To Make: Chicken Scratch Embroidery” and “1930s Quilts.” Carolyn has been sewing, stitching, and quilting all of her life. She tried cooking in school but things went wonky so she stayed with needle and thread. We have great fun learning about all of the things she does, including organizing Stitchtopia Craft Holidays. If you want to spend some vacation time with needleworkers in interesting/historic venues, check out the upcoming schedule at Carolyn’s website. We hope you enjoy the conversation and encourage you to give chicken scratch a try.—Beth and Gary
Carolyn Forster’s chicken scratch book offers 20 projects.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this conversation with Carolyn Forster. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.
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Fiber Talk Canvas #9: Prep is Key for Red Rocks Bright Sun Success
Oct 01, 2026
Show notes
In show #9 of our Canvas Series, Cindy and Beth discuss how they prepared to stitch Wendy Moore’s Red Rocks Bright Sun design. The show is sponsored by Cyberpointers (cyberpointers.org) and Avlea Folk Embroidery (avleafolkembroidery.com). Red Rocks Bright Sun is an advanced design that presents several stitching challenges. In the video we talk about many of those hurdles and how Cindy is working through them and Beth plans to handle them when she starts the project. We hope this discussion will help you approach any new project, particularly counted-canvas designs that present stitching challenges. As always, leave your thoughts and questions in the comment section. Below are all of the necessary links so you can explore Wendy’s designs.
Hazel Blomkamp’s New Book and Website Raise the Embroidery Bar
Sep 27, 2026
Show notes
Crewelwork Then & Now by Hazel Blomkamp and Phillipa Turnbull.Hazel Blomkamp’s Contemporary Eagle.This week, Hazel Blomkamp returns to talk about her Workroom subscription program, her updated technique books, and the terrific new collaboration book, Crewelwork Then & Now, she wrote with Phillipa Turnbull. The show is sponsored by the Embroiderers’ Guild of America and Avlea Folk Embroidery. This is the second time we’ve had the privilege of talking with Hazel and, as the first time, it was an absolute treat to learn what goes on in the world of one of our most creative and talented embroidery artists. Be sure to visit her website and consider subscribing to the Workroom. Also, please support our sponsors, the EGA at egausa.org, and Avlea Folk Embroidery at avleafolkembroidery.com. Be sure to use FT10 to get 10% off of your next Avlea order, including needlepoint canvas.—Beth and Gary
Visit the EGA website at egausa.org and consider joining.Please support our sponsor, Avlea Folk Embroidery, at avleafolkembroidery.com.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this conversation with Hazel Blomkamp. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.
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Fiber Talk Remembers Margriet Hogue
Sep 20, 2026
Show notes
A. Pinninger sampler from The Essamplaire.The Kutz sampler from The Essamplaire.Margriet Hogue, creator and owner of The Essamplaire, passed away on Sept. 14, 2026. As our way of remembering the tremendous contribution she made to samplers, and the needle arts in general, this week we re-play the conversation we had with her April 15, 2023.
Margriet Hogue, from The Essamplaire, joins us this week to talk about the world of reproduction samplers, particularly from the 16th and 17th centuries. If you’re searching for new and different samplers, particularly those that go beyond standard cross stitch, The Essamplaire is your destination. Margriet has a collection of reproductions unlike any you’ll see elsewhere. We explore her interest in samplers, what she’s learned studying them in museums, the silks and linens that were used to stitch the originals, and Margriet’s role in sharing samplers with the needlework world. We also learn how linen has changed through the centuries. It’s an enlightening conversation with one of the leading reproduction artists in the needle-arts world.–Beth and Gary
You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Margriet Hogue. We’re always looking for guests, so let us know if there is someone you’d like us to have on the show.
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Gabrielle Noe Shares The Silk Snail’s Printed Canvas Story
Sep 14, 2026
Show notes
Kylie, co-founder of The Silk Snail.Disco Moon design from The Silk Snail.Gabrielle Noe, of The Silk Snail, is our guest and the show is sponsored by CyberPointers, the online chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild. Learn about them at cyberpointers.org. Gabrielle and her partner Kylie met through TikTok, then IRL at a Houston needlepoint store. That meeting evolved into their new printed-canvas business, The Silk Snail. Their first set of canvases went on sale Tuesday, Sept. 8 at navynoo.com. In our conversation, we learn about their experiences forming the business and how they go about designing canvases. We also discuss the dynamics of the needlepoint stitching community. The Silk Snail has all of the usual social media outlets so it’s easy to follow them. When you have a minute, visit their website and check out their merch.—Cindy and Gary
Join CyberPointers at cyberpointers.org.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this conversation with Gabrielle Noe. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.
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Midweek Chat: Lights, Nepal, Goldwork, and the Stitch Beth Loves
Sep 09, 2026
Show notes
Beth has plans for her Fibres of Life eyeglass case.Gothic Pansy is a free class Jessica Grimm will be offering to her subscribers on Oct. 4.When Wednesday arrives, we like to get together and talk about needlework. In this week’s Midweek Chat, sponsored by CyberPointers, Beth and Gary talk about portable magnifier lights and portable batteries; helping the people of Nepal by direct contribution or purchasing products from Fibres of Life; what Beth’s going to do with her wool felt eyeglass case; Beth’s MH 1656 sampler and her favorite, the Montenegrin stitch (it’s not); and a free class Jessica Grimm is offering to her subscribers. As an extension of that, we’d like to know where we can buy quality goldwork materials in the States. Sunday: Gabrielle Noe of The Silk Snail.—Beth and Gary
Join CyberPointers at cyberpointers.org.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy the show. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.
To add yourself to our mailing list and be notified whenever we post a new podcast, provide your name and email address below. You won’t get spam and we won’t share your address.
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Tatiana Popova Helps You Experience Crewel Embroidery
Sep 06, 2026
Show notes
Tatiana Popova’s new book is “Modern Crewel Embroidery for Beginners.Snowdrop Swirl is one of the more advanced designs in Tatiana’s book.We learned all about Tatiana Popova, of Owl Crafts, in our Feb. 8, 2026 show when we talked about her background and her excellent book Contrast in Crewel Embroidery. At the time, she mentioned that a new book was in the works. The book, Modern Crewel Embroidery for Beginners, is now available and we spent a few minutes with Tatiana learning about it. If you’ve never done crewel embroidery, or have tried and need an assist, this book should help you. It has an extensive tools-and-stitches section and offers eight very approachable projects, designed to help you develop your skills. Crewel is fun to do and has its own unique style. If you’re tempted, this book would be handy to have at your side.–Gary
Floral Butterfly uses 14 different stitches.You can listen by using the player above or you can subscribe to Fiber Talk through iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Audible, iHeart Radio, TuneIn, Podbay, Podbean, and many other podcast sources. To receive e-mail notification of new podcasts, provide your name and e-mail address below. We do not sell/share e-mail addresses.
We hope you enjoy this conversation with Tatiana Popova. We’re always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.
To add yourself to our mailing list and be notified whenever we post a new podcast, provide your name and email address below. You won’t get spam and we won’t share your address.
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