Fiber Talk

Gary L. Parr

A twice-weekly podcast for Fiber Art hobbyists.

Episodes

  1. 3 days ago

    More to Stitching than Needle & Thread

    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 Listen to the podcast: Watch the video 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. Here are some links: Avlea Folk Embroidery website The Doctor of Shopping on Instagram Kristin Armstrong TedxMacatawa 2026 talk (Kristin at 3:38:50) Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting, Lisa Genova Craft Psychology, Anne Kirketerp 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. 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.

  2. 11 Oct

    Lindsay Swearingen Converts Medieval History to Unique Cross Stitch

    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 Listen to the podcast: Watch the video 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. Here are some links: Embroiderers’ Guild of America website Lindsay Swearingen’s first show Tusk and Cardinal website Tusk and Cardinal Etsy shop Tusk and Cardinal on Instagram Tusk and Cardinal on Facebook Tusk and Cardinal on TikTok 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. 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.

  3. 5 Oct

    Chicken Scratch and Quilting with Carolyn Forster

    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 Listen to the podcast: Watch the video 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. Here are some links: Carolyn Forster website Carolyn Forster on Instagram Carolyn Forster on Facebook Carolyn Forster on YouTube 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. 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.

  4. 27 Sept

    Hazel Blomkamp’s New Book and Website Raise the Embroidery Bar

    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 Listen to the podcast: This show is also available on FlossTube. Watch the video 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. Here are some links: Embroiderers’ Guild of America website Avlea Folk Embroidery website Hazel Blomkamp’s first show Hazel Blomkamp’s website Hazel Blomkamp on Instagram Hazel Blomkamp on Facebook 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. 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.

  5. 20 Sept

    Fiber Talk Remembers Margriet Hogue

    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 Listen to the podcast: This show is also available on FlossTube. Click here to view it. 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. Here are some links: The Essamplaire website The Essamplaire on Facebook 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.

  6. 9 Sept

    Midweek Chat: Lights, Nepal, Goldwork, and the Stitch Beth Loves

    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 Listen to the podcast: Watch the video. Click here to view it. 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. Here are some links: CyberPointers website Avlea Folk Embroidery website Jessica Grimm’s Gothic Pansy class Help the people of Nepal Fibres of Life website Brighttech LightView lamp Fiber Talk’s new Patreon page 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.

  7. 6 Sept

    Tatiana Popova Helps You Experience Crewel Embroidery

    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 Listen to the podcast: This show is also available on FlossTube. Watch the video 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. Here are some links: Tatiana’s first show Owl Crafts website Owl Crafts on Instagram Owl Crafts on Facebook 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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A twice-weekly podcast for Fiber Art hobbyists.

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