Fiber Talk

Gary L. Parr
  • 4.6 (131)
  • Hobbies
  • Updated Biweekly

A twice-weekly podcast for Fiber Art hobbyists.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    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.

  2. Sep 27

    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.

  3. Sep 20

    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.

  4. Sep 14

    Gabrielle Noe Shares The Silk Snail’s Printed Canvas Story

    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 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: CyberPointers website The Silk Snail website The Silk Snail on Instagram

  5. Sep 9

    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.

  6. Sep 6

    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.

  7. Aug 31

    Creative Embroidery and Impressive Projects Define Natalie Tyler

    Natalie Tyler joins us this week in a show sponsored by the Embroiderers Guild of America at egausa.org. The pandemic was a turning point for Natalie, providing an opportunity to apply her art background to embroidery and develop her version of the art form. The result is a wide array of designs and design types, including pet portraits (including a snake), people portraits, 3D pieces, and using a thrift-store sweater as a canvas. She hasn’t stopped at small pieces. Her Memory Duvet is one of what will likely be many installation pieces designed for public viewing. Her current project is stitching a flower a day for a year. It’s been a scramble at times, but she’s delivered and will complete the project sometime in October. Fiber Talk Patreon subscribers can enjoy an extra video that shares details about that project. Natalie is full of creative ways to express her art through embroidery and you’ll enjoy hearing her story.—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 Natalie Tyler website Natalie Tyler on Instagram Natalie Tyler’s Numonday shop We hope you enjoy this conversation with Natalie Tyler. 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.

  8. Aug 27

    Midweek Chat: New Sponsor, Discount Code, State Fair Success, a Book, and Organizing Your Library

    It’s Midweek Chat time. This show is sponsored by CyberPointers at cyberpointers.org. This week Cindy and Gary discuss our sponsors, an Avlea Folk Embroidery discount code, Hazel Blomkamp, the Iowa State Fair (hooray Cindy and Robin), stitching in public, a book you should own, organizing your stitching library, and embellishing felt bowls. If we’ve enabled you, the links are below. Sunday: Natalie Tyler.—Cindy 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 Hazel Blomkamp website Iowa State Fair Facebook Group Fibres of Life website Stunning Stitches for Crazy Quilts book 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.

  9. Aug 23

    Deb De Crane Takes Us from Cross Stitch to Japanese Embroidery

    Avlea Folk Embroidery is sponsoring this week’s conversation with longtime Fiber Talk follower, Deb De Crane. When you visit avleafolkembroidery.com, use the code FT10 to get 10% off of your order. Deb De Crane connected with recent guest Kris Andrews when she was working at Knox College in Illinois. That meeting introduced Deb much of what the embroidery world has to offer. Today, she enjoys most stitching techniques and, thanks to Kris, has reached Phase 9 of the Japanese Embroidery progression. It’s an enjoyable and insightful conversation with a talented fellow stitcher that may inspire you to expand your stitching horizons.—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. Support our sponsor, Avlea Folk Embroidery, and use code FT10 to save 10% on your order: Avlea Folk Embroidery website We hope you enjoy this conversation with Debra De Crane. 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.

  • 9 Episodes

4.6
out of 5
131 Ratings

About

A twice-weekly podcast for Fiber Art hobbyists.

Information

  • Creator
    Gary L. Parr
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All material copyright Fiber Talk 2019-2025
  • Show Website
    Fiber Talk

You Might Also Like