Hello there, we’re almost 2 weeks into October already, so I thought it was about time I pulled my finger out and got cracking with my latest ‘Postcard from…’ post. September was a busy, and most of the time, un-photogenic month, but there were a few picturesque highlights I can share, so here goes…
The end of the summer
Summer might feel like it ends on the last day of August, but for me and my Summer Craft Challenge, it ends when the young people in my life go back to school. I have reached the point in my parenting adventure that I no longer have 3 young men at home and in school, there’s just one school-aged person in our household now and he has just entered his final year of secondary school – eek!
This year’s Summer Craft Challenge was a significant one, being the 10th one I have hosted, so it was rather appropriate it fell on the last ‘official’ school summer holiday we will have in our house. I know learning doesn’t end for him when he finishes his GCSEs next summer, but the school summer holidays won’t quite be the same from here on in.
It was lovely to be able to mark the summer in this way again. It forces me to find a little bit of time for creativity among all the chaos of part-time work, school holidays, young peoples’ holiday jobs, holidays and visitors! It was bittersweet though, as I prepared for Son number 2 to fly the nest off to University (more on that later).
Son number 1 has just moved into his first post-university lodgings and asked me to crochet him a blanket for his new home, so that’s a lovely project to keep me going into the autumn and the adjustment of life with out number 2 at home. It was a lovely way to end the challenge and look ahead with a brand new exciting project on my hook. The only question is, will I get it finished before he ends his tenancy?!! (Here’s the start of playing with sample patterns – above)
On my hook
So, on my hook currently is this lovely blanket pattern. It’s mosaic crochet (a new technique for me) and the pattern is from Esme Crick’s Mix and Match Modern Crochet Blankets book. I’m using Stylecraft Special DK yarn to create it, colours are Graphite, Saffron and Spice. I am really enjoying the pattern, it doesn’t require too much concentration, so is the perfect project to work on while enjoying the Traitors and Strictly!
Manchester Fashion Week
Early in September I took a step into a world I have never experienced before – the world of high fashion and runways – at Manchester Fashion Week. In Spring this year, I interviewed Kit Giroux, a Great British Sewing Bee 2025 contestant, for Making Stitches Podcast. Then, out of the blue, I received an invitation to attend Kit’s first runway show at Manchester Fashion Week. What a thrill that was – I felt like a bit of a fish out of water – and spotted a few faces I have seen off the telly in the audience. It certainly is not the usual way I spend a weekday afternoon, hobnobbing with beautiful people!
I was so flattered to be invited by Kit and was utterly blown away with the amount of work which must have gone into creating such a brilliant collection of outfits. My particular favourites were the kilts – so much attention to detail. I shared a reel to my Instagram showing some highlights of the show if you fancy hopping over to IG to see it. You can find it @making_stitches_podcast.
Thank you Kit for giving me this brilliant opportunity – I loved it!
End of an era
In the middle of September, we made a long trip down to the south coast of England to drop son number 2 off at University. I have to say I was dreading it. Somehow, when son number 1 went away it was easier – perhaps because I still had two young men at home who needed me and kept me busy.
This time it was much harder and hit me for six. I’m ok now that I know he is happy, settled in his new home and getting on with his studies, but blimey it was a tough drive back home. Sending big hugs out to all the other families missing their young people after this big adjustment.
I know it’s something that young people work so hard to achieve, and parents and grandparents, aunts, uncles and carers too supporting those young people in all the years building up to being able to go away. We know it’s coming but it’s still a big deal when that day comes.
Yarndale 2026
Well, what better antidote for the (almost) empty nest blues than a wonderful day in the Skipton sunshine with loads of lovely yarny friends? Yarndale the weekend after our big University road trip came along just in time for me.
Chatting with lovely people and squishing loads of beautiful, colourful yarn was just what I needed to get me back on track. I had the most amazing day there and thanks to my podcast microphone forcing me to approach people and chat to them about the joy they find in their own creativity and attending the festival, it helped me reconnect with my own joy.
Thank you to everyone who spoke to me at Yarndale, both those who spoke for the podcast and everyone else I chatted to, it was a total delight and reminded me very much why I do my podcast! That episode was published last week (not strictly a September story) but if you would like to listen to my Yarndale adventure this year, you can find it here.
Other Podcast news…
Did you know it was International Podcast Day on 30th September? It was a global celebration of all things podcast, from the blockbuster, showbiz, big budget podcasts which dominate the top of the charts to the shoestring, one man/woman band affairs like my own. When I shared a post about the special day, I got some lovely comments and messages about Making Stitches Podcast, and it really made my day. Thank you!
Last month, Making Stitches Podcast returned from its summer break with a conversation I recorded with crochet designer and teacher Sam Sabido. It was so nice to have a longer chat with Sam after meeting her for the first time at Carry on Crafting in July. I have had Sam on my wish list of podcast guests for quite some time, so it was great to be able to hear the story of her crochet adventure and where it has led her. You can listen to Sam’s episode here.
I also shared a chat I had with knitting teacher and former TV and theatre actress Alice O’Connell. Alice learned to knit while sitting around waiting on the set of TV productions like Silent Witness and Doctor Who. She was recommended the hobby as a way of staying awake while killing time and waiting to be called to perform. Alice is passionate about knitting and is keen to introduce the skill to anyone who will listen. You can hear my chat with Alice here.
And that’s all for this time. I hope you have enjoyed my romp through September. I hope that it was a good month for you.
Until next time, take care!
Lindsay x
