NeedleXChange

NeedleXChange explores the people, ideas and stories stitching the world together.

Hosted by Jamie “Mr X Stitch” Chalmers, the podcast features fascinating conversations with contemporary embroidery, cross-stitch and textile artists who are redefining what needlework can be.

Discover extraordinary creative journeys, innovative techniques, the business of making art, and the cultural impact of craft. From established artists to emerging talents, NeedleXChange celebrates creativity, curiosity and the stories behind the stitches.

New to NeedleXChange?

Here are some great episodes to start with. Or, check out episodes by topic.

Recent Episodes

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158

Nov. 8, 2026

Russell Barratt - Within & Without [NX158]

Russell Barratt turns old clothes and household fabrics into quilts. We talk about what happens when visitors recognise their own memories in his work, and how he learned to explain a process he mostly feels his way through. In this episode How costumes and accessories led Russell into quilting Imposter syndrome at the Festival of Quilts Borrowing ideas and giving unfamiliar artwork a second look My pick for your next listen If Russell got you thinking about what old fabrics can be

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Nov. 1, 2026

Lord Libidan - Thread Detective Part 2 [NX157]

In this episode of NeedleXChange I continue my interview Lord Libidan, the Yorkshire-based cross stitch designer, blogger and author. Part 2 is all about the making: his new self-published alphabets book - 110 monochrome patterns, affordable and built to actually be used. We dig into designing letters inside pixel constraints, inventing a "fake 70s" style AI could never imagine, his book back catalogue (Star Trek to Hello Kitty), and how he juggles Sashiko, a tabletop RPG and the famous Pokémo

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156

Oct. 25, 2026

Lord Libidan - Thread Detective [NX156]

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Lord Libidan, the Yorkshire-based cross stitch designer, blogger and author. In Part 1 we trace how a rained-off summer and a tiny Highland cow kit grew into a blog, a design habit and a reputation as the craft’s information guy - then nerd out on threads (scented, glow-in-the-dark, neon and the wool comeback), the quiet DMC/Anchor monopoly, why DMC’s colour numbers make no sense, and what AI slop is doing to cross stitch. Links Instagram: lordlibid

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155

Oct. 18, 2026

Haf Weighton - Looking Up Part 2 [NX155]

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Haf Weighton, a Wales-based contemporary embroidery and textile artist known for turning place, memory and identity into stitch. This is part two, where we turn to Wales, starting with Arts Council support and moving into language, cultural identity and what it means to be an artist who happens to be Welsh. Haf reflects on bilingualism, creativity and belonging, then we get into the practical side of her work: painting on recycled fabric, hand and m

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154

Oct. 11, 2026

Haf Weighton - Looking Up [NX154]

In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Haf Weighton, a Wales-based contemporary embroidery and textile artist whose work is rooted in places, journeys and the details we usually walk past. We talk about the story behind her High Street exhibition, from Arts Council support to a last-minute route to New Zealand and Australia, and the way travel, memory and architecture feed into her work. Along the way we get into sketchbooks, unfinished work, borders, looking at familiar places through o

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153

Oct. 4, 2026

Prisma Andrade: Making the Ordinary Sacred Part 2 [NX153]

In this episode of NeedleXChange, I interview Prisma Andrade, a Chicago-based fiber and textile artist and recent School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduate whose work turns her family's archive into material and asks what makes something sacred. Prisma builds her pieces from spinning, jacquard weaving, dye painting and quilting, treating process as a way to make everyday objects sacred. In Part 2 we trace her path from an arts-magnet high school in Dallas to SAIC, her move from painting

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