TexStyle Festival 2026: A weekend of community, colour & creativity
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The Making Stitches Podcast shares a vibrant recap of the inaugural TexStyle Festival 2026 in Manchester, a celebration of textile arts that brought together makers, dyers, and craft lovers from across the UK. Host Lindsay reflects on the festival’s energetic atmosphere, packed crowds, and the palpable sense of community, highlighting standout moments like the Textile Talk stage featuring artists such as Sophia Gardner, Stephen West, Amelia Rogers, and Jane Smith. The event showcased a rich diversity of crafts—from Japanese embroidery and lace knitting to machine knitting and tufting—proving that Manchester’s textile scene is alive and thriving. Organiser Michelle Greaves shares her joy and exhaustion after a successful first edition, confirming plans for the festival to return next year. The episode captures the emotional resonance of creativity, connection, and the joy of making, with many guests expressing how the weekend reignited their passion and inspired new projects. Key takeaways include the importance of community in creative spaces, the power of accessible crafts like embroidery and knitting for people with limited space or time, and the growing demand for inclusive, diverse textile events. The festival’s success demonstrates that niche crafts can flourish when given a dedicated platform. Attendees were inspired not just by the products but by the stories behind them, from personal journeys to cultural heritage. With plans to expand next year, TexStyle Festival is poised to become a cornerstone of the UK’s creative calendar. The episode ends on a hopeful note, urging listeners to support local artisans and embrace the joy of hands-on creation.
Community is the heart of creative festivals—connection and shared passion matter more than perfect execution.
Textile crafts like embroidery, knitting, and tufting are accessible and empowering, especially for those with limited space or time.
The first TexStyle Festival proved there’s strong demand for a dedicated textile event in Manchester and the North West.
Diverse crafts—from Japanese embroidery to machine knitting—can coexist and inspire each other in one vibrant space.
Personal stories behind the art (like Sophia Gardner’s femme fatale portraits or Amelia Rogers’ theatre kits) deepen audience connection.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The First TexStyle Festival: A Dream Realized
“It's been absolutely fantastic, for us as Strollholders it's always that nervous, it's first show, it's in a city, it's all the logistics of bringing a show into a city and you know what? It's been absolutely wonderful.”
Textile Talk Stage: Stories Behind the Stitches
“I love like calling them out and letting them show off because my favorite thing I see in these talks is the shawl that I'm showing or an idea or technique. I'll see someone that has that on their shoulders. I like to have them stand up because usually it's better than mine.”
From Hobby to Career: The Rise of Independent Makers
“48 hours after launching, we sold out. And to me, that felt incredible. Looking back on that day, me and my parents sat at the kitchen table literally like shell-shocked because we just hadn't expected it at all.”
The Heart of the Festival: Craft, Community & Connection
“It's not just about the product. It's about the people, the stories, the way they look at you when they're done and say, 'I made this.' That’s the magic.”
The Organiser’s Journey: Exhaustion, Joy & Future Plans
Michelle Greaves, one of the festival’s organisers, reflects on the whirlwind of the first event—overwhelming crowds, constant planning, and emotional highs. Despite exhaustion, she expresses deep pride and confirms the festival will return next year, bigger and better.
“I love like calling them out and letting them show off because my favorite thing I see in these talks is the shawl that I'm showing or an idea or technique. I'll see someone that has that on their shoulders. I like to have them stand up because usually it's better than mine.”
“48 hours after launching, we sold out. And to me, that felt incredible. Looking back on that day, me and my parents sat at the kitchen table literally like shell-shocked because we just hadn't expected it at all.”
“It's been absolutely fantastic, for us as Strollholders it's always that nervous, it's first show, it's in a city, it's all the logistics of bringing a show into a city and you know what? It's been absolutely wonderful.”
Host
Guests
TexStyle Festival 2026
other
Manchester
place
Stephen West
person
Lindsay
person
Amelia Rogers
person
Michelle Greaves
person
Sophia Gardner
person
Gareth
person
Jane Smith
person
Debbie Munro
person
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