Today, Lisa welcomes Grace Christopher, the creative genius behind African Zesty Couture. Grace shares her journey into sewing, which began as a way to keep her mind active after moving to the United States with her one-year-old child. From growing up in Nigeria to her aspiration to flood the streets with African prints, including Knit Ankara, Silk Adire, and Kampala, her dedication to empowering others to embrace and incorporate these fabrics into their own creations is testament to...

In this episode of the Stitch Please podcast, we welcome back Aaronica B. Cole, a dynamic figure in the online sewing community. The episode highlights Aaronica's flourishing career, including a discussion of her designing ventures, family sewing, and her new podcast venture with Julian Collins. The discussion delves into Aaronica's Rustic Chic Thread Collection, a unique endeavor that blends solid and variegated threads, reflecting her innovative approach to sewing, in addition to exploring...

In this episode of the Stitch Please podcast, the Garment Girlies (TyJari, Aiysha, Byrd, DeJanee, LaShaun) of the Black Sewing Network come together for a heartfelt conversation regarding their experiences with sewing and the supportive and welcoming community of the Black Sewing Network. The discussion stresses the importance of embracing creative expression in an environment that embraces all participants as teachers and supportive community members. This welcoming community strongly...

In this episode of the Stitch Please podcast, we continue celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Black Sewing Network, by bringing in Black Sewing Network’s very own Bag Girlies (Nikki, Tanisha and Lanae). We dive into the enchanting world of sewing with a group of seasoned artists, listening as they recount the humble beginnings of their creative journeys, all rooted in the timeless art of sewing. Together, they unravel the secrets of their craft, offering glimpses into their creative...

In this episode of the Stitch Please podcast, we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Black Sewing Network, by bringing in two very special guests: Brittanie and Shareesa (SheShe), sister sewists of Black Sewing Network. They delve into their unique journeys into the world of sewing and the aspirations that ignited their creative paths. Discover the profound philosophies and approaches they've embraced in their personal journeys of self-development. Lisa tantalizingly teases us with a...

Get ready to dive deep into the world of fashion design and find your inner artist! On this week's episode of Stitch Please, we're joined by the incredibly talented Sahara Clemons. Fresh off presenting her latest collection at New York Fashion Week, Sahara --a recent graduate of RISD -- gives us an intimate look behind the seams of her creative process. Through vivid storytelling, Sahara walks us through how she transformed her personal experiences with eczema into a stunning five-piece...

Join Lisa as she shares her fall sewing plans and pattern wishlist for 2023! Despite breaking her ankle in a backyard mishap, Lisa is eager to create a stylish fall wardrobe that will work with her medical boot and accommodate limited mobility. On her pattern wishlist are comfortable knits like Simplicity 8982, a trendy KnowMe 2046 combo dress/tunic/pant set, and the elegant Vogue 1940 dramatic sleeves. She'll also try extending a Vogue button-front shirtdress into a tunic to wear with...

In this episode of the Stitch Please podcast we are celebrating our 200th episode with Bisa Butler, a talented textile artist schooling us in the beautiful intricacies of Black possibility. Bisa’s work showcases historical images of Black life from the early 20th century in a multisensory format, incorporating fabrics, the feeling of the music that she’s listening to as she creates, and playlists that accompany her art to make that experience accessible to the viewer. Bisa shares the...

This VERY special episode is a remarkable interview with renowned quilter Chawne Kimber at the Sew Black space at QuiltCon 2023. Lisa and Chawne discuss her background in mathematics and how quilting became a creative escape and way to process current events, like with her iconic "I Miss Barack Obama (I Miss Hope)" quilt. Chawne shares stories about being featured in a Scholastic book, having her work acquired by the Renwick Museum, and having her quilts studied in a PhD dissertation. As...

This episode of the Stitch Please podcast features Naomi Johnson as host interviewing guest Rashida Coleman Hale and Lisa, live at the Modern Quilt Guild's 10th anniversary QuiltCon event in Atlanta. Lisa explains her motivation for attending QuiltCon for the first time and shares her excitement over the increased representation of Black women and Black-owned businesses at the event. Rashida discusses debuting her new fabric line and the emotional experience of seeing Black women wearing and...

In this special "Sew Black at Quiltcon" episode of the "Black Women Stitch" podcast, host Lisa Woolfork invites us into the textured narratives of Black heritage with her guests Sarah Bond and e bond. Sarah shares her poignant journey of collaboration; connecting with living family members like e bond, and also honoring the powerful legacies of ancestral women, such as Lavinia, her great-great-grandmother born into slavery in 1858, and Jane, born in 1828. Through the art of quilting, both...

Dive into the vibrant tapestry of Black sewing culture with this Sew Black episode. Recorded live at QuiltCon in Atlanta, this epic conversation with Nikki Griffin, Bianca Springer, and Sara Trail helps you get your stitch together. Explore Bianca's inspiring journey from injury to creating a celebrated embroidery book, uncover Nikki Griffin's relentless passion for Atlanta's unique sewing style, and grasp the transformative power of quilting Sara Trail mobilizes for social justice and...

In this very special episode of the Stitch Please podcast, Lisa chats with Queen and J. from the Tea with Queen and J. podcast about their first time attending the Essence festival in New Orleans, which is not only the largest Black-organized festival but the largest festival of any kind in the United States. They talk about its reputation for being an ‘Auntie Con’ and how events can be more intergenerational and welcoming to members of the queer community, musical performances by Janelle...

In today’s episode, Jennifer Oldham of @herhoopdreams shares her unconventional sewing story–because even though she’s found a way to be creative with a needle, thread, and fabric, her sewing machine still lives in her closet most days! Jennifer talks about how an unexpected gift got her into embroidery, where she finds inspiration, and how discovering this creative outlet has taught her about her own learning process and expressing herself. Lisa and Jennifer discuss the therapeutic aspects...

Uzoma Samuel Anyanwu is a visual and fiber artist from a family of creatives. His mother is a fashion designer and his sisters are tailors. In this episode, he talks with Lisa about his creative process of working with fabric from all over the world, how it can teach us to live peacefully with each other, and how his photography techniques complement his painting projects.

Today’s episode features Ella Clausen, who began sewing just a few years ago but gained a following when she shared her creatively engineered process of designing her own wedding dress on her blog, The Handmade Millennial. Ella talks about the roots of her sewing journey and its relationship to her Blackness, how it has allowed her to reach other people in her community and lineage, and find a connection with her sewist grandmother even though they never had the opportunity to meet.

Janet Hensell, also known as Miss J Sews, joins us this week from London, England! She shares her sewing story, starting with the clothes her mother taught her to make for her dolls and then for herself, going from being teased as a child for wearing handmade clothes to a following of admirers of her me-made garments. A life-long learner who uses her vacation time to take courses on pattern cutting, Janet talks about the inspiration behind her newly released debut pattern, London Reign, a...

Robyn Burgess saw her impact in fostering consumerism as a digital marketer working with Neiman Marcus and fast fashion brands, and when she left that job she made a pledge to herself that for the next year, she would make any clothes she needed herself rather than buying more. In today’s podcast, she talks about how she went from intimidation of her sewing machine to teaching a beginners sewing course on Skillshare with everything she wished she knew when she started.

Lisa is joined by home sewist and content creator Sasha Black (@sashasews) who shares how she sewed her first dress with her sister’s sewing machine (she asked permission first!) which… fell apart in the wash before she could wear it. After watching some more tutorials, getting some advice from the sewing community, and taking out her measuring tape, Sasha began to develop her skills to make clothes that would last. She discusses how that grew into a following on social media, the choice...

In this week’s episode, Lisa is joined by three founding members of the Black Sewing Network to learn about their process for creating their own costumes for Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour. Julian Collins, Carmen Green, and Terrance Williams have done powerful work in the sewing community to change culture, lives, make demands, and step forward to create a space that is more loving, more inclusive, and more in line with what it means to be a free people. Their community shares ideas, resources,...

Nikki Brooks quit her well-paying corporate job to pursue sewing and blogging because corporate filled her bank account, not her soul and spirit. In this episode, she talks to Lisa Woolfork about her sewing story, starting her blog after her mom died, and why it is important to trust yourself and the journey. She also describes her creative process, turning complex tasks into simple ones, tips for summer sewing, and why it is important to create patterns for all people and body types.

In today’s episode Lisa is joined by Queenora Irvin and Janine Lecour, the makers of Black Magic Leopard. Black Magic Leopard is an amazing fabric that looks like leopard print from a distance, but when you get close up, it is actually images of Black folks in natural hairstyles. It was designed by two Black women: Queenora who saw an optical illusion, and Janine who made that optical illusion into reality. They discuss the creative process, collaboration with other artists, and seeing a...

Welcome to an exhilarating episode of the Stitch Please podcast, recorded live at the Modern Quilt Guild's 2023 QuiltCon in Atlanta, GA. In this electrifying conversation, Lisa talks with Janine Lecour, a remarkable surface pattern designer. Bursting with creativity, Janine's journey as an artist takes center stage. Janine shares her captivating story. From her early days as an artsy kid to her pursuit of design at the renowned Savannah College of Art and Design, her passion for the creative...

Get ready to meet the dynamic father-daughter duo of Michael and Ava Gardner as they chat with Lisa Woolfork about their children's book, Daddy Dressed Me. With Michael's creative flair and Ava's keen sense of style, they've teamed up to create a delightful tale that celebrates their shared passion for fashion and family. From Michael's expertly crafted garments that boost Ava's confidence to Ava's heartfelt appreciation for her dad's many stunning designs, this book is a beautiful tribute to...

Porfiria Gomez’s sewing story begins in childhood and blooms when she starts her blog. In this episode of the Stitch Please podcast, Porfiria shares how she believes in creating community; whether of moms or sewists. Porfiria talks about her blog, upcoming book, quilt projects, and finding joy in quilting while living a whole life. Porfiria also highlights that she got into modern quilting to rewrite misconceptions.