Send us feedback about this episode! Whitney Luckenbill is on a mission to empower sewists to make garments to fit their unique shapes. Her YouTube channel, TomKat Stitchery, features a wealth of information on color, style, fabrics, wardrobe planning, patterns, and more. I was fortunate enough to meet Whitney in person at Sew Expo in Puyallup, WA, in February. She is as much of a dynamo in real life as she is on her channel, and we made plans to sit down a few weeks later for an extended...

Send us feedback about this episode! Social media is a two-edged sword. Negativity is everywhere, but the bright spots are waiting to be discovered. Today’s guest is Tiffany Scherschel, whose YouTube channel Hoosier Handmade is one of my favorite follows. Tiffany loves to sew garments, and she brings a positive, can-do attitude to every project. She also understands the importance of community and works hard to make all of her viewers feel like they are part of hers. I look forward to her...

Send us feedback about this episode! In this week’s episode, we take a road trip to the Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives in Butte, Montana. The Archives currently features an exhibit of vintage sewing machines from the collection of Virgil “Sarge” Sargent. The machines—from a late 1800s Willcox and Gibbs chainstitch machine all the way up to a 1960s Singer Rocketeer—detail the importance of sewing in this iconic western town, accompanied by a wealth of accessories, quilts, and vintage...

Send us feedback about this episode! My guest today is Alex Jackson, owner and designer at H Clothing Company in Colorado. After graduating with degrees in business and wanting to start his own company with a sustainability focus, Alex settled on clothing manufacturing. A self-taught sewist, designer, and natural dyer, Alex creates the kind of clothing he wants to wear using hemp fabrics. Hemp is enjoying a resurgence as a useful natural fiber and requires far fewer chemical pesticides and...

Send us feedback about this episode! I took up quilting around 2010, after many years of being a professional knitting designer. For some reason, I was very drawn to scrap quilts, and they remain my favorites kinds to make. I am fascinated by the interplay of random bits of fabric. Join me for a discussion of my favorite books and patterns and get a few tips for making some scrap quilts of your own. 

How much do you think about the thread you use in your machine? Do you like to experiment with different kinds, or do you find one you like and stick to it? In today's podcast, we're going to explore the many kinds of threads currently available to sewists.  Learn about the structure, fiber content, and how choosing a thread can make or break your project. 

Today's episode covers a variety of topics—the Joann Fabrics bankruptcy filing, a student issue that arose at Sew Expo 2024, respectful fitting techniques, and some listener questions about printing PDF files and systems for organizing sewing projects in progress. Feedback, comments, and questions always welcome!

The current economic environment is challenging for small businesses. On today's episode, Janet visits with Kate McIvor, owner of The Confident Stitch in Missoula, Montana, to hear about her business philosophy and what makes for a successful fabric store. The Confident Stitch offers both modern quilt fabrics and apparel fabrics in a lovely, downtown Missoula brick-and-mortar store, but also has a thriving online presence and several subscription services for customers. Kate will introduce us...

Who doesn't love a good bag? Making bags on a sewing machine is a fulfilling and creative process that combines both functionality and artistry. Let your personality shine through your choice of material—canvas, leather, or vinyl—and add finishing touches in the form of decorative threads and other trims.  The sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a handmade bag is a testament to the fusion of skill, creativity, and craftsmanship. In this episode, we'll go over the basics of...

The 2024 Sewing and Stitchery Expo is in the books. This huge event is held at the Washington State Fairgrounds every March and is hosted by Washington State University. Come along for a recap of Janet's classes, an overview of the show, and some thoughts about the current state of the needlework industry. 

A big part of successful sewing, especially when making garments, is making good fabric choices. In this and upcoming "Fabrication" episodes, Janet will discuss different kinds of fabrics, how they are constructed, their characteristics, and techniques for sewing with them. This episode continues the discussion of knit fabrics started in Episode 21, focusing on sweater knits, sweatshirt fabrics, athletic knits, fleece/minky, and a few others. 

Enjoy an entertaining visit with Kira Hartley, author of the book Fabric Wars: The Hunt for Vintage Fabric with Etsy's DodOddity. Kira is a battle-scarred veteran of auction and estate sales in the midwest, where she competes to acquire vintage fabrics and notions to sell to her devoted customers. She details her adventures —along with colorful caricatures of her competitors—in her book, with a second volume soon to follow. Hear from Kira as she talks about how she got started and and turned...

A big part of successful sewing, especially when making garments, is making good fabric choices. In this and upcoming "Fabrication" episodes, Janet will discuss different kinds of fabrics, how they are constructed, their characteristics, and techniques for sewing with them. This episode focuses on knits, specifically jersey, rib knits, and interlock or doubleknits. (The world of knits is too big to cover in a single episode!) Learn why knits are different from wovens and when you would want...

This episode was inspired by an article by Jenni Grover entitled “3 Steps to Let Go of Guilt About Quilting.” Has guilt about your hobbies ever robbed you of the joy of creating? Let’s talk about why that happens and what we can do about it. 

Today’s podcast guest is John Willis of Special Operations Equipment in Camden, TN. Some of you may remember that I went to Tennessee twice in 2023: in April, to attend Nicole Sauce’s Living Free in Tennessee Spring Workshop, and again in October, to attend and present at the Self-Reliance Festival. SRF is held at Special Operations Equipment. When not being used to host events, SOE is a sewing factory making high-end tactical gear.  John and Amanda Willis are amazing people, and John...

Today’s podcast guest is John Willis of Special Operations Equipment in Camden, TN. Some of you may remember that I went to Tennessee twice in 2023: in April, to attend Nicole Sauce’s Living Free in Tennessee Spring Workshop, and again in October, to attend and present at the Self-Reliance Festival. SRF is held at Special Operations Equipment. When not being used to host events, SOE is a sewing factory making high-end tactical gear.  John and Amanda Willis are amazing people, and John...

Join me for a conversation with Melanie Knight, owner of Starry Knight Design in Corvallis, MT. Melanie talks about how a simple pair of baby shoes inspired her to start a business using with just a small sewing machine and some leather scraps. That kitchen-table business grew to one that now employs several women and helps  support Melanie's family.  

The Stitchery and Sewing Expo—fondly known as Sew Expo—is celebrating 40 years this year! This annual event is produced by Washington State University and held at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, WA, near Tacoma. This year’s event is scheduled for February 29th to March 3rd.  My guests today are Jenn Geise, Education Manager, and Brittany Labbe, Show Manager. We’ll talk about the history of the show, the classes—class offerings are changing a bit this year in response to attendee...

The humble sewing machine needle—such a small part of the process and yet, such a huge part of the process. Gone are the days when the choices were red band needles for wovens and yellow band needles for knits. Today's sewists have a plethora of choices, from needles for quilting to those best for cosplay and embroidery. We'll explore all there is to know about sewing machine needles. Learn about shanks, eyes, and scarfs (scarves?). Find out how often you should change your needle. Become...

The start of a new year is a great time to set some goals and review planning and organizational systems. We’ll talk about what goals Janet sets and why—it’s not as many as you might think—and ways to keep track of all those WIPs and UFOs. Janet also talks about making the Nathalie cowl neck sweatshirt by Jalie Patterns and sewing up a generator cover for her husband’s construction equipment.  

My guest today is Kerry Brown, founder and owner of Strong Roots Resources in Tennessee. I first met Kerry at the Living Free in Tennessee Spring Workshop last April. While we were relaxing and visiting before dinner one evening, Kerry shared with me the story of Nan, his grandmother, teaching him to sew as a young boy. We reconnected at the Self-Reliance Festival in Camden, Tennessee in October and I asked Kerry if he would like to share his memories of Nan on the podcast. Enjoy!

Are you feeling stressed out by the holiday season? Have you turned a hobby into a business and are wondering how to reclaim your sanity? Do you need help setting boundaries? Janet talks about maintaining balance between real life and your crafting/sewing life and offers some ideas that have worked for her. (Full disclosure:  She needs help in these areas, too!) She’ll also talk a bit about her current sewing, quilting, and embroidery projects and one of the books she really enjoys. 

I am on the road again! Join me as I take my annual birthday trip to Seattle to spend Thanksgiving with my two daughters, as well as treat myself to a private class at the Sewing and Design School in Tacoma and—of course!—some fabric shopping. 

Today, I want to talk about spatial perception, or lack of it. For many years, I thought designing was beyond me, because I have a lot of trouble "seeing" things in my head. I was convinced that creativity only comes from people who can visualize a thing and then figure out how to translate that vision into a finished object. Obviously, I was wrong, but getting to the place where I believed I was a legitimate designer was a journey and one I want to share. If you're struggling with poor...