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...

Join me for my first interview show—a visit with knitting instructor, designer, author, and now improv quilter, JC Briar. JC was the technical editor for my cabling newsletter, Twists and Turns, as well as the editor for two of my knitting books. We taught together at Stitches and on a Craft Cruises knitting cruise to Alaska. She is the author of the handy guide Charts Made Simple and the mastermind behind Stitch Maps knitting chart software. We talk about her journey from computer programmer...

My collection of vintage sewing machines began with a Necchi BF purchased locally. This petite machine once belonged to a professional seamstress, and I'd like to think she is happy that it is still being used. I cover the history of this Italian sewing machine manufacturer and talk about the various models, many of which I own. 

Coverstitch machines are relatively new to the domestic sewing market but are gaining in popularity. Primarily used for hemming knit garments, a coverstitch machine will elevate the look of your me-made garments. They also have binding and decorative stitch capabilities. In this episode, I'll go over the ins and outs of coverstitch machines,  why you might want one, and how to decide between a standalone machine and a serger/coverstitch combo machine. 

Join me as I take a road trip across Washington state, then fly from Seattle to Tennessee to attend the Self-Reliance Festival, where I demo'ed spinning yarn for attendees. Along the way, we'll visit some Walmart remnant racks, talk about the ongoing dysfunction at Joann Fabrics, and hear how Macy's actually listened to their customers as they developed and launched an exciting new house brand.  

In this episode, I talk about the process of finding patterns suitable for teaching a pants class and the pants patterns I tested this week. I also wax eloquently about my favorite machines at the moment: sergers. If you are thinking about buying a serger or upgrading to a newer model, this is the episode for you. 

In this episode, I talk about what's been happening this week and how raising pigs for market collided with getting ready for our annual craft co-op sale. (If you don't want to hear about the pig issues, you might want to skip this episode, or fast forward through the discussion.) I will review what I've been sewing and also recap some of what I have learned about Joann Fabrics' financial woes and its uncertain future. 

In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about classes—what to expect as a student taking a sewing or other making class, and what to expect as a teacher. I’ll also talk briefly about how to start a side hustle or even a career as a teacher, if that is something you’d like to do. I’m drawing on years of experience teaching knitting at venues such as Stitches and Knitting Guild of America conferences as well as my current experience teaching sewing and fitting classes regionally. 

Choosing a sewing machine—either for the first time or as an upgrade from a current machine—is big decision. In this episode, we'll explore setting a budget, deciding on must-have features, and what additional bells and whistles might make your sewing experience even better.  We'll also talk about the Walmart value fabric remnant rack and why you should check it out. 

In episode 2, we will talk about how to get started on the journey of sewing your own clothes, including choosing pattern sizes, taking measurements, making a bodice sloper, and finding pattern companies whose designs fit you well. 

In this episode, host Janet Szabo introduces herself and her plans for this podcast about sewing, about people who sew, and about what they sew.