Stitch Please

This week on  Stitch Please , Lisa hangs out with the fabulous Danesha Anglin (aka Classyfied Life), who proves that grad school stress can actually lead to sewing success. Danesha spills the tea on how she went from “I wonder if I can sew?” to “Look at these Renaissance pants breaking the internet.” They chat about the creative chaos behind designing, the beauty of learning by messing up, an...

This week on  Stitch Please , Lisa breaks down how we all learn to sew—whether you're a visual learner, a hands-on stitch witch, a bookworm with a thimble, or someone who needs their sewing machine to  talk it out . She dives into the four main learning styles and why knowing yours can take your sewing game from “meh” to magnificent. Spoiler: mixing and matching styles is totally allowed...

This week on  Stitch Please , Lisa is back with Mahdiyyah Muhammad for part 2 of their soulful sewing saga. They dive into denim history, fabric frequencies (yes, cloth has  vibes ), and why mending is basically ancestral witchcraft. From fast fashion fails to fiber alchemy, it’s a masterclass in making sustainability stylish. Tune in, get stitched, and feel the frequency. ==== Where You...

This week on  Stitch Please , Lisa is joined (again!) by the fabulous Mahdiyyah Muhammad for a thread-heavy deep dive into sewing that’s sustainable, soulful, and seriously stylish. They chat denim history, fabric vibes (yes, literal vibrations), and why mending isn’t just for grandma—it’s radical, ancestral, and low-key magical. From fast fashion faux pas to fiber alchemy, this convo stitche...

This week on " Stitch Please" , Lisa is serving fashion, history, and fierce creativity as she dives into the upcoming Met Gala theme inspired by the iconic Black Dandy. Joined by style-savvy guests Julian Collins and Kristine McPartlin, the convo unpacks the power and legacy of Black Dandyism, shines a spotlight on Black designers, and dishes out bold, brilliant outfit inspo. From runway dre...

This week on  Stitch Please , Lisa threads it up with the fabulous Kimberly Cartwright—art quilter, event mastermind, and all-around creative force! They dive into Kimberly’s colorful journey into quilting, how her artistic style has evolved, and why community and representation are the real MVPs in the quilting world. Kimberly spills the tea on her one-of-a-kind techniques, the magic of hand...

This week on "Stitch Please", Lisa hangs out with the fabulous Oge Ajibe, a Canadian designer with a passion for fashion that "actually" fits. They dish on Oge’s journey from fashion school to running her own brand, tackling size inclusivity, and navigating the not-so-glamorous world of tariffs. Oge shares how sewing helped her find her voice and why joy is stitched into every design. Plus, they s...

This week on "Stitch Please", Lisa is back with the amazing Cookie Washington—master quilter, culture keeper, and creative force! From sewing Barbie dresses as a kid to making history with her stunning textile art, Cookie stitches Black heritage into every piece. They chat Smithsonian collabs, breathtaking Black mermaid exhibits, and "Project 112", which transforms textile waste into treasured kee...

This week on "Stitch Please", In Part 1 of this discussion, Lisa gets stitchin’ with the fabulous Cookie Washington—master quilter, culture keeper, and all-around creative powerhouse! From sewing tiny Barbie dresses as a kid to making history with her stunning textile art, Cookie shares how she weaves Black heritage into every stitch. The two dive into everything from her Smithsonian collaboration...

This week on "Stitch Please", Lisa chats with Shimere Ballou! Shimere takes us on a sewing journey that started at age 11 with a vintage machine and a love for its unique smell. The ladies talk about the difference between sewing with measurements vs. patterns and the importance of mastering the basics first. Shimere also shares her killer style, mixing masculine and feminine vibes, and her obsess...

This week on "Stitch Please", Lisa dives into the drama of Joann Fabrics’ bankruptcy! She unpacks the company's history, what its financial troubles mean for crafters, and how concepts like the WARN Act and stalking horse bids come into play. Plus, a nostalgic look at Joann’s role in the sewing world—because let’s be real, we all have memories in those aisles! ===== Stitch Betta Have My Money Fund...

Black Rhythm is Creative Liberation. This episode of the Stitch Please podcast celebrates Black history through the lens of creative liberation, focusing on Evelyn Sanders, a trailblazer who confronted colorism in the 1940s beauty contest scene when a daring new design not only won her the title of Miss Fine Brown Frame but also challenged prevailing beauty standards. Sewing as a practice of auton...

This week on "Stitch Please", Lisa dives into the world of sewing ergonomics, proving that comfort is queen! From posture to pedal setup, she shares practical tips to keep your sewing game strong and pain-free. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned stitcher, Lisa's got the hacks to make sewing a joy, not a pain in the neck (or back)! ===== ======= Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of Eng...

This week on the "Stitch Please podcast", Lisa catches up with Dee from "Patterns By Dee", a powerhouse in the sewing scene. They dive into Dee's sewing odyssey from home economics to crafting her own patterns inspired by personal tales and family memories. They riff on the art-fashion fusion, the magic of creativity in pattern design, and the thrill of spreading wisdom on YouTube. Dee cheers on l...

This week on "Stitch Please", Lisa hangs out with LaShuan Bethea, a champion for beginner sewists! They dive into LaShuan's sewing journey, the magic of making your own clothes, and why inclusivity is a must in the sewing world. With plenty of laughs, LaShuan dishes on why she loves teaching beginners, common challenges, and the best resources to kickstart your stitching adventures. Get ready for...

This week on "Stitch Please", Lisa takes a playful stroll down memory lane with a touch of Sankofa wisdom—looking back to leap forward! She dishes out gratitude for her amazing community and collabs, cheers for the big wins of 2024, remembers those we've lost, and sprinkles in some heartfelt intentions for the year ahead. It's all about creativity, growth, and keeping the stitch strong! ===== ====...

This week on "Stitch Please", we’re diving into another gem from our 2023 Holiday Swatches series! Think of swatches as your creative cheat sheet: tiny fabric samples that help you plan, prep, and match like a pro. When you collect them, they turn into a time capsule of your sewing genius. This December, we’re unwrapping heartwarming (and hilarious!) Holiday Sewing Traditions from our amazing comm...

This week on "Sitch Please", we’re bringing back a fan-favorite: our 2023 Holiday Swatches episode! Think of it as a patchwork of festive inspiration. Swatches aren’t just scraps—they’re mini fabric dreams that help you plan, prep, and save on sewing mishaps. Plus, they double as a creative archive! In this holiday special, we’re stitching together stories from our amazing community. Big thanks to...

This week on “Stitch Please,” Lisa chats with Heather Grocock, a visual effects artist(The Flash, Supergirl, The Orville, La Brea) with a love for hand sewing. Heather shares how she left Detroit for the bright lights of LA to work in Lighting and VFX, navigating industry challenges as a woman of color along the way. They dive into Heather’s creative journey, from her quirky business, Auntie Bunny...

This week on "Stitch Please", In part two of our conversation with Shams El-din Rogers Lisa and Shams go wild about the world of sewing machines—are pricier models worth it, or can thrifty treasures do the trick? Together, they dive into sustainable sewing, the allure of vintage machines, and Shams’ knack for giving old gear new life. From tackling the "replace-it" culture to the ethics of consume...

This week on "Stitch Please", Lisa chats with Shams El-din Rogers about the wild world of sewing machines—are pricier models worth it, or can thrifty treasures do the trick? Together, they dive into sustainable sewing, the allure of vintage machines, and Shams’ knack for giving old gear new life. From tackling the "replace-it" culture to the ethics of consumer choices, the duo stitches together a...

This week on "Stitch Please", Lisa hangs out with the fabulous Laverne Benton—better known as Busy Peach—for a fun and lively chat about her fiber arts journey. From learning crochet as a kid to rediscovering her love for it as an adult, Laverne spills all the yarn (pun intended) about her creative adventures. They dive into the magic of fiber, the power of perseverance, and the beauty of embracin...

On this week's episode of “Stitch Please,” Lisa takes a fun, deep dive into the world of industrial sewing machines, especially the mighty cylinder arm! She’s joined by bag-making pros Renee Thomas and Rochelle Wadley, who share their journeys into sewing and how they fell in love with these powerful machines. Renee tells us how she started sewing as a teen, took a break, then came back to it in h...

In this week’s episode of “Stitch Please”, Lisa sits down with Khensani Mohlatole, the talent behind the “ClothesMinded”podcast and “Hanger Management” blog. Together, they dive into Khensani’s sewing journey, her passion for South African fashion history, and the rich significance of African textiles. Khensani explains why celebrating and reclaiming African fashion matters and explores the effect...

This week on "Stitch Please," Lisa dives into the colorful world of cosplay with special guest SheShe from CDC Cosplays! Together, they unpack what makes cosplay more than just a costume—it’s about research, dedication, and the thrill of bringing a character to life. From the craft of creating each look to the excitement of conventions (badges, panels, and even celeb sightings!), they cover it all...