Stitching Tales

Johanna and Malena chat about one of the simplest but most powerful fitting tweaks you can make, adding or removing length in just the right places. Whether you’re tall, petite, or just a unique human being (like all of us! ), you’ll learn how to adjust your patterns so your clothes sit exactly where they should. Malena explains why length adjustments should always come first in your fitting order...

The worst part about sewing knit tops? The neckline, no doubt! To ease the pain and help you sew better neckline finishings, Johanna and Malena dive into one of the most common trouble spots when sewing knit tops, with a focus on the classic neckband. Malena explains why your neckband should always be shorter than the neckline, and how to calculate the best ratio for every type of knit. And should...

Johanna and Malena dive into your pressing sewing questions, and they’re not holding back! What sewing tools do they think are totally overrated? And have they done projects that went completely off the rails? (Oh yes, and Johanna blames the fabric). They also advise on when quilting cotton is suitable for garments and when it isn’t. Plus, Johanna and Malena share their best tips on how to constru...

What would happen if Johanna and Malena joined the chaos of Project Runway? In this episode, they discuss how to deal with impossible challenges, fabric-shopping drama, and hard-hitting criticism from the judges. Would they accept feedback with grace, get defensive or even start crying? Johanna would definitely shed some tears, that's for sure. And would Malena’s wearable designs gain the approval...

Malena’s taking her sewing to new heights—literally—by moving onto a stage as her new sewing space! Johanna’s first reaction? Total shock… quickly followed by excitement. Luckily, Johanna is also getting a studio update, albeit not quite as glamorous. After their catch-up, the conversation shifts to woven fabrics. Malena provides the ultimate guide to the three main categories of woven fabrics. Th...

What if your favourite pair of jeans wasn’t something you bought, but something you made yourself? In this episode, Johanna and Malena explore why sewing your own denim is not only empowering but also incredibly fun. Johanna, who’s never found a perfectly fitting pair of jeans in stores, shares her latest denim project and how she’s adapted industrial techniques for home sewing. Plus, she gives a...

Johanna and Malena have noticed a recent decline in body diversity, both on the runway and among celebrities (hello, Ozempic). Was body inclusivity just a passing trend? And how does this shift make us feel about our own bodies? Navigating society’s beauty standards is definitely complicated. And as sewing influencers, Malena and Johanna also want to present themselves, and in particular their cre...

Malena enjoys cutting out the pattern pieces. Johanna does not. But they agree on one thing: how you cut can really make or break a sewing project. So, they dig into practical strategies for cutting pattern pieces, including how to prep, align, mark, and cut. Plus some great advice on how to deal with those tricky fabrics (Johanna has three words for you: single-layer cutting ). P.S. Malena had so...

Is your sewing table buried under mountains of fabric? Do seam rippers actually have legs? And why can't we ever find the right sewing machine needle? Keeping organised during sewing is hard, and we have all been there. Malena and Johanna share their messy sewing space confessions and give some simple tips on how to improve your sewing space. Or as the French chefs say it – mise en place. Mais oui...

Johanna puts on her reporter's hat (she used to be a journalist) and explains how tariffs work and their impact on both sewing businesses and the customers. Hopefully, this will clarify the confusion surrounding the current situation and explain why many sewing companies have ceased shipping to the US. Malena has finally launched her Bilberry top (yay!), but not without last-minute hiccups. Li...

Have you looked at a sewing pattern and thought, I could never make that? Or maybe you’ve mastered the basics, but the idea of sewing a zipper or adding collars to a garment intimidates you? In this episode, Johanna and Malena share the best methods for transitioning from a sewing novice to feeling more like a pro. Plus, they address mindset challenges such as frustration with underwhelming result...

Malena and Johanna put their style forecaster hats on and list the key trends for fall 2025 and, most importantly, how to sew them. They talk genie pants, draped coats, power suits and midi-skirts. And what about embracing fashion comebacks? Well, Malena still struggles with revisiting 90s fashion, and Johanna is so not ready for 80s shoulder pads. As Stitching Tales' resident music fanatic, Johan...

Malena has found the perfect solution to bring back her sewing mojo: invite a friend and sew together over a glass of cava. Johanna is currently a sweaty, toothless mess. But she has also done some sewing this summer that reminded her of an important principle: KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) They also talk day-job updates, and on air, they impulsively make a bold declaration that will challenge th...

Johanna recently made a big decision regarding the future of The Last Stitch and her well-being. And Malena is finally finishing her next sewing pattern, the Bilberry Top. It's a busy summer, and all the hard work will hopefully pan out in the fall! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stitchingtalespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or contact us at our socials: Stitching Tales on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

How do you transfer notches and lines from paper to fabric accurately? Without ruining the fabric or having it rub off before you even start sewing? Malena and Johanna dive into an often overlooked, but essential, step in sewing: marking your fabric. From tracing wheels to tailor’s chalk, snips to washable pens, they’ll explore the pros, cons, and best-use methods for the many marking tools that w...

Ever found the perfect sewing pattern…only to discover it has no pockets? Don’t worry, in this episode, Malena and Johanna talk about how to take matters into your own hands (literally) and add pockets to just about any sewing pattern. They’ll explain why so many designers leave out pockets, the best way to draft and sew them, and what to watch out for along the way. Tutorials to get you started:...

In this sun-soaked episode, Johanna and Malena dive into the joys of summer sewing. In particular, how to choose the right fabrics and styles for hot weather. They also give tips on the best way to hack a pants sewing pattern into shorts, and why Johanna relies on breezy shirts rather than sunscreen on most summer days. Malena's tutorials for hacking pants into shorts https://www.hazelhenpatterns....

What makes knit and woven fabrics so different, and why does it matter for your sewing project? Plus, can you use a sewing pattern designed for woven on knits, and vice versa? Malena and Johanna dive headfirst into the ultimate fabric showdown: stretchy vs structured, forgiving vs well-fitted, comfy tees vs slim-fit shirts. The battle is on! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stitchingtalespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Ever dreamed of turning your passion for sewing into a full-fledged business? Johanna and Malena pull back the curtain on what it really takes to leap, from pricing and mindset shifts to setting up the business correctly and asking for support. And is it even a good idea to turn your beloved hobby into a business? Listen to find out! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stitchingtalespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or contac...

What's the ultimate seam allowance? (hint: it depends) And should sewing patterns come with seam allowances, or not? Johanna and Malena delve into the world of seam allowances and share some pro tips that you may not have heard before. Plus, Malena talks about how seam allowances are done in the garment industry, which is quite different from what you'll find in most sewing patterns. Email...

Johanna and Malena have sewn for over 70 years. Not individually (they are not that old!). But together, that's how many years it adds up to. So have they learned something after all these years? Well, quite a lot, it turns out, including some important mindset stuff. Listen to find out! Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stitchingtalespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or contact us at our socials: Stitching Tales on Instagram ⁠...

Johanna and Malena love sewing. But not every type of sewing. Some projects are just plain nope! In this episode, we spill the tea on garments and fabrics that we avoid like the plague. Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stitchingtalespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or contact us at our socials: Stitching Tales on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stitching Tales on...

Malena is releasing a new Hazelhen pattern for the first time in years (yay!). But she recently had a revelation that made her rethink the launch process. So now she has to come up with a whole new game plan, and Johanna is here to help. Plus, there is an update on Johanna's situation, which left her in dire straits (which she talked about in last week's episode). Hint: Things are looking up! Emai...

Johanna has hit a low point after weeks of a stubborn flu combined with a return to her day job. A lack of direction and overwhelm have made her feel like she's treading water with the sewing business. Luckily, Malena has some great advice on where Johanna should put her main focus to make the business grow. Have suggestions? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠stitchingtalespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ Or contact us at our...

Should you stay-stitch knits? How do we eliminate puckers when sewing set-in sleeves with ease? Plus, have Johanna and Malena jumped on the projector file bandwagon? Listen to find out! In this episode, we open the listener's mailbox and answer your pressing sewing questions. Have more questions? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠stitchingtalespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ Or write to us on our socials: Stitching Tales on Instag...