Make and Decorate with Stephanie: Sew, Quilt, Knit & Home Decor

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! S8 Ep 129 In this episode, I chat with Melodie Harding who shares her journey from traditional quilting to designing innovative stencil tools for machine quilting. Our conversation covers practical tips for quilting, the benefits of using stencils, and how to overcome challenges in free motion quilting. Melodie shares her insights on combining different te...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! In this episode: Chit chat: life update, H+H this week, and birthday party decor projects.  Mini Topics  Pattern Matching fabrics for quilt backings (or for any project)  My process for Foundation Paper Piecing the Fairytale Forest BOM by Duckadilly Audiobook Reviews  AudiobookBook reviews on "Local Woman Missing" by Mary Kubica, "The Diamon...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! Returning guest, Christa Watson is back to talk about her new partnership with Riley Blake Designs.  Christa's is now a fabric designer with Riley Blake and her first collection with them will be available in Nov 2026. We also chat about practice quilt sandwiches you can make and use with what you have on hand.  I am super excited about Christa's...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! In this episode of Make and Decorate, host Stephanie reflects on her unplanned break from podcasting and shares her excitement about returning. She discusses her creative projects over the past year, including a cathedral window quilt for her parents' anniversary and a commissioned king-sized quilt. Stephanie also shares her experiences at a quilting...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! You can watch the video of this podcast on my YouTube channel @makeanddecorate Stephanie welcomes guest Byrd Wadhams to the podcast.  Byrd is a curvy sewist who loves Colorful eclectic clothing. She believes style should not be defined by age, size, or gender. Byrd started her sewing journey a few years ago and it is her goal to show people it’s never too...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! My guest on this episode is Atsushi Futatsuya, a Sashiko artisan and educator. Atsushi shares his Sashiko story, its cultural significance, and its evolution over time. He discusses the relationship between Sashiko and Boro, the importance of storytelling in preserving the craft, and the impact of Western trends on the perception of Sashiko. Atsushi emphas...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! This is a solo episode with host, Stephanie Socha.  The two main topics are YarnCon 2025 and my final trip to JoAnn Fabrics.  This was my first time attending YarnCon, a trade show type event for the knitting, crochet, hand dyers and yarn community. Vendor booths from IL and surrounding states show their beautiful product, much of it hand made, hand dyed a...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message!  You can watch the video recording of this podcast on my YouTube Channel @makeanddecorate In this episode of the Make and Decorate Podcast, host Stephanie interviews quilt designer and teacher Jenny Kay Parks. They discuss Jenny's journey into quilting, her experiences working at big box fabric stores and local quilt shops. Jenny shares her passion fo...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! This is the last episode of 2024! Happy Holidays to you and enjoy a very Happy and Healthy New start to 2025. Check out my Patreon page for a few unlocked Bonus Episodes at patron.com/makeanddecorate My guest on this episode is Deborah Fisher, a ceramic and textile artist with a background in fine art.  She has an online shop called Fish Museum and Circus...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! On this episode, I chat with guest Gail Yellen from Gail Patrice Design . Gail is a sewing educator, pattern designer and specialized in serger artistry.  We talk about her journey in sewing and her love for sergers. She loves exploring the full potential of sergers beyond just finishing seams. Gail shares tips on choosing the right serger, the benefits of...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! Katrina Walker, an industry sewing educator,  author, and designer, shares her journey into the home sewing industry. Katrina has worked with various brands, including Pfaff and Sulky , and has been featured in magazines and TV shows. She is known for her expertise in silk and wool sewing, as well as her innovative techniques. She also raises sheep that pr...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! On this episode, my guest is Carina Gardner, a successful designer and entrepreneur, shares her journey and insights on how to make money as a designer. She emphasizes the importance of being a multifaceted designer and knowing when to pivot into different industries. Karina discusses her Design Suite program, which teaches designers how to make their desi...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! Guest Segment: Chris English Quilts My guest is Chris English, a quilter and fabric/textile designer in the UK.  Chris is known for utilizing recycled fabrics in his one of a kind quilts.  The past several years his quilts have been shown at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, UK .  We chat about Chris's creative background in textile design leading...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! S7 Ep 116: Welcome Back!  Season 7 of the Make and Decorate with Stephanie podcast is here!!  If you are new to this podcast, you will hear any and everything about making, aka sewing, quilting crafting, knitting and interior decorating.  This first half of the season, I have a fabulous guest on almost every episode.  There will be a Chit Chat segment on t...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! Apologies for the extra music drowning out almost 4 minutes of our chat!  I forgot to remove that song from the music track last season!   The old version of the episode is now taken down and a new and revised version of episode 116 is now up! Thank you - Stephanie xxoo Support the show Connect with Stephanie: YOUTUBE: Make and Decorate YouTube Channel EMA...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! Hello and welcome everyone!  If you are new, I am Stephanie and this podcast is a long conversational format with alternating solo and guest episodes.  There is a chit chat segment that is after the guest segment where I chit and chat about everything and nothing in my world of being a maker and interior designer.  This episode will probably be the last on...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! S6 Ep 114 Guests segment:  Aims, Indy Bindy Fabrics https://www.indybindy.com.au/shop Aims is the owner of Indy Bindy Fabrics, an independent online fabric shop based in Australia.  She works with independent fabric artists and designers.  A lot of these fabric artists are in Japan and are small businesses and their fabrics are unique and amazing!   The In...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! The main topic for today’s episode is “Sewing Fashion and Quilting trends of 2024”.  It was fun to research this topic and to present my thoughts on them as well as resources for you to check out to make some trendy fashion including patterns, fabrics notions and more. Stephanie's recommendations for sewing patterns on trend for 2024: https://megannie...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! Christa Watson is back to chat with us about none other than machine quilting, her new Dazzle Dots fabrics with Benartex, Sewing table with Arrow,  quilting notions sold in quilt shops and her new book with C&T Publishing. Links: https://christaquilts.com/ Christa's Books Dazzle Dots Fabric Collection CT Publishing Creative Spark Christa Cabinet S...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message!   Patreon.com/makeanddecorate   Patreon has recently added a free membership feature available where you can join in chats with me and everyone in the group.  Paid subscribers receive a new bonus podcast episode every month. Guest Segment:  Belle Brunner with   Seams Sew Me Belle is a quilter, quilt pattern designer, quilt guild consultant and trainer.  He...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! Welcome to the Make and Decorate Podcast, for makers who love to sew, quilt, knit and decorate....and do all the crafts! Today's guest is Naomi Fata from Love Stitches by Naomi at naomifata.net . Naomi does bridal alterations and makes custom slip covers for upholstery furniture. She also does in person and virtual sewing classes.  You can get 25% off...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! Season 6 Ep. 109 Sara Lawson from Sew Sweetness is back to talk about making bags.  Sara is a bag pattern designer and sells bag making supplies and beautiful cork fabrics at https://sewsweetness.com Sara also has a YouTube channel with tutorial videos on bag making techniques and her live Sewcial Sunday show where she gives information on new and upcoming...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! S6 E108: Knitting with Willie Nillie Knits Links: https://www.instagram.com/willienillieknits/ Link Tree - all the links to find Willie Nillie Knits Support the show Connect with Stephanie: YOUTUBE: Make and Decorate YouTube Channel EMAIL: info@makeanddecorate.com INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! S6 E107:  Quick and Easy Fall and Halloween Sewing, Crochet and Knitting Projects Make and Decorate Patreon Group - Free membership option!!  Patreon finally added free memberships to their platform.   Head on over to Patreon.com/makeanddecorate and join free, and if at a later point you wish to upgrade to a paid tier you can easily do so.  For the month o...

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message! Season 6 is here!!!  Consider joining my Make and DecoratePatreon group for a new bonus episode every month. I did record a great interview with Karla Gerome from the Grace Company, unfortunately you will not be able to listen to that conversation due to technical issues.  I do, however have our recording notes that I share with you on this episode.  Grace...