Stitching Tales

Want to make your perfect t-shirt? Then Johanna's and Malena's next book could be the answer to your quest. Yes, they are working on a sewing book with patterns for five different t-shirt styles, because let's be honest, no one agrees on what “perfect” is anyway. In this episode, they share all the inside information, including styles, sizing, content and the decision to make their fir...

Johanna and Malena have both moved sewing spaces recently. And now they feel overwhelmed—by all the sewing stuff they have accumulated over the years. What should they keep and what should they toss (or recycle)? They both feel kinda bad about getting rid of old fabric scraps. Should they be better at scrap busting? Or are the zero-waste messages not really realistic for home sewists? Then they tu...

Welcome to the very last Stitching Tales episode of 2025. Johanna and Malena are in a reflective mood, mostly because they just realised that episode 100 is creeping up fast. Malena shares her new work schedule with more room for personal projects. While Johanna reflects on the mind games that come with suddenly having more time on your hands. Of course, this leads to their big upcoming project, a...

Johanna and Malena look back at their 2025 business year, a year packed with changes, and most of them felt good. Johanna made the big jump into working full-time on The Last Stitch, which gave her a boost of creativity, focus, and energy that she hasn't felt in ages. Malena finally launched the Bilberry top, scored her first pattern magazine feature, and even moved her sewing studio into a bridal...

Johanna and Malena play fantasy sewing and dream up five key garments that they love to wear over and over. For Johanna it's a retro-style windbreaker and of course the optimal pleated skirt (with pockets, of course). Malena ponders the perfect dress, and then she has a t-shirt revelation that makes them want to rethink everything. They also read another listener's email for the new Stitch and Tel...

They shimmer, they float, they slide right off your cutting table… Malena and Johanna dive into the world of slippery yet stunning fabrics. From satin to chiffon to charmeuse, they are talking about the types of materials that can drive sewists up the wall. A very timely episode as Malena has been dipping her toe into bridal wear (!). Malena also explains the technical side of how these fabrics ar...

Malena and Johanna take a deep dive into the art of sewing smart on a budget, from fabric choices to smart tools. Malena also shares one of her favourite cost-saving tricks, based on how things are done in the garment industry. This impresses Johanna, because it's not just a budget trick; it's also a design feature! Johanna even claims that listening to this episode could make you rich, at least i...

Malena has been on a super inspiring networking trip to Copenhagen, and now she wants to switch careers and pivot into custom designs for theatre and ballet. Johanna has been working abroad as well, which, among other things, led her to start a sewing TikTok account after enjoying a glass of Spanish cerveza at the airport! In this fun update, they talk about everything from how to crack the sizing...

Think you have nailed wovens? Then think again. Malena is on a roll and delivers some fascinating factoids about woven fabrics, but please don't call the tweed police! Then Johanna wants to quit the podcast mid-through and run out and buy some chambray fabric. Luckily, she stays the entire recording and instead invents a groundbreaking new material for duvets– flatine . Check out the previous epis...

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:...