Malena and Johanna go outside their Scandinavian comfort zone to allow themselves to dream big, about sewing and the future of their businesses. We share some lofty goals, plus we tease our next projects! Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod Stitching Tales on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns. ...
Jul 02, 2024•45 min
Do you have to prewash every fabric and is overcasting the edges always necessary? And do we really have to cut all pattern pieces in the same direction? Johanna and Malena talk about their biggest sewing dos and don'ts. Some they agree on, and some...well...you have to listen and find out! Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod Stitching Tales on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod About Malena Hjerpe: Profes...
Jun 25, 2024•49 min
Malena has added projector files to her latest pattern (The Malva Tee) and we think projectors might be the future for us homesewists. Plus she is featured on the biggest sewing podcast (not us, hehe). Johanna is almost done with the instructions for her latest sewing pattern, the Vide knit pants. But will it sell? This question leads to a discussion about sewing pattern companies going through periods of change or even folding. Malena's letter on Love To Sew Podcast (Episode 263) https://loveto...
Jun 18, 2024•53 min
Learn our top tips for making your own activewear. We talk fabrics, construction methods, patterns, fit – and how to add those special seams and finishes using regular, domestic, sewing machines. Use code SAPOD20 to get 20% off: Johanna's Sewing Activewear ebook + Aila Leggings patterns. Malena's Hazelhen Top and Fieldfare Joggers. Johanna's discount link https://shop.thelaststitch.com/discount/SAPOD20 Malena's discount link https://hazelhenpatterns.etsy.com?coupon=SAPOD20 Johanna talks about ho...
Jun 11, 2024•1 hr 1 min
We share our top picks of must-have sewing helpers. Tools that are also budget-friendly, with one tiny exception. Malena and Johanna also get into a discussion about which country produces the best scissors. Then Malena reveals a tool that makes Johanna explode with laughter! Fit for Knits Book https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Johanna's Top 10 Tools for Less than $10 https://www.thelaststitch.com/top-10-cheap-sewing-tools Stitching Tales on Instagram h...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr
Do you want to duplicate a store-bought garment? In this episode, we talk about how to make a pattern from a piece of clothing. There are several ways to do this and we cover them all. Fit for Knits Book https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Johanna's Pattern Transfer Tutorial https://youtu.be/qyZIMeEv0yc Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod Stitching Tales on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod...
May 28, 2024•41 min
Malena is working on a secret pattern project but worries that the pattern's name might turn her into a crazy cat lady. Johanna is burning the midnight oil cranking out weekly YouTube videos, but fears her schedule is not sustainable. Fit for Knits Book https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Johanna's YouTube-channel https://www.youtube.com/@Thelaststitch Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod Stitching Tales on YouTube h...
May 21, 2024•54 min
What's the secret to sewing awesome knit tops? In this episode, Malena and Johanna share their best tips for fitting and sewing a t-shirt rivalling high-end RTW. Fit for Knits Book https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Free FBA and SBA guide https://www.thelaststitch.com/bustguide Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod Stitching Tales on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod T-shirt video sewing tutorial ...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Malena's day job is making patterns for one of the largest fashion companies in the world. Can you guess which one? In this episode, she shares what it's like to develop patterns in the professional world, and takes us through the process from a design sketch to the finished garment in stores. Fit for Knits Book https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod Stitching Tales on YouTube https://www...
May 07, 2024•54 min
Can you sew stretchy knits without a serger? Absolutely! If you use the right stitches, tools and techniques. In this episode, we share our best tips for sewing knit fabrics on a regular sewing machine. Video: Sew Stretchy Knits on a Sewing Machine: 5 Game-Changing Tips https://youtu.be/rr2hASfbuMY Fit for Knits Book https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod Stitching Tales on YouTube https://www...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Malena's free pattern launch has been a huge success. But now she is swamped with freelance work, with little time to develop new products and content. Johanna is back on YouTube and is blown away by the response. But can she produce weekly videos while also filming a sewing course, creating a new sewing pattern, plus working a part-time job? The struggle is real! Fit for Knits Book https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.c...
Apr 23, 2024•55 min
Do we really need a coverstitch machine? And why are they so fickle? Johanna and Malena cover (hah) everything you need to know about using a coverstitch machine and share their best tips. Coverstitch Success Course https://courses.thelaststitch.com/ [Code has expired] Free coverstitch troubleshooting guide https://www.thelaststitch.com/coverstitch-troubleshooting-guide/ Johanna's coverstitch resources https://www.thelaststitch.com/coverstitching https://www.thelaststitch.com/master-the-coversti...
Apr 16, 2024•54 min
Do we have to be on every single platform? And how do we create great content on every social media without burning ourselves to ashes? The answer is that we can't! But if we want our business to succeed, we must keep churning out new content. So how can we do that without losing our minds? Johanna and Malena brainstorm some ideas for more effective content marketing. Fit for Knits https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/s...
Apr 09, 2024•56 min
What are the secrets to sewing a really awesome pair of jeans? Johanna and Malena dive deep into this fascinating topic and offer tips and hacks you might not have heard before. Plus a few tales of jeans sewing disasters, because yes, they happen to all of us! Johanna's book Sewing Jeans https://www.thelaststitch.com/sewing-jeans-book Sewing jeans resources https://www.thelaststitch.com/sewingjeans Fit for Knits https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Stitching Tales on Instagram ...
Apr 02, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Malena is blown away by the response to her new free pattern. And Johanna is losing subscribers on YouTube because of the podcast! In this catch-up, we share some exciting and not-so-exciting things that have happened lately in our sewing businesses. Fit for Knits https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod Stitching Tales on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod Ploen Patterns https://...
Mar 26, 2024•40 min
Marketing is the thing that both Malena and Johanna struggle with the most when it comes to running a business. Malena wants to rely less on Instagram and is currently trying out new platforms. Johanna is only comfortable with time-consuming, high-quality, content marketing, which incidentally is what stops her from doing any marketing at all. We also address some legal and taxation complications regarding marketing. Things that not everyone in the sewing community might be aware of. Fit for Kni...
Mar 19, 2024•56 min
Curious about the process of developing sewing patterns? What tools do we use? How much is digital vs pen and paper? And are pattern testers required to ensure a good fit in all sizes? These and a lot more questions are answered in this episode where Malena and Johanna talk candidly about the process of creating sewing patterns as a small company. Fit for Knits https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod ...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Malena has released the Malva tee, which you'll get for free if you sign up for her newsletter. Malva is guaranteed to become a wardrobe staple, and Johanna can't rave enough about the balanced and clever silhouette. Johanna hasn't released a new pattern (yet!) but Malena has some strong opinions on what type of sewing pattern Johanna should create next. This is where Johanna lets her guard down and admits she is terrified of that idea. Listen to find out! Fit for Knits https://www.thelaststitch...
Mar 05, 2024•49 min
Do we really need newsletters? Do readers find them useful? Or are they simply a waste of both inbox space and precious time for us business owners? Malena wants to start a monthly sewing newsletter. But her concept flies in the face of all conventional sewing newsletter wisdom. Johanna is both impressed and a bit sceptical. Will Malena be a newsletter disrupter or stick to a more conventional approach? Listen to find out! Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtal...
Feb 27, 2024•50 min
Johanna and Malena have made a book together. It's about how to fit and sew beautiful knit clothes. Listen to this episode to learn a ton of tips that could blow your mind. Fit for Knits Book https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book Stitching Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod Stitching Tales on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator. ...
Feb 20, 2024•57 min
Malena and Johanna get candid about their own struggles when it comes to sewing clothes made with knit fabrics. We talk about fabrics that can't handle sewing, disappointing necklines and having the serger knife slice up your garment (again!). Luckily they have figured out some great tips along the way, so listen carefully to save you from making the same mistakes. Some of Malena's and Johanna's tips involve using a glue stick and a timer. But not together! Fit for Knits Book https://www.th...
Feb 13, 2024•59 min
Malena and Johanna talk about the realities of running a sewing business. Can you quit your day job, or even make money at all? And does creating content take the fun out of sewing? Johanna likes to pretend she is running a big sewing media house with a staff of highly skilled professionals. But in reality, she is mostly a one-person show. Malena is more down-to-earth and likes to apply the "good enough" philosophy to save her sanity. Plus she is a big fan of delegating. Fit for Knits Book ...
Feb 04, 2024•46 min
