Send us feedback about this episode! Today’s episode is a recap of Janet’s trip to Sew Expo 2025, in Puyallup, WA. Sew Expo is an event sponsored by Washington State University and is in its fifth decade. Janet went as a teacher for the second time, teaching five knitting classes and a sewing class (on thread). Arriving a couple of days early gave her the opportunity to visit a few Joann Fabrics stores to see how the liquidation was progressing and also a chance to shop at Pacific Fabrics, one o...
Mar 11, 2025•32 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! By the time this episode drops, I’ll be on my way to Sew Expo in Puyallup, Washington, to teach five knitting classes and a sewing class. In this episode, I sit down to chat with Morgan Kavanagh, one of the staff members at the Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Arts Museum. The museum is currently hosting the Red Dress Project, which is a gown that traveled the world for several years while various artists added their voices to it in the form of embroidery. W...
Feb 25, 2025•30 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! This episode is all about interfacing—a crucial element in garment construction that can make a big difference in the structure and longevity of your projects. Whether you're making a crisp shirt collar, sturdy bag handles, or reinforcing a hem, interfacing provides that extra support and stability. We’ll cover the different types of interfacing and their construction. Plus, we’ll give you tips on how to choose the right one for your fabric, and share so...
Feb 18, 2025•33 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Today’s episode is a cozy chat about what’s been happening in my sewing room. Grab your beverage of choice and pull up a comfy chair and join me for a discussion of sewing projects, sewing classes, and what is going on with Joann Fabrics. How has 2025 started out for you? Are you working on the projects you thought you’d be working on or have your plans been derailed? Do you think young people want to learn how to sew? Will you be affected if Joanns goes out ...
Feb 11, 2025•34 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! This episode is about die cutters—innovative tools that have revolutionized quilting and fabric cutting. I'll talk mostly about the Accuquilt cutters, because those are the ones I own and know well. Learn how these die cutters work, the different types of dies available, how much they cost, and whether or not a die cutter might be a good fit for your quilting practice. Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com My website: www.janetsza...
Feb 04, 2025•29 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! My guest today is Inge deGroot, a resident of he Netherlands, who reached out and asked to share her passion project about making a custom dress form. Inge tried several methods of creating a dress form that was similar to her body shape, but was not satisfied with the results. After months of research, she was able to locate a company in her area to make a 3D scan of her body. Ultimately, those scans went to another company which produced a dress form. This ...
Jan 28, 2025•42 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Today’s episode features an interview with Yvette of Stash Hub. Yvette and her husband, Doug, are the talented couple behind the creation of this app that enables sewists to catalog and curate their stashes. Overwhelmed by fabric, patterns, and notions? Stash Hub will help you organize what you have and provide inspiration for tackling those projects. Our conversation includes some fun anecdotes about rats, sewing injuries, and the importance of confetti. Sho...
Jan 21, 2025•41 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! What do you know about zippers? How are nylon coil zippers different from molded plastic zippers? Can you shorten a zipper? How? In this episode, we'll talk about all the different kinds of zippers available and how to choose the correct one for your projects. Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com My website: www.janetszabo.com See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog E-mail me! janet@janetszabo.com...
Jan 07, 2025•38 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Today's guest is Susan Skalak, a fiber artist and owner of With Needle and Stick. Susan currently resides in Virginia, where her flock of sheep and goats provide the raw material with which she designs and makes custom needle-felted coats. Hear about Susan's journey from mechanical engineer to fiber artist and how those two practices are not as different as one might imagine. Susan's commitment to putting fibershed prinicples into practice is i...
Dec 17, 2024•46 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Today's episode is a look back at the sewing I did in 2024 and a look ahead to what I want to make in 2025. I'll also talk a bit about the podcast and plans for growing it in the new year. I've always believed it's much easier to see the road ahead when you look back to see how far you've come! Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com My website: www.janetszabo.com See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blo...
Dec 10, 2024•30 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Simply Classic is a company focused on helping sewists to make chic and functional bags for everyday use. Owner Christine Hall Murphy joins me today to talk about her journey from CPA to bag designer and her efforts to bring the art of bagmaking to home sewists. Simply Classic seeks to educate bagmakers through its quarterly subscription program, a robust YouTube channel with tutorials and the weekly Bag Maker’s Workroom Live, and—soon!—classes and workshops ...
Dec 03, 2024•40 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Liz Pike is the owner of Let's Get Sewing, a sewing school in Spokane, Washington. Liz has combined her experience as a former public school teacher with her love of sewing and now offers after-school sewing classes to school-age children (and adults!). Her summer camps provide an opportunity for kids to explore their creativity while simultaneously reinforcing lessons learned in math and language during the school year. Have you thought about teaching k...
Nov 26, 2024•32 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Our guest today is Alayna Rasile, a member of the board of the Montana Fibershed. What is a fibershed, you ask? "A fibershed is a geographically defined area in which fiber resources (wool, flax, hemp, cotton, etc.) are produced and then used by the people living within its boundaries." We'll hear from Alayna about how the Montana Fibershed organization is overcoming geographic and economic challenges to connect fiber producers with end users. ...
Nov 19, 2024•34 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! In this episode, we'll continue the topic of sewing after the apocalypse with a discussion of those supplies and skills that are most essential. This is also a great primer on the basics that a new sewist might want to have on hand for many common situations. Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com My website: www.janetszabo.com See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog E-mail me! janet@janetszabo.com...
Nov 12, 2024•30 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Today’s episode is a bit tongue-in-cheek; I don’t expect there to be an apocalypse, but have you ever thought about how you might sew if the grid went down? People used to do it all the time, and we can learn from the past. This episode focuses on people-powered machinery—treadle sewing machines and handcrank sewing machines—and how to find and refurbish one for yourself. Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com My website: www.janetszabo...
Nov 05, 2024•28 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! I recently had the opportunity to take a trouser drafting class with Kenneth D. King at the Sewing and Design School in Tacoma, WA. Kenneth is professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Kenneth won the Association of Sewing and Design Professional's 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award. He is known for his articles in Threads Magazine, his books, CD books, TV show (Sewing Today), and "Jean-ius," an online class on Craftsy. Ryliss ...
Oct 29, 2024•29 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! This is a topic near and dear to my heart because summer is the season when I do the least amount of sewing. Gardening and other outdoor activities take up much of my time. I am looking forward to winter and having large blocks of time to tackle challenging projects. In this episode, I offer some tips for feeling productive when time in your sewing room is limited. I'll also recap a recent trip to Cleveland and talk about the fabric stores I visited, inc...
Oct 22, 2024•33 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Today's guest is Tabatha Smith, owner and creative force behind Camellia Palms Retreat Center in Florala, Alabama. Hear how she went from "someone who couldn't sew" to accomplished quilter, retreat hostess, and creative entrepreneur. Quilt Queens, her online quilting community at Skool.com, offers members an inspirational and encouraging forum for advancing their skills. And in 2025, she plans to host Quilted Summit, an virtual quilting co...
Oct 08, 2024•30 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Sergers can do so much more than just finish seams. With the correct presser foot, a serger can insert zippers, add cording or wire to edges, create piping, attach beads, make blind hems, and so much more. In this episode, we'll explore the many kinds of presser feet available for sergers, even basic models, and discuss how they can expand your arsenal of tools and techniques. Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com My website: www....
Oct 01, 2024•31 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Today's guest is Deana Crider, a talented maker living in Elizabethton, TN. After learning to sew from her mother, she began selling her products at farmers' markets and craft shows in her area and has built up a devoted customer base. Deana shares with us her experience selling at markets and craft shows, how she determines what products to keep in inventory, and gives advice for sewists wanting to utilize these outlets as a way to sell their handm...
Sep 24, 2024•26 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Our guests today are two members of the Mountain Brook Craft Cooperative located in northwest Montana. Carol Edgar is one of the founding members of the Cooperative and Sarah Anderson is the current president. (Sarah is also the author of the Spinner's Book of Yarn Designs by Storey Publishing.) The Cooperative formed 15 years ago as a way for its original five members to bring their products—quilts and other handmade items—to market. Since that time, th...
Sep 17, 2024•34 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Our guest today is Mari de Jesus, the driving force behind Project Dress a Girl. This annual September event encourages sewists to make simple but adorable dresses that are donated to girls living in poverty around the world. Mari talks about her own journey as a sewist and business owner, a YouTube content creator, and how Project Dress a Girl continues to grow every single year. Learn how you can become involved and make a difference in a young girl's ...
Sep 10, 2024•36 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! September is National Sewing Month! Let's enjoy this month dedicated to our favorite hobby. Are you starting to feel inspired to sew by the change in seasons? We've had some cooler weather here in Montana and I am itching to get out my sweater knits and French terry fabrics. Let's talk about goals for the upcoming sewing season—bags, coats, quilts!—all the sewing! Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com My website: www.jan...
Sep 03, 2024•28 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Part 2 of our series on sewing machine presser feet. We'll discuss the specialty feet that help you to do embroidery, free motion quilting, ruffling, and other fun techniques. Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com My website: www.janetszabo.com See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog E-mail me! janet@janetszabo.com...
Aug 20, 2024•22 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Today’s guest is a young man from Canada who has channeled his passion for sewing into an entertaining and informative YouTube channel. Because of a childhood injury to one side of his body, Cornelius Quiring was inspired to begin making himself custom clothing. Along the way, he taught himself the fundamentals of pattern drafting and now wants to share that knowledge with his audience. Cornelius tackles everything from shirts to coats to pants, and even thou...
Aug 13, 2024•46 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Sewing machine presser feet are essential accessories that help control the fabric as you sew, ensuring precise stitching and consistent results. Each type of presser foot serves a specific purpose, such as the all-purpose foot for general sewing, the zipper foot for installing zippers, or the walking foot for handling multiple layers of fabric. Some presser feet, like the quarter-inch foot, are designed to sew accurate seam allowances. Others, like the embro...
Aug 06, 2024•35 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! The podcast took a break last week while I was traveling. Come along as I recap my trip to Spokane, where I bought fabric and scored an almost-new serger for $13.99 at a thrift store. After coming home, I taught a few classes locally, picked up my new-to-me Bernina 880 sewing machine, and completely reorganized my sewing area. I'll also discuss plans for Year Two (already?) of the podcast. Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com My ...
Jul 30, 2024•38 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Years ago, people sewed because they had to—either to have clothing to wear, to save money, or both. Now that sewing is no longer a necessity, it has blossomed into a billion-dollar industry providing nearly unlimited potential for creativity. Sewists can quilt, embroider by machine, make bags, sew custom clothing, and take advantage of social media to create new income streams. Why do YOU sew? Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com My ...
Jul 16, 2024•26 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! Today's guest is Cheryl Espinosa, owner of the Etsy store Aunt Honey's Estate. Cheryl talks about how her love of vintage sewing patterns led to the creation of her business. Not only does she sell vintage patterns, she sews from them as well. For Cheryl, the appeal of vintage patterns lies in the details—the design lines and fine finishing techniques that are absent from many of our modern designs. She also shares some of her tips for incorporating...
Jul 09, 2024•41 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast Send us feedback about this episode! My guest today is Ryliss Bod, owner and founder of the Sewing and Design School in Tacoma, Washington. Ryliss considers herself one of the luckiest people in the world. She was raised in a family where learning new skills—no matter your age—was valued and encouraged. She channeled her love of sewing into a career as part of the faculty of Bates Technical College. In 2012, she opened the Sewing and Design School and has inspired students to advance their skill...
Jul 02, 2024•46 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast 
