The Straight Stitch: A Podcast About Sewing and Other Fiber Arts.
Janet Szabo
82 episodes
1 day ago
Send us feedback about this episode! In this episode, we sit down with Sherri Nelson, the creative force and organizer behind the upcoming Sac Bag 'n Sew Expo, happening this September 2025 in Sacramento, California. Sherri shares the heart and vision behind the event, what makes it unique, and how it’s bringing together the sewing, bag-making, and creative communities for a weekend filled with inspiration and connection. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the planning process, the exci...
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Send us feedback about this episode! In this episode, we sit down with Sherri Nelson, the creative force and organizer behind the upcoming Sac Bag 'n Sew Expo, happening this September 2025 in Sacramento, California. Sherri shares the heart and vision behind the event, what makes it unique, and how it’s bringing together the sewing, bag-making, and creative communities for a weekend filled with inspiration and connection. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the planning process, the exci...
Send us feedback about this episode! In this episode, we sit down with Sherri Nelson, the creative force and organizer behind the upcoming Sac Bag 'n Sew Expo, happening this September 2025 in Sacramento, California. Sherri shares the heart and vision behind the event, what makes it unique, and how it’s bringing together the sewing, bag-making, and creative communities for a weekend filled with inspiration and connection. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the planning process, the exci...
Send us feedback about this episode! This episode features a conversation with Christine Lindebak, founder of Sewing and the City. Christine is a fashion designer and sewing entrepreneur who’s bringing high style to the home sewing world. Christine shares her journey from sewing as a child to working in the fashion industry to building a modern, inclusive pattern brand that empowers makers to express their personal style through timeless, city-inspired designs. Whether you're a beginner looki...
Send us feedback about this episode! Has your desire to sew—something that should bring you pleasure—ever taken a vacation? It happens to all of us at one point or another. The reasons could be anything from life stress to creative paralysis. In this episode, we'll explore the reasons for sewing slumps, how to reignite that creative spark, and offer support for the idea that sometimes, a break is not a bad thing. Listeners are invited to share stories of times their sew-jo went on walkabout a...
Send us feedback about this episode! Today's episode is a chatty update about what I've been sewing and the ongoing disappearance of fabric stores. One of my favorite stores outside of Seattle announced last week that it was closing, and the first wave of Joann Fabrics locations have shuttered for good. Is online shopping an alternative? I'll offer up some suggestions for my favorite online retailers as we prepare to navigate a changing landscape. Show notes for each episode: www.thestr...
Send us feedback about this episode! This episode explores the importance of textiles in marketing and branding. The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, in Spokane, WA, houses a unique collection of over 150 cloth flour sacks, dating from 1900 to the 1940s, which showcase the evolution of flour packaging and its significance in regional and international trade. Beginning in the mid-1800s, Eastern Washington established itself a major wheat-growing area, at one time having over 100 mills shi...
Send us feedback about this episode! Today's episode features an interview with renowned textile artist and quilter Sylvia Pippen, whose work beautifully blends traditional Japanese sashiko with contemporary appliqué techniques. Sylvia shares her creative journey—from growing up in a family of artists to developing her signature style inspired by nature, Pacific Island culture, and the rhythms of hand stitching. We talk about the history and uses of sashiko, the process behind her stunning bo...
Send us feedback about this episode! In this episode, we explore the innovative world of using a projector to cut out sewing patterns, eliminating the need for pinning or tracing. Whether you're a curious beginner or looking to streamline your sewing process, today’s guest, Sheredith Hardy, breaks down everything you need to know: how projectors work, what equipment you need, how to set it up, and tips for making the transition smooth and successful. Sheredith offers a wealth of resources th...
Send us feedback about this episode! In this episode, I take a closer look at the essential tools that make my sewing more efficient and enjoyable. From sewing machines and scissors to pins, measuring tools, and beyond, I am sharing my favorite items from my sewing toolbox—what I love, why I chose the ones I did, and how they’ve improved my projects over time. Whether you're just beginning your sewing journey or looking to refine your current setup, this episode offers helpful insights and pr...
Send us feedback about this episode! Millinery is the art and craft of designing, making, and selling hats, typically women’s hats. A milliner is a skilled artisan who creates hats using various materials like felt, straw, fabric, and embellishments such as feathers, ribbons, and beads. In today’s episode, guest Andrea Blohm introduces us to the art of millinery and its place in the world of modern sewing. Andrea is co-owner of the North American Millinery Group, which produces Millinery Meet...
Send us feedback about this episode! We’ve had a slew of new listeners to the podcast in the past couple of weeks (yay!). Not everyone wants to go back and listen to the podcast from the beginning, so I thought I’d do a recap of who I am and how I got here. It’s a tale with a few plot twists—including six months of chemotherapy at age 28 for leukemia—but it details my journey as a knitting designer and now sewist. Hopefully, my story will be both encouraging and entertaining. Show notes...
Send us feedback about this episode! Join me for a lovely chat with Emma Jones of Vintage Sewing Box. Emma is a UK designer who delights in all things needle and thread. A former primary school teacher, Emma has combined her love of sewing with her talent as an instructor and shares her passion through Instagram, YouTube, patterns, and more. She specializes in English paper piecing and embroidery, often combining both in her designs. If you are a fan of EPP, you’ll be inspired by Emma’s work,...
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, on...
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...
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 some...
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 o...
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.jane...
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. Thi...
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.&...
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
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 inspiring! Sh...
The Straight Stitch: A Podcast About Sewing and Other Fiber Arts.
Send us feedback about this episode! In this episode, we sit down with Sherri Nelson, the creative force and organizer behind the upcoming Sac Bag 'n Sew Expo, happening this September 2025 in Sacramento, California. Sherri shares the heart and vision behind the event, what makes it unique, and how it’s bringing together the sewing, bag-making, and creative communities for a weekend filled with inspiration and connection. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the planning process, the exci...
