Since 2017, we've learned a few things about making a podcast! But, honestly, these pieces of advice would be helpful for anyone who is making a public creative endeavour. Listen to this week's episode to hear us celebrate 300 episodes!
Helen and Caroline smile and take a selfie in the Blackbird Fabrics warehouse.
300 EPISODES!!! 🥳🎉
This week on the podcast, we chat about 9 years making Love to Sew, including the guest we were the most nervous to interview, our 2026 TNT patterns, and the advice we would give the 2017 versions of ourselves. Plus: fun games, Love to Sew stats, and more!
But seriously - flaps over pockets and laps over or under zippers will help you stay dry in the rain! Listen to this week's episode to find out LOTS more about sewing rainwear!
A person wears a yellow raincoat and holds a metal water bottle. The text reads, "Episode 289: Rainwear."
This week's episode is all about sewing rainwear! ☔ We talk about some of the most common waterproof fabrics, share some great indie patterns, and give tons of tips for sealing seams, re-waterproofing, and more!
Sydney stands in front of hand painted doors with a cross stitch motif.
A brick fireplace with a tulip applique quilt hanging over it. A long desk with a laptop and monitor on it.
Sydney's sewing room, with a counter height cutting table, an ironing board, mirror, blue and brown rug, and colourful curtains by a row of windows.
Sydney Graham's dreamy sewing room 😍
In this week's episode, we chat with Sydney about what makes the perfect sewing space! And she should know - she has created several amazing ones.
We also chat with Sydney about building a sewing business, prioritizing comfort in clothing, and more!
Syd wears a brightly coloured quilt coat with a lone star motif and a red knitted hood.
Syd wears a white puff sleeve top with a ruffle at the neck and green gingham elastic waist pants.
Syd wears a white knit tank top and a red and pink long large-scale check skirt.
Sydney Graham's style phrase is: "Little Witch Hazel!"
Inspired by an adorable children's book by Phoebe Wahl, Sydney loves combining comfortable garments with pops of colour and a handmade twist.
Listen to this week's episode to hear more from this amazing sewist and pattern designer!
We love Sydney Graham’s style priorities! Comfort and confidence is the way to go - and it doesn't look like potato sacks. It looks fun and creative! Listen to this week's episode to hear about how Sydney built a career in the sewing world, where she gets her style inspiration, and more.
Sydney graham wears a tie front crochet vest over a tank top and a white elastic waist skirt. The text reads, "Episode 298: Building a Sewing Business with Sydney Graham."
Our guest for this episode is Sydney Graham! She designs comfy, stylish patterns and makes amazing sewing content on social media. We chat with her about her fascinating career journey, creating work/life balance, and her dreamy DIY sewing spaces.
Helen holds up a blue and grey plaid jacket lined with a copper rayon bemberg lining.
Picking a lining fabric is a little bit like matchmaking! 💞 You want to pick a lining that goes with your main fabric- for example, a silky rayon bemberg is a perfect match for this medium-weight wool coating. Listen to Episode 187: Lining for more good matches!
Thick, dark brown wool coating fabric.
Do you want to sew with yummy, warm wools, but feel a little intimidated? We've got you. In Episode 164: Wool, we demystify this unique fiber. We talk about the characteristics of many common wool fabrics, give sewing tips, and share a bunch of indie patterns that would work well with wool.
A person hand sewing a hem on a white garment with red trim.
Are you traveling this holiday season? ✈️🚗🧳 Bring your sewing with you!
Holiday visits are pretty busy. But if you can squeeze a little bit of sewing in during the quieter moments, it might make the difference between frazzled and festive. Check out Episode 234: Sewing and Travel for tips!
Pauline Bruce took her sewing friendships off the internet and into real life! In this week's episode, she gives us tips on how to make sewing friends, tells us about her globe-trotting sewing journey, and lots more. Listen in for an episode that's like talking to a friend you've never met before!
Pauline wears a black halter top and stands in front of a white background. The text reads, "Episode 292: Sew the Look with Pauline Bruce."
In this week's episode, we interview Pauline Bruce aka @sewuthinkucan! She’s a pattern hacking genius, Sew the Look specialist, and beloved member of the sewing community.
A person sits in a chair with their legs crossed. They wear light-wash jeans and snakeskin boots.
Why do your pants ride up when you sit down? 🤔
When you're standing, pants hang pretty much straight down from your waist. When you sit, because of the bends in your hips and knees and the difference in flesh distribution, the same length of fabric has farther to travel.
Thank you ❤️❤️
Helen wears a long sleeve knit sheath dress in a blue and yellow jersey print fabric.
Sleeves on your knit garment too tight? It might be due to the DoGS! 🐕
DoGS = direction of greatest stretch. And it's as important for sewing knits as the grainline is for sewing wovens!
In this week's call-in episode, we chat about this and lots of other topics!
🎉❤️
A teal rotary telephone. The text reads: "Episode 287: Sewing Help Line 4.0" next to the Love to Sew logo.
We're BACK! 🎉🎉🎉
Our first episode of the fall season is a brand-new call-in episode! We answer sewing questions from our listeners: how to choose your size based on your fabric’s stretch percentage, what patterns to pick for a work capsule wardrobe, how to sew a curved French seam, and lots more!
A dark wash, heavyweight denim fabric.
Denim is an amazing fabric - it's somehow both traditional AND cool! But it can be a little scary if you've never worked with it, especially in the heavier weights. Have no fear! In Episode 107: Denim, we talk about how to shop for it, how to sew with it, and what patterns to pick.
Helen wears a loose striped top with jeans and styles it alternately with an open cardigan and big scarf.
Caroline wears a brick-coloured tunic top with jeans and styles it alternately with a denim quilted jacket.
Episode 15: Capsule Wardrobe Challenge is a fun blast from the past - and there's some great info, too!
Back in November 2017, we tried the 10x10 capsule challenge: 10 pieces, 10 days. We chose a (mostly me-made) capsule, styled it, wore it, and talked about the whole thing!
An ironing board with a sleeve board, sleeve roll, tailor’s ham, iron, and jug with iron water by a window.
The BEST water for your iron is...
Filtered tap water! If you have a filter pitcher, tap filter, or fridge filter, that's what you want. The goal is to remove minerals that might gunk up the inside of your iron without changing the water all that much. Check out Love to Sew Episode 174: Pressing!
Pink, red, and green floral print Tencel fabric draped against a white background.
Lyocell/Tencel is a wonderful fabric for summer - it's drapey and breathable. But what is it? In Episode 181: Lyocell/Tencel, we answer these questions and more:
🧵 How does it go from plant matter to finished fabric?
🧵 What is the difference between it and rayon?
🧵 What can you sew with it?
Thank you so much for listening ❤️❤️ How did the dress turn out in the end?
A close-up of soft purple double gauze fabric.
How to cut and press crinkly double gauze:
Step 1: Pre-wash and dry your fabric.
Step 2: Use a steamy iron to remove any major folds. Just use the steam and finger press the big folds out.
Step 3: Cut out your pattern pieces!
Listen to Episode 231: Double Gauze for lots more tips!
Yay!! Thanks sooo much 🤗
A sewist pins paper pattern pieces to black fabric that is laid out on a table.
Sewing is at least 30% cutting, and that's okay! In Episode 189: Cutting Patterns and Fabric, Helen said that she would get so frustrated in her early sewing days by how long the cutting part took. But now, she gives cutting the space and time it needs to be done well.
Thanks so much ❤️
Thank you sooo much for listening to the podcast and for sharing about us! 🤗❤️
Caroline wears a red boatneck tank, white eyelet skirt, and a brown messenger bag with white socks and sneakers.
Caroline wears a relaxed pinstripe linen button-up, brown linen wide leg pants, and slides.
Caroline wears a long green bias-cut linen dress with a tie at the back waist and sandals.
Caroline sewed up a storm for her trip to Croatia - the vibe was natural fibers, breezy garments, and pops of red. Doesn't she look amazing?
If you want to hear us chat about sewing for travel, including travel capsules, listen to Episode 273!
😳❄️❤️
