This week on "Stitch Please," Lisa dives into her Boston adventure, blending her book projects with insights from the Susan Newhouse Center for the Humanities at Wellesley College. She unpacks her studies on Black women's sewing traditions, celebrates communal learning, and reflects on adapting to big city life. Lisa also chats about how walking and embracing urban living have brought her unexpected joys.=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please PodcastThe Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

This week on "Stitch Please," Lisa sits down with Erica Bunker, a sewing influencer and pattern designer. They delve into Erica's sewing journey, tracing it back to her home economics class in eighth grade and her beginnings in making her own maternity clothes. Erica shares her passion for Vogue patterns and the empowerment she found in crafting her own maternity wardrobe. They also chat about Erica's discovery of blogging through pattern review websites, highlighting the lack of representation for black sewists at that time and advocating for more inclusive, human-centered design. So sit back, relax, and join us as we help you get your stitch together!======EricaBunker.com Erica Bunker IGErica Bunker Tik Tok======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

This week on "Stitch Please", join Lisa as she unzips the intriguing world of zippers! From their origins and evolution to handy tips on picking and installing them. This episode dives deep into everything zipper-related. Discover how these nifty fasteners have shaped fashion, practicality, and DIY sewing projects alike. Are you ready to get your zip on?=====Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

This week on "Stitch Please", We get you prepared to buy your first sewing machine. Lisa gives you the pitfalls that you should avoid, when looking for a machine, that will keep you from making some of the same mistakes that other new sewers might have made. We also get a chance to hear from other fellow sewers who give you great advice when you are in the market to make such a big investment. Buying your first sewing machine can be frustrating, but let Lisa and friends help you find the machine that will fit you like a glove. So settle in as we help you get your stitch together!======Stitch Please Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/BlackWomenStitch======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

This week on "Stitch Please", Lisa dives into the world of presser feet for sewing machines. These little gadgets are like tiny engineering marvels that make sewing a breeze! Lisa highlights several types: standard, zipper, buttonhole, button, and quarter inch feet. Each has its own superpower, so choosing the right one can make your sewing adventures smoother and more fun. So let this episode help you unleash your creativity by exploring these magical presser feet that come with your sewing machines, and let us help you get your Stitch Together! ======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

In this episode, Lisa delves into the world of independent pattern makers. Learn about the history of indie patterns, their commitment to size inclusivity, and how they're embracing innovative technologies. Discover the vibrant community behind indie pattern companies and get inspired to try them in your sewing projects. Find resources to explore indie patterns and elevate your sewing journey. Plus, make sure to check out our links to support some of Lisa's favorite indie pattern makers and find community!SewNaturalDane's List of BHM Pattern MakersLisa's favorite indie draws pattern by Made for MermaidsLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

In this weeks episode of The Stitch Please podcast, Lisa dives into the nitty-gritty of commercial sewing patterns! She breaks down the guide sheet, spills the tea on pattern markings (hello, notches, grain lines, and bust lines!), and shares her top tips for staying organized with pattern pieces. Plus, Lisa reminds us why reading those instructions more than once is a game-changer and how sew alongs and online sewing buddies can be your secret weapon. Stitch smarter, not harder!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! ======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

In this episode, Lisa celebrates five years of the Stitch Please podcast with her kids, Riley and Ryan, chatting about their back-to-school sewing adventures. They reminisce about wearing their mom's handmade clothes, how their views on sewing have evolved, and the impact on their style. Plus, they dish out fun tips for families looking to start their own sewing traditions!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! ======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

This week on Stitch Please, get ready to unravel the mystery of commercial patterns! In this episode, Lisa breaks down everything you need to know about those pattern envelopes and guide sheets that can feel a bit like deciphering a secret code. From understanding sizes and fabric choices to nailing down those all-important finished garment measurements, Lisa’s got you covered. Plus, she shares why those little line drawings are your new best friend when it comes to visualizing your next sewing project. Tune in and get your stitch together! =======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please PodcastThe Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

This week on *Stitch Please,* Lisa is joined by Salina, Toni, and Shon—the dynamic trio behind the upcoming Raleigh Frocktails! They dish on how the Atlanta Frocktails sparked their idea and how they pulled off planning the Raleigh event in just 4 months (with a little HOO-DEE-HOO action, of course). Tune in to hear how mood boards are fueling the buzz and pushing everyone to step out of their comfort zones! =======https://www.raleighfrocktails.com/homeLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkThe Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa unpacks the essentials for sewing on the go! From picking the perfect travel sewing machine to finding a bag that fits just right, Lisa’s got you covered. She shares her top tips on packing all your must-have tools—scissors included! Whether you're jet-setting or road-tripping, Lisa’s advice will help you sew smoothly wherever you are. So let us help you get your stitch together! =======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa spins through the fascinating realm of sewing thread—unraveling its history, production secrets, various types, and even tips for upkeep! From picking the perfect thread to nailing its TLC and storage, Lisa’s lively chat threads together wisdom for sewing rookies and pros alike.=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

This week on Stitch Please, we unravel the sweet link between chocolate bars and the birth of the rotary cutter. Tune in as the Lisa uncovers how the design of the chocolate bar sparked the creation of the snap-off blade, paving the way for Ulfa. We'll also explore the rotary cutter's journey, from blade sizes and handle styles to safety tips. Stay sharp and safe with our guide on picking your perfect cutter!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa dives into the fascinating world of scissors! She dishes out everything from their historical journey to becoming a plural wonder to giving tips on picking the perfect pair for sewing. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, get ready for some scissor-savvy advice on what to look for and how to keep your snippers snappy!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

This week on the podcast, Lisa spills the beans on her Paris fabric shopping spree! Get the lowdown on how to prepare, how to find the best fabric haunts, and mastering the metro. Plus, she’s got tips on charming the shopkeepers like a pro. Grab a snack, pull up a comfy chair, and get ready for an exciting adventure with a Sewist in Paris!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

This week on the podcast, Bertha Chapman and Jasmine Howard, the creative minds behind Baltimore FrockTails, join Lisa to talk about their exciting sewing journeys. They share how they sewed their way into the scene, celebrating inclusivity and body positivity so everyone shines in their sewing circle. They spill all the details on the dazzling Baltimore FrockTails event, where this year’s maximalism theme encourages attendees to unleash their creativity and shine in bold, eye-catching fashion.=======https://www.baltimorefrocktails.com/=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

Audio dramas are the perfect companion for sewing! Lisa can't watch TV and sew as she needs to concentrate on what she's doing. Today, the Stitch Please podcast is sharing one of our favorite audio dramas: 1972 - The Chisholm Campaign Trail and the Davis Trial an amazing podcast by Yhane Washington Smith. Listen in to the first episode with us, then make sure you go and check out the full series!==========This episode dramatizes the events on August 7, 1970. On that day, 17 year old, Jonathan Jackson was murdered and the guns Jackson used sent Angela Davis to jail and had her on trial.WARNING:This episode depicts the actual events of police brutality.HUGE SHOUTS OF THANKS and APPRECIATION!&nbsp;Too many roles to list so in alphabetical order.ChloeGabrielle Adkins as Margaret BurnhamJulie AtwellEli BarrazaIan BellJeanette BerryAlan BourkeCole BurkhardtJordan Cobb as Charlene MitchellAlexander Danner as McGovernTK DutesEbonie Ellington as Shirley ChisholmEm ErvolinaJeffrey Nills GardnerMorgan Givens as Howard MooreD. Rubin Green as CongressmanBrandon G. Green as Leo BrantonEvan Gulock as JamesJordan HiggsSean Howard as NYC Mayor LindsayEleanor HydeSteven Hylton as WesleyPeter KillyVictoria LeighEli Hamada McIlveenJimmy Mehiel as President Richard NixonIsaiah Mueller as McClain and Conrad ChisholmMichael Molina MinardMorris NeopolitanoBayo OlukotunSerena RahhalBob RaymondaShawn RegrutoJared RobertsJoshua Rubino as Edgar HooverJohn Sebastian La Valle as HarrisDanielle ShemaiahMichael Sinclair as George JacksonJac'leen Smith as Angela DavisEmilio SmithNina SmithTom SmithJordan Stillman as Rose Mary WoodsJeff Van Dreason as Judge ArnasonViolet TallisChi WilliamsRonald Young, Jr.Tau ZamanSound Design by Xperience J.Editor, Producer, Recording Engineer - T.H. PondersArt by Neville HarveyWritten and directed by Yhane Washington SmithPlease continue to support us by:Rating us 5 stars!ORwriting a lovely reviewORtelling a friendORFollow us:Twitter: @AudioHarlemInstagram: @Yhane.Writes.AudioSupport the good people who support us: Blackbirdletterpress.comTHANK YOU for listening!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork======<a href="https://blackwomenstitch.org/resources?campaign=signup"...

In part 2 of Sewing and Sublimation, Lisa dives into her passion for crafting, spilling the beans on her sewing and sublimation adventures. She chats about how she jazzes up her kids' clothes and whips up cool fabric labels with sublimation. Lisa breaks down the pros and cons of sublimation printing, revealing its magic in her DIY projects. She gets a bit nostalgic, sharing how garment labels tie into her family history. Lisa also plays around with different fabrics like polyester and satin, showcasing her sublimation creations and how they've added a fun twist to her sewing game.=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

In this lively "Restitch" episode of the Stitch Please podcast, Lisa chats with Jasika Nicole about breaking creative boundaries in showbiz. They dive into Hollywood's limits, championing diversity, and the empowering art of setting boundaries, even in the online sewing community. Jasika shares her journey, from handling unwanted advice to ditching cop roles, urging everyone to carve out their own creative space with joy and authenticity.=======Jasika Nicole IG: @jasikaistrycurious=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

This week’s Stitch Please podcast is a can't-miss episode for any quilter. Lisa chats with quilting superstars Gyleen X. Fitzgerald, Latifah Saafir, and Geraldine Wilkins, about the incredible Tropical Quilting Retreat at Sea. Dive into the details of the upcoming retreat, with workshops, fabric fun, port stops, and more. They dish out tips and highlight why this event is a must for quilters looking for a unique, inspiring experience. If you're a quilter, this episode is for you. =======https://quiltcruises.com/cruises/tropical-quilting-retreat-at-sea/=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

In this fun-filled episode of the Stitch Please podcast, Lisa dives into the nitty gritty world of sewing and sublimation printing. She shares her passion for this vibrant technique, exploring its history, necessary materials, and step-by-step process. Lisa also chats about her personal projects, revealing the pros and cons of sublimation printing. It's a versatile and exciting way to customize garments and fabrics, bringing sewing projects to life with brilliant colors and lasting durability. So grab some snacks for part one of this SEW-tastic episode!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

Take a trip with Black Women Stitch as Lisa whisks listeners away on a 24-hour adventure through LA's Fashion District. From fabric shopping sprees and meeting Josie from LA Finch Fabric to diving into the colorful fabric scene, she shares it all. Lisa dishes out travel tips for anyone who likes to buy pieces while they're traveling. Plus, which fashion district is better, LA or NY? There's so much to talk about, but don't worry this episode is much shorter than a commute in LA traffic!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

This week on the podcast Lisa dives into the fascinating history and handy uses of sewing pins and needles. From ancient origins to modern-day must-haves. Discover the best pins and needles for your projects, get tips on selecting the right ones, and hear about her favorite brands. Whether you're a sewing newbie or a seasoned stitcher, this episode is packed with fun facts and practical advice just in time TO GET YOUR STICH TOGETHER!=======https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/fashion-history-sewing-needles/https://www.madehow.com/Volume-7/Straight-Pin.htmlhttps://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/behavior/making-clothing/bone-awls=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

In this episode, Lisa chats with the Chicago Frog Tales crew about their exciting two-day event celebrating sewing and style in the Windy City. From blues to bites to beautiful threads, they spill the beans on what makes this bash unique. Get ready for monochrome magic, chiffon chic, and a whole lotta plaid! With fashion shows, workshops, and more, it's shaping up to be a stitchin' good time. Plus, they've snagged sponsors like Sword Academy, Oliso, and Apparel Redefined. Don't forget to book your hotel and prep your threads early! This event is gonna be a sew-perb blend of creativity and community!=======https://chicagofrocktails.com/Do you love to sew your own clothes, meet your sewing online friends and have a good ​time?! If the answer is yes, join us in the Windy City at Chicago Frocktails June 8 - 9th ​2024! The main event will be held on Saturday, June 8th from 6PM - 11 PM Central at the&nbsp;​Bellagio 223&nbsp;located at 2229 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 407 Chicago, Illinois 60616.On Sunday, there will be a complimentary shuttles providing transportation to a fabric ​shopping excursion!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women...

In this episode of the Stitch Please podcast, your favorite sewist Lisa discusses the history and importance of pin cushions in sewing. She explores the origins of the tomato pin cushion and its symbolism, as well as the different types of needles and how to organize them in a pin cushion. Lisa also shares a fun decorative idea for marking special needles on the pin cushion. Lisa also emphasizes the value of the pin cushion as a tool for organizing and preserving needles in the sewing room. So lets get ready to get your STITCH TOGETHER! =======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! ======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

Just as sewing helps heal us, so does music. As Lisa takes a moment to catch up on some self-care the Stitch Please Podcast is proud to present Queue Points and an episode of their Slow Jams Can Heal Us series:Slow Jams, Intimacy and Lyrics That Touch the Soul (Guest: Latrice Sampson Richards)In this episode of Queue Points Podcast, DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray are joined by special guest Latrice Sampson Richards. The conversation focuses on the themes of lyrics and intimacy in music, exploring personal and societal healing through slow jams and other styles of music. Latrice shares her thoughts on the emotional connections that music can foster, and the ability to help us collectively heal. The three share lyrics that have shaped their lives, revealing the deep connections they have with music and its power to express complex emotions.Tune In To Our “Slow Jams Can Heal Us” Series: https://qpnt.net/slowjamsseriesListen to “Lyrics &amp; Lessons” by Latrice Sampson Richards: https://qpnt.net/lsrlyricsplaylistLatrice Sampson Richards BioLatrice Sampson Richards is an award-winning podcast producer, host, and speaker with a 14-year background as a dual-licensed mental health counselor. With an in-depth understanding of the human experience, Latrice creates content that blends thoughtfulness, healing, and entertainment, resonating deeply with audiences. Latrice has elevated the podcasting landscape by creating opportunities for podcasters and brands to connect with their audiences via immersive live events and shows through her production company, Pod Melanin. Her work is marked by collaboration with renowned brands such as Afros &amp; Audio, Black Podcasters Association, Black Podcasting Awards, Women of Color Podcasters, Black Women Stitch, She Podcasts, Libsyn, Acast, and The Qube. She has curated live podcasting events and shows nationwide, serving as a catalyst for authentic connection and community building.Follow Latrice OnlineInstagram: http://instagram.com/latricesampsonrichardsLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latrice-sampson-richards-54481224b/Website: http://latricesampsonrichards.com/Email: [email protected]: #SlowJams #SlowJamsCanHealUs #BlackPodcasters #BlackMusic #MusicPodcastBecome a Queue Points Insider: https://qpnt.net/insidersGet More In Queue Points Magazine: https://qpnt.net/magazineSubscribe &amp; Review Us on Apple Podcasts: https://qpnt.net/applepodcastsReview us on Podchaser: https://qpnt.net/podchaserSubscribe on Spotify:...

This week on the podcast, Lisa Jasmine LaFleur, the founder of Black Fae Day. They discuss the magic and enchantment of Black Fae, the success of the Black Fae Day events, and the upcoming Black Fae Family Reunion. Jasmine emphasizes the importance of rekindling the sense of wonder and imagination through fantasy and mythology. She encourages people to tap into their inner child and affirm their own magical being. The conversation also touches on the benefits of adult play and the power of community.=======Guest Name: Jasmine Lafleur WITH A VISION TO CELEBRATE THE DEPTH OF BLACK FOLKLORE AND THE FANTASTICAL, JASMINE ESTABLISHED BLACK FAE DAY. THIS ANNUAL EVENT, SET ON THE SECOND SATURDAY OF MAY, IS NOT MERELY A FESTIVITY BUT A BURGEONING MOVEMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE CRITICAL NEED FOR DIVERSITY WITHIN FANTASY. JASMINE TRULY BELIEVES THAT BY JOINING HANDS IN CELEBRATION, WE CAN COLLECTIVELY TURN THE PAGES TOWARD A FUTURE WHERE THE MEDIA WE CONSUME IS AS DIVERSE AS THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.https://blackfaeday.com/#[email protected]://www.instagram.com/blackfaedayofficial/https://www.youtube.com/@blackfaeday=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkThe Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join...

In this episode, Lisa interviews Jonelle Dawkins, the executive director of Scraplanta, a creative reuse center in Atlanta, Georgia. They discuss the growth and vision of Scraplanta, the importance of creative reuse in art practices, and the future developments of the organization. Jonelle shares how Scraplanta serves as a third space for the community, where people can come together to make art and build connections. They also talk about the programs and classes offered at Scraplanta, the challenges faced during the pandemic, and the need for multiple locations to serve different communities in Atlanta. Jonelle emphasizes the joy and communal aspect of creative reuse and encourages artists to think beyond the function of materials and be experimental in their art. She also shares ways to support Scraplanta through donations and fundraising efforts.=======Guest Name: Jonelle Dawkins [email protected]://www.facebook.com/scraplanta/https://www.instagram.com/scrapatl/https://www.tiktok.com/@scraplantahttps://www.linkedin.com/company/scraplanta-creative-reuse/=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkThe Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a <a href="https://www.speakpipe.com/BlackWomenStitch" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

This week, Lisa interviews Keisha Tanay, fashion designer a sewist and retail worker, about the recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Joann Fabrics. Keisha shares her sewing story and her vision for creating a sewing space in Detroit. They discuss the implications of Chapter 11 bankruptcy for Joann Fabrics and the possibility of acquisitions. Keisha offers insights into consumer behavior and the challenges faced by retail stores. She gives her insights on whats needed for Joann Fabrics to improve their business and and to avoid further financial issues. So get ready to get your Stitch on with another spectacular episode! ========Guest Name: Keshia Tanay https://www.instagram.com/keshiatanay/?img_index=1https://pin.it/2UAMUBseK=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! ======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/stitchpleasepodcast/"...

In this episode, Lisa and Aaronica Cole discuss the upcoming Atlanta Frocktails event. They talk about the planning process, the decision to move the event to May, and the theme of the year: Secret Garden. This is Aaronica's first time hosting the event and she went all out! From amazing door prizes, to a fabulous caterer, you can expect to have ana amazing time in Atlanta! Lisa, and Aaronica also discuss other activities you can do during your time in Atlanta as well as the fabric shopping scene in the city. While Frocktails was typically a sewing event, Aaronica wants to emphasize that all makers are welcome! Crocheters, knitters, shoemakers, everyone is welcome to come show off their makes! Listen in to get the full scope of what the NEW Atlanta Frocktails is coming to be!Get Your Tickets to Atlanta Frocktails 2024 NOW!Follow Atlanta Frocktails on InstagramSubscribe to the Atlanta Frocktails Newsletter and stay in the know!=======Aaronica Cole Aaronica Cole is a full-time sustainable lifestyle, parenting blogger and entrepreneur still based in the Atlanta area. She's also a mom, wife, and host of Atlanta Frocktails 2024. @aaronicabcole on Instagram Aaronica's Website =======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=============Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: <a...

On this weeks episode, Dr. Jennifer Hale. shares her sewing and quilting journey, starting with her grandmother teaching her to sew at a young age. She emphasizes the importance of community and the role it played in her early sewing experiences. Dr. Hale also discusses her transition from sewing to quilting and the influence of the Quilting Academy in her creative process. Dr Hale highlights the significance of representation in her quilting projects and the impact of community on her creativity. We also get a chance to hear Dr. Hale share her journey as a quilter and the challenges she faced in accessing quilting resources. She discusses being a distraction in school and how sewing became her happy place. Dr. Hale also talks about the changes in her sewing practice during the pandemic and the role of TikTok in building a community. She highlights the importance of teaching and sharing knowledge on social media and the connection between quilting and children's literature. Dr. Hale shares her advice for quilters and the benefits of quilting on a long arm machine.=======Guest Name: Dr Jennifer HaleAvid quilter, Dr. Jennifer Hale, has 30 years of experience educating young minds for the School District of Philadelphia. She has worn many educational hats throughout her career that led to her current role as a high school Assistant Principal. Dr. Hale engages in a high- level of creativity, including: quilting, sewing, cooking, and crafting. She enjoys sharing her gifts and talents with her school and community.https://www.facebook.com/jennygee06https://www.tiktok.com/@jennifergeehale?_t=8l0q4yLaFbz&amp;_r=1https://www.instagram.com/jennygee06?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA=========Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkThe Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch <a href="https://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=392c3878cffc4d0f9af5a1c09&amp;id=e1fb465d6d" rel="noopener...

On this weeks episode, Dr. Jennifer Hale. shares her sewing and quilting journey, starting with her grandmother teaching her to sew at a young age. She emphasizes the importance of community and the role it played in her early sewing experiences. Dr. Hale also discusses her transition from sewing to quilting and the influence of the Quilting Academy in her creative process. Dr Hale highlights the significance of representation in her quilting projects and the impact of community on her creativity. We also get a chance to hear Dr. Hale share her journey as a quilter and the challenges she faced in accessing quilting resources. She discusses being a distraction in school and how sewing became her happy place. Dr. Hale also talks about the changes in her sewing practice during the pandemic and the role of TikTok in building a community. She highlights the importance of teaching and sharing knowledge on social media and the connection between quilting and children's literature. Dr. Hale shares her advice for quilters and the benefits of quilting on a long arm machine.=======Guest Name: Dr Jennifer HaleAvid quilter, Dr. Jennifer Hale, has 30 years of experience educating young minds for the School District of Philadelphia. She has worn many educational hats throughout her career that led to her current role as a high school Assistant Principal. Dr. Hale engages in a high- level of creativity, including: quilting, sewing, cooking, and crafting. She enjoys sharing her gifts and talents with her school and community.https://www.facebook.com/jennygee06=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkThe Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a <a href="https://www.speakpipe.com/BlackWomenStitch"...

In this episode of the Stitch Please podcast, Lisa Woolfork shares lessons from the I'm a Sewist series on the Stitch Please Instagram and provides tips for sewists of all levels. She discusses the importance of using a prescription pill bottle for sharps as a safe and convenient way to dispose of needles. Lisa also recommends using a bodkin for threading elastic and drawstrings, and highlights the benefits of investing in a heat press for advanced sewists. Hopefully, these tips will help you to improve your sewing practices and make the process more fun, efficient and enjoyable.=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=======The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! ============Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast======Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!

In part 2 of The Scrap Cushion episode, Lisa discusses her success with a rectangular cushion and then moves on to the main topic of the episode, the scrap cushions. Lisa divides the episode into three sections: a summary of the cushion, making the math work, and lessons learned. She explains how she calculated the volume of her scraps and realized that the cushion she made was too big. Lisa then shares her process of making a circle cushion, including measuring and cutting the fabric, choosing a zipper, and sewing the cushion. She concludes with some lessons learned and her plans for future cushions.=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=======Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!=============Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

Hey Stitchers! We are so excited that our good friend and 22x(!) award winning podcaster Dominic Lawson has shared this beautifully crafted history of Ann Lowe with us as a Black History Month leap day treat. Black is America is one of my favorite pods so take a listen and when you're done, click the link and check out the rest of his episodes!===Anne Lowe was a pioneering African American fashion designer who dressed high society elites in the early to mid 20th century. We learn about her early life in Alabama, training in New York, moving to Harlem during the Renaissance, and most famously designing Jacqueline Kennedy's wedding dress.Timeline:Early Life &amp; TrainingBorn in Clayton, AL in 1898Learned sewing from her mother and grandmotherMoved to NYC in 1917 to formally train at S.T. Taylor Design SchoolSegregated at school but still excelled and finished earlyBuilding Her BrandOpened successful dress salon in Tampa, FL from 1919-1928Saved $20,000 to move to Harlem, NYC during the RenaissanceQuickly built clientele among NYC elites and socialitesDesigned Olivia de Havilland's Oscars dress in 1947Peak YearsClient list included Rockefellers, Roosevelts, duPonts and moreHired to design 1953 wedding dress for Jacqueline KennedyWater pipe disaster destroyed original dress 10 days before weddingRemade it in 5 days with help of employees and communityLate Career StrugglesFocused more on artistry than business side, fell into debtWealthy clients anonymously paid off $13k in back taxes she owedDied in 1981 at age 82 after inspiring new generation of designersKey Quote: "I love my clothes and I'm not interested in sewing for café society or social climbers. I sew for the families of the Social Register." - Anne LoweImpact: Lowe's elegant designs broke racial barriers in high fashion. She paved the way for future Black designers through her perseverance and excellence.Subscribe, review &amp; learn more at&nbsp;www.blackisamericapodcast.com=======Ayeshia Smith @ayeshia.apparel on Instagram Ayeshia 's Website Ayeshia 's Facebook page Elizabeth Way Elizabeth Way is an Associate Curator at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), as well as a fashion historian whose personal research focuses on the intersection of Black American culture and fashion. =======Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!=============Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch...

In this conversation, Lisa discusses her sustainability project of creating a scrap cushion using vintage resources. She introduces the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing as a valuable book for beginners and shares her idea of using fabric scraps as a form of archive. Lisa explores the importance of having a clean sewing trash bin and the memories associated with fabric scraps from previous projects. She discusses the challenges she faced in making a round cushion and ultimately decides to make square cushions instead.=======Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=============Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

In this episode, we meet Phebe Higgins the stitcher behind Felt the Food. Learn about Phebe's journey, sewing background, and how her graduate education has woven into her crafting of appetizing felt creations. We explore the concept of "functional play," its enriching impact on children, and how Phebe's felted food is at the crossroads of play, learning, and creativity.Together, we stitch through the soft, flexible, and durable nature of felt, as Lisa shares some of her personal affection for these charming objects. Phebe reveals the meticulous process behind her hand-stitched pieces, from a scrumptious felt apple pie complete with its own recipe card to a touching sweet potato pie design that is sure to evoke memories of sisterhood and solidarity.And for those of you who seek to "get your stitch together," Phebe has some thread-perfect advice that will inspire you to reach for patience, grace, and joy in your sewing projects. So, grab your needles and let's felt the love on today's episode of the Stitch Please podcast.=======Phebe Higgins Phebe Higgins, the founder of Felt The Food, was inspired by her shy son's transformation during playdates. Witnessing his newfound joy in a play kitchen, she embarked on a journey to craft handmade felt food despite lacking sewing skills. With support from a crafty community, Phebe discovered the joy of creating and its positive impact on her son's development. Felt The Food offers ready-cut felt food kits, complete with materials and YouTube tutorials, fostering creativity and bonding through crafting and imaginative play. Phebe's mission is to empower families to create lasting memories together. @feltthefood on Instagram Phebe's Facebook page Phebe on YouTube Phebe's Website =======Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=============Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch...

This week, Lisa speaks with talented Swiss-Haitian-Finnish artist Sasha Huber to explore the intersections of art, activism, and healing. Sasha shares her journey from her family's legacy of textile arts to her cutting-edge activist-based art practice.As Sasha unfolds her story of "reparative intervention," using her pneumatic staple gun to highlight social and historical injustices, we'll examine how her art taps into the deep-rooted pain of colonialism and the ways in which her work strives to stitch together a narrative of resistance and preservation. From discussing the decolonization of museums to the history of laws governing black attire during slavery in the United States, this conversation promises to be as thought-provoking as it is enlightening.Gather your threads of curiosity and join us as we sew together the pieces of Sasha Huber's remarkable journey, and discover how her art becomes a protective and healing force against the scars of history. Let's "get our stitch together" by learning how to make meaning out of the materials handed down to us. =======Sasha Huber Sasha Huber (b. 1975) is a Helsinki-based internationally recognized visual artist-researcher of Swiss-Haitian heritage. Huber's work is concerned with the politics of memory, care and belonging in relation to colonial residues left in the environment. Connecting history and the present, she uses and responds to archival material within a layered creative practice that encompasses performance-based reparative interventions, video, photography, and collaborations. Huber also usurps the staple gun, aware of its symbolic significance as a weapon, while offering the potential to renegotiate unequal power dynamics and the possibility of repair, symbolically stitching wounds together (pain-things). Known for her artistic research contribution to the “Demounting Louis Agassiz” campaign, she is aiming at reassessing the glaciologist’s contentious racist heritage. Sasha's Website @sashahuber on Instagram =======Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=============Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our <a...

Welcome back Stitchers, today Lisa welcomes Elizabeth Way, associate curator at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the curator of Ann Lowe: American&nbsp;Couturier at the Winterthur Museum. They discuss Anne Lowe's significance as an American couturier and her impact on the fashion industry. They delve into the difference between couture and haute couture and discuss Anne Lowe's experiences in Paris. Ann Lowe was a creating work beyond her time and had to navigate the racism and gatekeeping that was included with working the white elite. The conversation explores the power of cross diasporic connections and storytelling in fashion. It highlights the work of Anne Lowe and her advocacy for creativity in fashion. The importance of embracing creativity and nurturing it is emphasized. While this exhibition is over you can still order the book and purchase recordings by visiting the museum's website=======Elizabeth Way Elizabeth Way is an Associate Curator at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), as well as a fashion historian whose personal research focuses on the intersection of Black American culture and fashion. =======Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=============Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women...

Welcome back stitchers! Today Lisa welcomes Dr. Joy Harden Bradford of Therapy for Black Girls to discuss her new book 'Sisterhood Heals' and the journey of creating it. She explains how the book captures the spirit of an in-person event focused on conversations about sisterhood and challenges us to be better to and for one another. Dr. Joy emphasizes the importance of sisterhood as a vibrant life force for Black women and the need to navigate the challenges that come with it. The conversation urges us to evolve as advocates for one another, emphasizing the pivotal role sisterhood plays as a life force for Black women and delving into the challenges inherent in this potent bond. We journey through insights on building resilient communities, managing disappointments, and embracing the therapeutic power of creative expression. The dialogue pivots towards the significance of Therapy for Black Girls, highlighting the importance of embracing growth and the transformative power of the therapeutic process. The episode concludes with a powerful focus on actionable steps and the perpetual journey of nurturing sisterhood in our lives. Join us for a riveting conversation guided by the wisdom and warmth of Dr. Joy Harden Bradford.=======Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!=======Dr. Joy Harden BradfordDr. Joy Harden Bradford is a Licensed Psychologist and the host of the wildly popular, award-winning mental health podcast Therapy for Black Girls. Her work focuses on making mental health topics more relevant and accessible for Black women, and she delights in using pop culture to illustrate psychological concepts. Named by Glamour as a Game Changer for her work in the mental health field, she received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana, her Master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from Arkansas State, and her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia. Her work has been featured in Essence, Oprah Daily, The New York Times, HuffPost, Black Enterprise, and Women’s Health. Dr. Joy lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two sons.Purchase Sisterhood HealsInstagram: @therapyforblackgirls=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=======The...

It's here Stitchers! Lisa's first (full) make of 2024 and it's the Vogue 1982 ! Today Lisa breaks down her process from top to bottom which included basting anything and everything, which needle she needed for this specific project, and just what adjustments she made to make sure she absolutely loved herself in the dress! If you picked up this pattern make sure you connect with us on social and let us know if you stuck with the pattern as is or if you were like Lisa and changed it up.=======Ready to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!=======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=============Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

Welcome back Stitchers! Today Lisa is chatting with Tiavalya Befecadu a quilter and photographer, as she shares her sewing journey and the inspiration behind her beautiful quilts. Tiavalya is a 3rd generation sewing enthusiast who found herself restarting the craft during the pandemic and using family fabrics to create sentimental quilts. She shares her experiences with local quilt shops and highlights the beautiful pieces she has made, including the 'Space is the Place' quilt and the 'Alabama Authors' quilt. Plus as a loyal listener of the pod, Tiavalya has the perfect advice to help us get our stitch together!The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! =======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=======Tiavalya Befecadu A third generation sewing enthusiast, and a proud member of the Professional Photographers of America, Rocket City Modern Quilt Guild and the Historic Huntsville Foundation Board of Directors. @tiavalya on Instagram Tiavalya's Facebook page Tiavalya's Website =============Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

Welcome back stitchers! Today host Lisa Woolfork interviews Diane Roney, a quilter, sewist, and graphic AI artist. Diane shares her sewing journey, including her first outfit at the age of 68. She also discusses her brand, Diane Roney Creates, which encompasses various creative endeavors. Diane talks about her Soulful Stitchers coloring book and the process of creating it. What does it take to be a multi-hyphenate creative? Why does a jumpsuit bring so much joy? Why do Brother printers keep everything extra proprietary? Diane and Lisa get into all of this and more!TakeawaysDon't let fear hold you back from pursuing your passion for sewing.Embrace your creativity and explore different artistic mediums.Share your knowledge and help others in their creative journey.Be patient and celebrate the successes of others, knowing that your time will come.The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! =======Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=======Diane Roney Meet Diane Roney, a creative coach and small business owner with over 20 years of experience in the industry. With a passion for all things creative, Diane has built a name for herself as a multi-talented artist, designer, and educator. Diane's extensive skillset includes Creative Stamping scrapbooking, Digital artistry, Quilt design, sublimation and DTF Printing, Quilting coaching and education, seasoned Greeting card design, Afrocentric African Inspired gifts, and social media content creation. Her ability to combine these various mediums has allowed her to create unique and captivating pieces that have garnered attention from clients and fans alike. As a coach and educator, Diane is committed to sharing her knowledge and expertise with others, helping them to unlock their own creative potential and achieve their goals. @dianeroneycreates on Instagram Diane's Website =======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a <a href="https://www.speakpipe.com/BlackWomenStitch" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Welcome back stitchers! Happy 2024! Today we celebrate in the spirit of Sankofa. Sankofa is a word of the Akan people of Ghana, meaning "to go back and get it" in the Twi language. The retrieval concept is symbolized by interlocking hearts or a bird with her feet facing forward but her head turned backward and carrying an egg in her beak. What is the core concept of 2024? Plus what is Lisa's first make of 2024? The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available&nbsp;NOW!&nbsp;Do not miss out on your chance to&nbsp;and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration! Episode Art is January by Karina Cruz Ortiz. =======Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram:&nbsp;Lisa WoolforkTwitter:&nbsp;Lisa Woolfork=======Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

Celebrate! Vote! Share! The Black Women Stitch Sew Black at QuiltCon is a finalist for an Anthem Award in the category of Community Engagement in Education Arts and Culture. Please vote for us here and share widely! Voting ends 12/21 . The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available  NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to  and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!Welcome back stitchers! We are sew excited to bring you a new tradition to the Stitch Please Podcast: Holiday Swatches. A fabric swatch is a small sample of fabric that allows you to visualize a project before cutting into yardage. Swatches are useful for sewing because they help us match fabrics, guide fabric prep, and prevent waste. Most importantly, if cultivated, swatches can become an archive of your creativity. This swatch series is here to celebrate the stitch please community by hearing from you all. For the month of December we will be sharing Holiday Sewing Traditions. In the final edition of 2023 we hear all about New Years Eve dresses, some adorable ideas for advent calendars (it's never to early to start!), the importance of a thoughtful gift and Eid! A special thank you to Ashley Chapman, Kya Lee, Ellie L, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Zahiyya Abdul-Karim for sharing their stories this week!=======Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork=======Ashley ChapmanInstagram: @madebybertha Kya LeeWebsite: kyaarts.com Ellie LInstagram: @sallieandsamstyle Olugbemisola Rhuday-PerkovichInstagram:@olugbemisolarhudayperkovichWebsite:https://www.olugbemisolabooks.com/ Zahiyya Abdul-KarimInstagram : @covermechicYoutube: @covermechic  Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

Celebrate! Vote! Share! The Black Women Stitch Sew Black at QuiltCon is a finalist for an Anthem Award in the category of Community Engagement in Education Arts and Culture. Please vote for us here and share widely! Voting ends 12/21 . The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available  NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to  and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!Welcome back stitchers! We are sew excited to bring you a new tradition to the Stitch Please Podcast: Holiday Swatches. A fabric swatch is a small sample of fabric that allows you to visualize a project before cutting into yardage. Swatches are useful for sewing because they help us match fabrics, guide fabric prep, and prevent waste. Most importantly, if cultivated, swatches can become an archive of your creativity. This swatch series is here to celebrate the stitch please community by hearing from you all. For the month of December we will be sharing Holiday Sewing Traditions. From dance moms who are on the emergency stitch team (raise your hand if you've been there) to family sweaters, we have a great series of traditions this week.  A special thank you to Neci Harmon, Aaronica Cole, Kristin Taylor, Tanisha Robertson and Jaszmine Howard for sharing their stories this week!=======Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork=======Neci HarmonInstagram: @whatsshecreating Shop: What's She CreatingTikTok: @whatsshecreating Aaronica ColeInstagram: Aaronica B. ColeYoutube: Aaronica B. ColeAudaSEWtea PodcastSimplicity Kristen TaylorInstagram: @unsewcialWebsite:www.unsewcial.com Tanisha RobertsonInstagram:@yimicraftsWebsite:yimicrafts.com Jaszmine HowardTikTok : @jaszminehowardInstagram: @jaszminehoward   Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

Celebrate! Vote! Share! The Black Women Stitch Sew Black at QuiltCon is a finalist for an Anthem Award in the category of Community Engagement in Education Arts and Culture. Please vote for us here and share widely! Voting ends 12/21 .SHIPPING 12/14...The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available  NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to  and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!Welcome back stitchers! We are sew excited to bring you a new tradition to the Stitch Please Podcast: Holiday Swatches. A fabric swatch is a small sample of fabric that allows you to visualize a project before cutting into yardage. Swatches are useful for sewing because they help us match fabrics, guide fabric prep, and prevent waste. Most importantly, if cultivated, swatches can become an archive of your creativity. This swatch series is here to celebrate the stitch please community by hearing from you all. For the month of December we will be sharing Holiday Sewing Traditions. From ugly sweater ornaments to full christmas rooms, we have a great series of traditions this week. Plus! some great gift ideas at the very end if you're scrambling for a last minute idea (thanks Nikki!) A special thank you to Bianca Springer,  Dr. Jennifer Hale, Tiffany Turner, Johanna Ali and Nikki Digulis for sharing their stories this week!=======Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork=======Bianca SpringerInstagram: @thanksimadethemWebsite: biancaspringer.com Dr. Jennifer HaleInstagram: @jennygee06TikTok: @jennygee066 Tiffany TurnerBlog: TipStitchedInstagram: TipStitchedFacebook: TipStitchedTikTok: TipStitchedPinterest: TipStitched Johanna AliInstagram:@soveryjoYouTube: SoVeryJo Nikki DigulisTikTok : NikkiDInstagram:@seamsnsuchboutiqueWebsite: seamsnsuchboutique.com Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available for preorder NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to  and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!Welcome back stitchers! We are sew excited to bring you a new tradition to the Stitch Please Podcast: Holiday Swatches. A fabric swatch is a small sample of fabric that allows you to visualize a project before cutting into yardage. Swatches are useful for sewing because they help us match fabrics, guide fabric prep, and prevent waste. Most importantly, if cultivated, swatches can become an archive of your creativity. This swatch series is here to celebrate the stitch please community by hearing from you all. For the month of December we will be sharing Holiday Sewing Traditions. From handbags to to scrap projects, new stitchers to the most skilled knitters, we have a great series of traditions this week. A special thank you to Jonelle Dawkins,  Byrd Wadhams, Jamara Alexander, Stacie Sturdivant and DeJanee Kletke for sharing their stories this week!=======Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork=======Jonelle DawkinsInstagram: @scrapatlTikTok: @scraplantaScraplanta Byrd WadhamsInstagram: @yogabyrdsewsFacebook: Yoga Byrd Jamara AlexanderInstagram: sewsewjam Stacie SturdivantInstagram: @sewsewstacieTikTok: @sewsewstacieShop DeJanee KletkeInstagram: deja_made _it  Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast 

The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available for preorder NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to  and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!In this episode of the Stitch Please podcast, Lisa welcomes Tiffany Turned, a talented sewist, to share her transformative journey into sewing. Initially skeptical, she discovered her passion through a 30-minute skirt tutorial. With a background in civil engineering, Tiffany approaches sewing with precision and relishes in its step-by-step nature, appreciating the nuances that make a garment special. She champions cost-effective sewing, laying the foundation for her blog and vibrant social media presence where she shares valuable insights and reviews.Tiffany praises the sense of community in live sewing sessions, crediting the Black Sewing Network for fostering camaraderie. She discusses setting ambitious goals, emphasizing the importance of flexibility in the face of unforeseen circumstances. Tiffany's digital sketches in Adobe Photoshop serve as a visual guide for her projects, especially in intricate color-blocking. Recognizing the strengths of different platforms, Tiffany adapts her content creation process, emphasizing the visual appeal of sewing on Instagram. Her sewing journey is a testament to analytical thinking, creativity, and an enduring love for the craft, evident in her carefully crafted content and active engagement in live sessions.This episode showcases how Tiffany's sewing journey is a tapestry woven with threads of analytical thinking, boundless creativity, adaptability, and an unwavering love for her craft. Her dedication to enriching the sewing community is palpable in her meticulously crafted content and enthusiastic participation in live sewing sessions. Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Tiffany TurnerTiffany Turner is a passionate sewist who discovered her love for sewing in adulthood. Tiffany always admired the idea of creating her own garments to have the perfect fit and style. In 2014, she finally took the plunge, inspired by a tutorial from Mimi G. Over the past decade, sewing has become her unwavering hobby. Tiffany has a background in civil engineering and her analytical mindset is evident in her meticulous approach to sewing. She enjoys breaking down sewing projects step by step, much like her engineering work. Tiffany encourages others to embrace this creative outlet and is dedicated to sharing tips, tricks, and reviews reflecting her commitment to building a supportive sewing community. Embracing social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Tiffany continues to inspire fellow sewists while maintaining her love for this fulfilling hobby. Insights from this episode:How Tiffany, a seasoned influencer, leverages her engineering background for a meticulous and analytical approach to sewing, treating patterns as blueprints for her creations.Tiffany's journey started with a desire for custom-made clothing as an adult, overcoming initial challenges with support from her husband. Tiffany's engineering mindset seamlessly integrates into her projects, relying on templates and structured approaches for planning and organization.Employing tools like Adobe Photoshop as a strategy for strategic planning, especially for complex tasks like color-blocking, showcasing the importance of digital sketches.Flexibility is key in Tiffany's approach; she advocates for adapting patterns, emphasizing creativity and liberation in the sewing process.How strategically utilizing various platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and her blog, tailoring content to each one's strengths and target audience can help to further reach.Actively participating in sew-alongs with the Black Sewing Network, Tiffany values the sense of community and shared experience these events offer.Tiffany encourages listeners to prioritize enjoyment and avoid unnecessary stress, highlighting the importance of finding joy in the process of sewing.Sharing knowledge and empowering fellow sewists is a core value for Tiffany, aiming to provide valuable information in her content. Quotes from the show:“I think that's such a powerful claim in so many ways. The idea that you could look at clothes in a store and say I like this thing about it, but I don't like that thing about it. Instead of saying, let me see if I can buy another thing that looks like what I want, you said, let me see if I can make it.” - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #208“That's how I think I sort of look at sewing patterns, right? Like you have a pattern and you have this 2D piece of tissue or paper or 2D flat fabric and then you turn it into this three-dimensional object. And so I think that transfers very similarly to me. Like when we look at someone's outfit and we say, oh my God, that's so cute and we immediately start like deconstructing it in our heads so we can put it back together for us later. I think my engineering brain is just very attuned to doing that.” - Tiffany Turner, Stitch Please, Episode #208“I feel like one of the contributions that I appreciate about your work, Tiffany is how you are. Like, it's like you're a big cheerleader for sewing and you're not, yeah, you're not just gonna say ra ra, I love sewing. You say all that, but then you also equip people for success. and I see that in your channel.” - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #208“I really love the way you think about structure and the way you think about planning. I love all of that. I love templates. I love like, OK, these are the three steps I know I have to do every single time, that just makes me, it just gives me a sense of confidence, you know, like I might not be able to get to the exact outcome as I might envision it right now. But I do know if I follow these steps, I'm gonna, it'd be much closer to it.” - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #208"A plan is a set of guidelines. A plan is a set of possibilities. A plan is a set of actionable options.” - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #208"I tend to see sewing as a laboratory practice something that's meant to be freeing and in some ways, patterns can absolutely be that." - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #208"You don't buy a pattern because you and your friends all want to look, exactly the same or exactly like the person on the envelope." - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #208“It’s more of a guideline or a road map. But if I decide to take a detour, so be it.” - Tiffany Turner, Stitch Please, Episode #208“It can be very solitary because typically it's you and your machine in your space, whether that's a whole floor, a loft, or a corner at the dining room table… The Black sewing network makes it like a group activity all of a sudden.” - Tiffany Turner, Stitch Please, Episode #208“Most people will say that you regret the things that you didn't do, not the things that you did… I agree. I feel like if it's something out there that you want to try and you in any way shape or form have the means to do it, do it. If you want to sew, learn to sew.” - Tiffany Turner, Stitch Please, Episode #208Resources Mentioned:Black Sewing NetworkYoutube: TipStitchedAdobe Photoshop ProgramMicrosoft Paint ProgramYoutube: Mimi G StyleSimplicity: Mimi GStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please PodcastLisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkTiffany TurnerBlog: TipStitchedInstagram: TipStitchedFacebook: TipStitchedTikTok: TipStitchedPinterest: TipStitchedSubscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.This episode was produced and managed by the Fermata Audio Collective.

The Black Women Stitch 2024 Wall Calendar is available for preorder NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to  and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!In this episode of the Stitch Please podcast, Lisa interviews Grace Christopher, the creative genius behind African Zesty Couture. Grace shares her journey into sewing, which began as a way to keep her mind active after moving to the United States (US) with her one-year-old child. Growing up in Nigeria, Grace had been exposed to her mother's sewing, but it wasn't until later that she truly delved into the craft. Grace's sewing journey began with an old treadle machine but when she moved to the US, she acquired an electric sewing machine, making her sewing experience more accessible. Her early projects were primarily for herself and her son, driven by a desire to connect with her Nigerian heritage. As Grace's sewing skills grew, so did her interest in different types of fabrics. She now offers a wide range of fabrics on her website, including Knit Ankara, Silk Adire, and Kampala. Grace provides insights into the cultural significance and unique characteristics of each fabric type, shedding light on their origins and traditional uses. Grace's approach to designing garments is influenced by her desire to celebrate the diversity of African fashion. She emphasizes the importance of allowing the fabric to speak for itself and encourages people to experiment with different styles and fabric combinations. Grace actively builds a sense of community among her customers through sew-alongs and challenges. These events provide opportunities for individuals to explore their creativity and gain confidence in working with African fabrics. The podcast episode concludes with Grace expressing her aspiration to flood the streets with African prints and her dedication to empowering others to embrace and incorporate these fabrics into their own creations. The conversation exemplifies the rich cultural tapestry that sewing can encompass, and the potential for creativity to connect people across continents.Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreGrace ChristopherGrace Christopher's journey is an extraordinary fusion of law and creative passion. Initially drawn to law, she devoted years to her legal career. However, her early exposure to her mother's sewing ignited a lasting passion. From her mother's vintage machine to crafting her own garments as a teenager, Grace's creativity found its roots. A move to the US and motherhood rekindled her love for sewing, inspiring her to blend her Nigerian heritage with her creative passion for sewing. Grace's designs breathe life into African fabrics, infusing them with modern flair. Through approachable teaching and challenges, she cultivates a community of creatives, aiming to saturate the streets with African fashion. As a mother, business owner, and designer, Grace exemplifies the transformative power of self-expression and celebrates the beauty of diversity. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:How Grace’s experience with sewing was both a way to stay busy and to feel connectedGrace’s transition from practicing law to pursuing a career in sewing, driven by a desire to keep her mind active and find joy in creativityAfrican Zesty Couture, specializes in offering various types of fabrics that have cultural and regional significance, and she aims to provide a wide range of options to cater to different tastes and preferencesThe silk adire fabric, traditionally associated with the Yoruba people, is known for its tie-dye patterns and is now also produced in silk, giving it a unique texture.How Grace approaches design: sometimes starting with a specific fabric that inspires a creation, while other times she envisions a style and looks for a fabric to matchTikTok as a strategy to connect with others through sew-alongs and challenges, encouraging others to explore their creativity with African fabricsGrace hosts live TikTok session primarily on Fridays at 12:30 PM Central TimeInitiatives that aim to break down the perception that African prints are exclusive or difficult to work withThe ultimate goal of Grace's business is to "flood the streets with Ankara," emphasizing the accessibility and versatility of African fabrics in everyday wearGrace's journey from practicing law to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the sewing industry reflects her passion for creativity, her cultural connection, and her dedication to empowering others to explore their own creative potential Quotes from the show:“The growth of your son and the growth of your sewing skills seem to kind of come up at the same time, like they’re rising together.” - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #207“I always encourage people do not see African fabrics as something difficult to work with or exclusive.” - Grace Christopher, Stitch Please, Episode #207“It just depends on how I’m feeling at the moment. I think as creatives, we tend to go back and forth based on how we are feeling and that’s part of the beautiful thing about being a creative.” - Grace Christopher, Stitch Please, Episode #207“You also spend time building community among your customers and not just your customers but everybody, by having different sew-alongs, having different challenges... I think that's really encouraging because it shows that you really want to build a relationship between yourself and your clients and you want anyone who is consuming your fabric to feel confident that they can use it for something that would make them happy.” - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #207“The fundamental reason why I do that is I feel like I cannot spread this thing fast enough on my own because one of the goals of my business is I say it like a little catch phrase to to flood the streets with an Ankara.” - Grace Christopher, Stitch Please, Episode #207“Your challenge is really more like an invitation for people to investigate their own creativity.” - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #207“I think sometimes we stumble into great things when we don’t even plan on them.” - Grace Christopher, Stitch Please, Episode #207"Be kind to yourself... embrace the journey and learn as you go." - Grace Christopher, Stitch Please, Episode #207"Color your life with these beautiful prints." - Grace Christopher, Stitch Please, Episode #207 Resources Mentioned:Black Sewing NetworkYoutube: Zesty African CoutureStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please PodcastLisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkGrace ChristopherAfrican Zesty CoutureEtsy: African Zesty CoutureInstagram: Zesty CoutureTikTok: @AfricanzestycoutureYoutube: Zesty African CoutureFacebook: Zesty CouturePinterest: Zesty CoutureSubscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Produced and Edited by the Fermata Audio Collective:EP - Krystal HillProducer - Mike Bryant  

Preorder your 2024 BWS Wall Calendar TODAY!  Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreAaronica B. ColeAaronica B. Cole is a dynamic force in the world of sewing and creative expression. With a passion for using thread as a transformative tool, she's known for her audacious approach to style and fashion. Her journey has led her to embrace variegated threads, infusing her creations with unexpected contrasts and vibrant hues. Through her bold designs and unapologetic self-expression, Aaronica challenges norms and inspires others to do the same. Her recent venture into podcasting with the AudaSEWtea Podcast showcases her commitment to amplifying diverse voices and stories in the sewing community. With a genuine warmth and relatable charm, Aaronica brings a fresh perspective to the sewing world, proving that audacity and creativity go hand in hand. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:How Aaronica's presence has grown and flourished with regards to her career since her last appearance on the podcast three years agoThe episode focuses on three key aspects of Aaronica's work: her designing ventures, including the Aurifil thread collection and Know Me pattern collection pattern collection, her family sewing endeavors, and her new podcast project with Julian CollinsAaronica introduces her Rustic Chic Thread CollectionThe Know Me pattern collection is praised for its representation and inclusivity in fashion design, highlighting the need for more diverse perspectives in the industryDiscussion of the historical lack of inclusivity in fashion design knowledge systems with an emphasis on the importance of creating designs that cater to a wide range of body types and backgroundsAaronica's new podcast venture, AudaSEWtea co-hosted with Julian, is introducedThe episode ends with Lisa extending an invitation for Aaronica and Julian to share their podcast journey on a future episode, showing support for their new endeavor Quotes from the show:“The notion that you don't have to be within one color scheme... You can mix and match these contrasting colors to create something that is so beautiful and uniquely you." - Aaronica B. Cole, Stitch Please, Episode #206"People think of clothing as something superficial... They don't dig deeper and understand the psychology behind fashion and behind the clothing choices that we make. Imagine walking around and only feeling good enough to wear a sack... as opposed to being able to see your body as being beautiful enough to actually adorn it." - Aaronica B. Cole, Stitch Please, Episode #206"I think what I've been thinking a lot about is a lot of the knowledge systems that have been developed for sewing in particular and for fashion by extension, were never made with black bodies in mind, period done. And it is, I think a flaw, a type of little flaw in the industry that started as something small in the 1940s but has never changed." - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #206"And so it's become in my mind malignant. I find it malignant and I find it very negative, right? When we look at size charts, when we look at what proportions are supposed to be, but those were designed by, they looked only at the bodies of white women." - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #206"Why should I look at this mainstream over here when, in fact, I am the mainstream." - Aaronica B. Cole, Stitch Please, Episode #206"I think that for too long marginalized people, the process of marginalization requires that we set aside what feels good and right to us because it's not what the majority does but that it's ridiculous. It's kind of like trying to make sure that you can fit in somebody else's clothes, right? We, we make our own clothes because we want things to fit us." - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #206"I'm always talking about possibility models. It is important. It is hard for you to become that which you have never seen and you are visible out in the world doing amazing things and the victory is in the visibility and you have absolutely every right to be." - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #206 Resources Mentioned:Patterns for PiratesBernina (Sewing machine brand)Afros & Audio (Organization)Black Podcasters AssociationBlack Podcast AwardsWomen of Color Podcast (Organization)Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please PodcastLisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Aaronica B. ColeInstagram: Aaronica B. ColeYoutube: Aaronica B. ColeAudaSEWtea PodcastSimplicity Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store Black Sewing NetworkBlack Sewing Network is a platform that celebrates and amplifies black voices in the sewing community. We host daily sewalongs on social media that encourage and motivate members of the sewing community to sew daily!Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Insights from this episode:How the Garment Girlies got started with the Black Sewing NetworkHow LaShuan originally connected with Carmen Green through instagram, where Carmen hosted “Sew Saturdays”Why TikTok is a more vibrant platform to hostThe Black Sewing Network provided guidance, explanations for sewing terminology, and strategies for community membersHow going live on social media platforms helps to strengthen the community of sewers by supporting each other through challengesThe Black Sewing Network community encourages collaboration and mutual support, even helping each other to gain followers on social mediaBenefits of feeling safe and welcome in a communityEmphasis on how the Black Sewing Network community feels encouraged to pursue their own sewing styles and interests without pressure to conform to specific aestheticsExpressions of gratitude for the Black Sewing Network’s positive impact on their unique sewing journeysConversations surrounding garments include discussions about patterns used, various challenges faced during the sewing processes, and the significance of pieces createdThe Garment Girlies strategies to help us get our stitch together Quotes from the show:“BSN is really all about you being yourself and expressing yourself how you want to.” - Aiysha, Stitch Please, Episode # 205“It's just really that simple that you can be who you want to be and who you are and you can elevate that you could do it, how you want to do it, hack it, play around, I think with BSN it allows us to just play and have fun and try stuff out and seam rip a lot.” - Aiysha, Stitch Please, Episode #205“BSN is that environment where there are teachers, everybody's a teacher no matter what level you are… Whether you're in the role of the teacher or the role of the student, it's a safe place where we know that there's really an opportunity for everyone to learn.” - LaShuan, Stitch Please, Episode #205“I think that breaking down barriers can be one of the first steps to learning.” - Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #205“Just start. It doesn't matter where you're starting from. Like I said earlier, I started my Instagram and tiktok in March of this year and here I am a BSN host. I never would have thought I would have that even, no one would have even known who I was at this point in time.The community will meet you where you're at and just start, you never know who you're going to influence who you're gonna impact and what your story could do for somebody else, even if we're just sewing.” - DeJanee, Stitch Please, Episode #205“To those that are listening, those that are watching, to just simply be you. Like, I think when it comes to sewing, you have so many opportunities, so many ways to be able to express yourself. There was always a saying that I would say that style is the inner workings of you and fashion is the show for everyone to see.” - Aiysha, Stitch Please, Episode #205 Resources Mentioned:Black Sewing Network Stay ConnectedYouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please PodcastLisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Black Sewing NetworkWebsite: Black Sewing NetworkFacebook: Black Sewing NetworkInstagram: Black Sewing NetworkTiktok: Black Sewing NetworkLinkTree: Black Sewing NetworkEmail: [email protected] The BSN Garment GirliesTikTok accountsTyJari @mightysewAiysha @maloriadesignsByrd @yogabyrd (Instagram: @yogabyrdsews)DeJanee @deja_made_itLaShuan @sewphistocateddesigns Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon StoreBlack Sewing NetworkBlack Sewing Network is a platform that celebrates and amplifies black voices in the sewing community. We host daily sewalongs on social media that encourage and motivate members of the sewing community to sew daily!Black Sewing NetworkWebsite: Black Sewing NetworkFacebook: Black Sewing NetworkInstagram: Black Sewing NetworkTiktok: Black Sewing NetworkLinkTree: Black Sewing NetworkEmail: [email protected] BSN Bag GirliesTiktok: Nikki DTiktok: LanaeTiktok: Tanisha Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Why the Bag Girlies love bags and how they started their sewing journeysNikki’s gorgeous bag sets and details behind each bagWhat NCW stands for and its different sizes and styles, as well as, the reason behind its popularityDifferent materials that the Bag Ladies use in making their bagsThe balance between functionality and form in bag-makingThe creative process behind the Bag LadiesThe “Melesi Tote” sewing techniqueInsights about the “Could I Be Any Clearer?” stadium bagSew Motivee’s design modifications that are being done by TanishaNikki and Tanisha’s collaboration on designsDetails behind Lanae’s “Fiona Foldover” bagThe Bag Girlie’s different styles and how they’re all connected with a strong line of creativity and clean sewing.Insights about the “T-Rex” bag style and why Nikki loves itThe difference between zipper-sewing in a bag and zipper-sewing in a garmentSome final words of wisdom Quotes from the show:“I do love how you each have your own style, your own different origin story for coming to bags, but, the thing that I find so, just so remarkable about all of your work is the way that it’s kind of connected with this strong line of creativity, a clean sewing, they’re really ambitions, they encourage people to try something new” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #204“I think that it represents a really great aspect of the Black Sewing Network; that you all are Bag Girlies, but you are as different from one another, right, and you’re not all sewing the same things, you’re all doing different things. You’re using different fabrics and even if you use some of the same fabrics, it would be different outcomes. If you use some of the same shapes, it will look a bit different” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #204“Just do it! Just try it! Even if you are scared, like, I was scared to death to start bags, but I just did it. The first one, very questionable, but I did it. And the second part to that, is “Take your time!”. I am doing a bag right now and it’s taking me forever. I think Nikki asked about it on one of my Tiktoks. It’s fifty million pieces, but I’m not a quitter, so I’m gonna finish that bag. But take your time because you wanna make sure that you grasp whatever concept it is that’s telling you to do the bag or the process, and then you wanna make sure it sticks and then that will help you in the end, as far as other bag making.” – Lanae, Stitch Please, Episode #204“Give yourself grace! You’re not gonna be out the gate perfect at anything, you’re gonna have that first test run. So, give yourself grace and be patient.” – Nikki, Stitch Please, Episode #204“Enjoy the journey! I’ve been growing my hair for nineteen years, so, same rules apply with bag-making. Do not try to go from “brand new” to “professional” overnight, it ain’t gonna happen, plus you’re gonna skip learning so many amazing feels. Enjoy the journey, enjoy that first bag you make, enjoy that first wallet you make, enjoy that first hand-bag you make.” – Tanisha, Stitch Please, Episode #204 Resources Mentioned:Necessary Clutch WalletThe “Melesi Tote” sewing techniqueTiktok https://www.tiktok.com/Sew Your Bag https://sewyourbag.com/Etsy https://www.etsy.com/ Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork  Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon Store Black Sewing NetworkBlack Sewing Network is a platform that celebrates and amplifies black voices in the sewing community. We host daily sewalongs on social media that encourage and motivate members of the sewing community to sew daily! Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Insights from this episode:Brittanie and SheShe’s sewing journey and in Black Sewing NetworkBrittanie’s goal of learning, to basically understand what she’s doing. Her approach to developing her skills, being strategic and choosing who to learn fromSheShe’s habit of “over consuming” and her goal of passing on her knowledge to others, in the easiest possible wayBrittanie and SheShe’s current products when sewingThe difference between hoarding and provisioningInsights about whether to choose the design or the fabric first“Knit Fabric” as a textileLisa talks about her two upcoming books; a book about “Black Stitch Liberation” and a book about where certain fabrics came fromBrittanie and SheShe uncover the Black Sewing Network storySome final words of wisdom Quotes from the show:“Once you have your machine and you take it out of the box, first of all take it out of the box, don’t waste that money; because if you’re not gonna take it out of the box, you shouldn't have bought it. There is no such thing as a “beginner”. You will forever be a “beginner” if you never try, you have to try. It’s a whole community that will literally walk you through the project step-by-step. We have set up work of one hour to eleven hours on live, we’re not gonna leave you. Take it out of the box, we got you.” – Brittanie, Stitch Please, Episode #203“Start somewhere! Find somewhere to start. It’s like if you have a mess in your house, focus on one thing and start there first and then tackle a little at a time. And don’t try to think you can do everything, starting off at the back; because then you’re gonna get overwhelmed, and when you get overwhelmed, you just wanna quit. So, find somewhere to start and start there.” – SheShe, Stitch Please, Episode #203 Resources Mentioned:Emerald Curtain https://emeraldcurtainfabric.com/Nicole Elise https://www.nicoleelise.shop/Accuquilt https://www.accuquilt.com/ Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Black Sewing NetworkWebsite: Black Sewing NetworkFacebook: Black Sewing NetworkInstagram: Black Sewing NetworkTiktok: Black Sewing NetworkLinkTree: Black Sewing NetworkEmail: [email protected] BrittanieInstagram: BrittanieTiktok: Brittanie SheSheInstagram: SheSheTiktok: SheShe, SheShe   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon Store Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Sahara ClemonsSahara Clemons is a multimedia artist and designer born in Washington D.C and based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Clemons revels in the fluidity of artistic mediums and interweaves painting, textiles, and dance in her creative process. Her work explores the intersection of race and gender and provides commentary on the socio-political forces that shape identity. Her work has been shown at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Second Street Gallery, The Bridge Progressive Arts Institute, and McGuffey Art Center. Clemons is a YoungArts alumni and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Rhode Island School of Design.Insights from this episode:How to go from ‘sketch’ to ‘stitch’The techniques behind textile manipulationThe importance of defining your purpose when doing creative workTips for overcoming your fear of making mistakes and taking chancesBeing creative when you don’t have a lot of resourcesQuotes from the show:“I feel like I’m a very conceptual person when it comes to making, and I think it always starts off with the story. Mainly I think the core aspect of that is making it personal and authentic to my journey as not just an artist, but as a person.” – Sahara Clemons, Stitch Please, Episode #202 [05:53]“I think too often we think about sewing or fashion and manufacturing, but that’s not all that you’re doing and this is one of the reasons I think that fashion is art. The same things that we see in art, or the things that go into making art, go into making the garments that we ultimately see.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #202 [08:51]“What I appreciate about fashion is that idea of community-building and bringing people into the clothing.” – Sahara Clemons, Stitch Please, Episode #202 [11:35]“I wanted the collection to go through the transition of a person’s mindset when it comes to body exploration… knowing that it is a healing process rather than, ‘this is okay, my scars are okay.’ With all of society and you yourself, it’s hard to feel that way and it’s really challenging to go through that process, and that’s what I wanted to share. That it’s more about this healing and embracing a new perspective of yourself rather than an immediate dopamine rush of what it is, because it is hard sometimes to let go.” – Sahara Clemons, Stitch Please, Episode #202 [25:40]“I paralleled [pearls] with this idea of feeling like your body is an antagonizing force. Seeing how you can turn that around and how that creates in yourself this beauty and thing you have to overcome with yourself is a powerful journey that ends up being very beautiful.” – Sahara Clemons, Stitch Please, Episode #202 [35:40]Resources Mentioned:Sahara’s first appearance on the Stitch Please podcastSupima Design CompetitionCLO computer-assisted 3D design programThis week’s episode is sponsored by AccuQuiltStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please PodcastLisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkSahara ClemonsWebsite: Sahara ClemonsInstagram: sgcoriginalsSubscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sponsored by Accuquilt!    Sign up for the Black Women Stitch  newsletter!   Check out our merch here   Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon Amazon StorePatterns Mentioned: Vogue 1940, Simplicity 8982, Mimi G for Simplicity 9687 KnowMe 2046, The Rushcutter Dress by In the Folds, The Naomi Shirt by Coffee and ThreadLisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Get Your Stitch Together tips from the episode:Lisa's fall sewing plans to accommodate her medical bootHer plans to make a failed Simplicity knit pattern againHow wide leg pants could fit over her bootIdeas for hacking a Vogue dress into a tunicTips for extending a shirtdress into a tunicTricks for adjusting patterns for curvy figuresLisa's thoughts on dress pockets and stretchy zippersHow Mimi G's wide pants could work with the bootFabrics Lisa enjoys for fall sewing 

Sponsored by Accuquilt! Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon StoreLisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Bisa ButlerBisa Butler is an award winning African American textile artist known for her vibrantly stunning larger than life sized quilted portraits that captivate viewers around the world. Formally trained, Butler graduated Cum Laude from Howard University with a Bachelor’s in Fine Art degree and it was during this time that she began to experiment with fabric as a medium and became interested in collage techniques. She then went on to earn a Master’s in Art from Montclair State University in 2005. While in the process of obtaining her Master’s degree, Butler took a Fiber Arts class where she had an artistic epiphany and she finally realized how to express her art.  “As a child, I was always watching my mother and grandmother sew, and they taught me. After that class, I made a portrait quilt for my grandmother on her deathbed, and I have been making art quilts ever since.”After working as a high school art teacher for thirteen years, Butler was awarded a Gordon Parks Foundation Fellowship in 2002 and exhibited in Switzerland during Art Basel with the Jeffrey Deitch Gallery. Many institutions and museums have acquired Butler’s work including the Art Institute of Chicago for a solo exhibition, The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Insights from this episode:Why it’s important to uplift and encourage each other, starting with the children in our livesHow Bisa uses her art to affirm the dignity of historical figuresThe process of researching historical figures and time periods to accurately portray them through artHow different colors play into the meaning expressed in her artHow Bisa infuses her quilts with the music she’s listening to as she createsWhat happens when you stop starting with ‘white’ as a defaultInsights into the difference between studying art education (teaching people how to make art) vs. learning how to make art yourselfQuotes from the show:“I’m always seeking for truth and to find those essential truth elements about Black people.” – Bisa Butler, Stitch Please, Episode #200“I have had people ask me, people who don’t necessarily look like us so they don’t have a full understanding, ‘I notice that you make all of your subjects look regal. Why, or what’s the process of that?’ I would say I’m just looking at them and this is the way they appear to me. I’m not trying to make them look regal; if anything maybe it’s just that you’re looking at them more carefully. The dignity or that inner regality, I can’t give it to them; they have it already.” – Bisa Butler, Stitch Please, Episode #200“My interest in colorism is why the features look very African American. I don’t want to dilute that in any way. I’m loving our full lips, broad noses, or whatever the case may be.” – Bisa Butler, Stitch Please, Episode #200“I love that word ‘talisman’ because it acknowledges that spiritual resonance and also having a mantra. We’ve always been very spiritual people and we’ve always been people who have to think hopefully and we have to think about the world beyond us or even after us. A lot of times we have to pray for our living relatives who we may not be able to protect in the way that we want to.” – Bisa Butler, Stitch Please, Episode #200“Music is such a strong form of communication; it’s such a strong form of art because you don’t need words, you just need to hear the sound to understand somebody’s emotional output. The composer, musician, they can make you feel sad, they can make you feel happy, they can make your heartbeat go faster, they can make you go to sleep. That’s a control of power that can be passed down through the ages. The music, as long as it’s in a form that you can hear, you can hear how somebody felt hundreds of years before you.” – Bisa Butler, Stitch Please, Episode #200“The music to me is more than an aid; it’s the explanation.” – Bisa Butler, Stitch Please, Episode #200“For Black Women Stitch and the Stitch Please podcast we center Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing to make a deliberate choice to center Blackness. Also one of the things I’m studying a lot in my own work is the question of what happens when you stop starting with white… Stop acting like color is something that is new when white supremacy operates in this country deliberately through our laws and customs.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #200“We are the sum of all the people who came before us.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #200“Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself. Treat yourself like you treat other people; it will help you get your stitch together. Enjoy your life. Look at beautiful things. Take classes and learn, and be patient if things don't look or seem the way you want because we are all growing in this life together and you will get there.” – Bisa Butler, Stitch Please, Episode #200Resources Mentioned:Francis and Violette, 2001The Holsinger Collection, Bill Hurley’s portrait, and Bisa’s interpretation: A Man’s Worth, 2019This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley (“You don’t give dignity, you affirm it.”)Bisa Butler: Portraits at the Art Institute of Chicago and accompanying playlistI Owe You Nothing by Seinabo Sey (song) Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please PodcastLisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkBisa ButlerWebsite: Bisa ButlerInstagram: Bisa ButlerTwitter: Bisa ButlerLinkedIn: Bisa ButlerLinkTree: Bisa ButlerEmail: [email protected] to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry.

Start of the show. 0:09Welcome to stitch please, official podcast of black women's stitch.Black women at quilt con.Finding a safe place from her heart to land.Quilting as a way to escape mathematics.What does “I miss hope” bring to me? 3:33The scale of I miss hope.The frustration and tension of following the news.The intersection of quilting and activism.The process of creating a statement quilt.Defining risks as risks. 8:38Risks in her work and how she defines them.Being featured by scholastic.Being a Scholastic Book Fair girl.Black girl math magic. 12:56The Black girl math magic subscription box.The Renwick museum acquisition process.All makers except hetero white males.The call from the Renwick curator.America owns my quilt. 18:05America owns her quilt.The poker metaphor, bet on yourself and win.Bipac quilters are being relegated to a separate category.The binary of beautiful quilts and statement quilts.How she thinks about balance in her work. 22:22The 10th anniversary of quilt con.How quilting has changed over the last decade.A scene from Amadeus.Balance between texture and the overall aesthetic of the piece.How to leave space without leaving space? 25:57How to quilt with an out-of-focus line.How Instagram is controlling quilting.Small pieces of art on a wall.Creating a quilt for instagram.The words “I can't breathe” 29:38Chawne makes the words to express his thoughts.The title of the episode, patchwork to power.Black women's liberatory stitching traditions.Power, liberation and process of stitching quilts.The power of the needle and needle. 34:12The power of the needle and needle.Words of wisdom for the interviewee.Take care of yourself and your health.Support Black Women Stitch on Patreon.

This episode of the Stitch Please podcast features Naomi Johnson as host interviewing guest Rashida Coleman Hale and Lisa, live at the Modern Quilt Guild's 10th anniversary QuiltCon event in Atlanta. Lisa explains her motivation for attending QuiltCon for the first time and shares her excitement over the increased representation of Black women and Black-owned businesses at the event. Rashida discusses debuting her new fabric line and the emotional experience of seeing Black women wearing and excited about her fabrics. The hosts share their "fangirl" moments meeting renowned Black quilters like Latifah Saafir in person. They also discuss Lisa's intentionality about who she chooses to collaborate with for Black Women Stitch projects, and her realization that suffering through unpaid work would not dismantle capitalism or white supremacy - but taking resources to support Black women's crafts could. The hosts and Rashida share advice on self-care and "getting your stitch together" during difficult times. The episode celebrates community, ancestral crafts, collaboration, and joyful spaces for Black women quilters.

Introduction to this episode. 0:09Welcome to the official podcast of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group, where Black Lives matter.Thanks to underwriters Spoonflower, Moda, and BerninaThis is a “very special episode” because this episode is Sew Black at Quiltcon.Watch word of the day. 3:21Sarah has been collaborating with dead women from her family for the last 30 years, and now she gets to collaborate with an actual live bond thanks to her collaboration with her cousin, e bondBringing the two different ways of thinking about conversation visually and not always in terms of sound to the Word of Mouth quilt.Working with Lavinia. 7:25Lavinia was her great-great-grandmother Three quilts from Lavinia are on display.Lavinia was born enslaved in 1858 and lived a difficult life. She was making this to express something that she needed to express.The audacity of a woman born to slavery.Black Aliveness. 10:39In an antiBlack world, Blackness is demanded of Black people. In a Black world, being is all that is required.Lavinia Unbound quilt.What do you see in this piece? 12:33Sarah is now part of the collections. She will always pick a quilt that is from either Anna or Lavinia that they then remake in the fabric as part of inspiration. She gets to name it.In e bond’s first collection, Glyphs, the fabric designed to represent the genius scifi author Octavia Butler, reflects the balance between data and barbed wire.Jane was born in 1828. 15:19This quilt was made by Jane, who was born in 1828, and is a white glove situation to prevent oils from hands from touching the quilt.Jane had two sons by Preston.The moment when it suddenly occurred to me. 17:26She was there for 18 years before he took advantage of her. She had other children that she was not able to keep.She made quilts together with her sister.How did the quilt get its name? 21:30The quilt is a basket quilt in red, blue and white, in red and blue, and white. It is in the 1870s and was popular at that time.It was a popular quilt pattern that was popular in that time, and some of the reds and blues faded out.Thank you to our sponsors and audience. 24:52The podcast is a live show at Quiltcon. They are grateful to their sponsors, their audience, and to e bond and Sarah Bond for bringing an inexplicably powerful reminder of who and what Black women are capable of.If you'd like to support the Stitch Please podcast financially, you can do that by supporting them on Patreon.

​​Celebrate the 200th episode of the Stitch Please podcast by contributing to the next 200 episodes.Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon community  to get videos of the podcast, BTS, and other bonus content. Donate via Act Blue (tax deductible)  to support our Capacity Building campaign in September and October. Donations earn bonus entries for the giveway. Stitching FOR THE CULTURE, Produced by Latrice Sampson RichardsSara Trail, Social Justice Sewing Academy     @sjsacademy   www.sjsacademy.orgBianca Springer, Thanks I Made Them  @thanksImadethem www.thanksImadethem.comNikki Griffin @sewingmystyle www.sewingmystyle.comHighlights:0:09 - Dive into a world where stitching, culture, and Black lives interweave. Welcome to our official Sew Black at quiltcon podcast episode!4:42 - Bianca, the creative genius behind "Represent! Embroidery” book, opens up about her journey. Discover how a period of recovery birthed an Black-centered embroidery book with vibrant designs, and how the essence of it evolves.10:30 - The panel sheds light on the importance of culture. They tackle the misrepresentations in white spaces and stress the significance of nurturing self-agency and autonomy in children.12:01 - Meet Nikki Griffin, an Atlanta native with an unstoppable sewing spirit. From bras to jeans, her contributions to the Atlanta sewing style are nothing short of inspiring.17:27 - Sewing transcends craft. Learn about its power for social justice, its global movement, and its deep resonance within the Black women community of Atlanta.20:42 - Support stitches community. Applause for the amazing Social Justice Sewing Academy team for their continuous dedication and passion. Together, they're revolutionizing the art through fabric and giving a fresh, unique experience for kids.25:13 - Rules, boundaries, and quilting? Sarah delves into how traditional quilting norms can sometimes confine and control, urging listeners to 'get their stitch together.'26:49 - Expand your horizons.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon Store QueenQueen is a Bronx native with a Harlem heart, did college in Queens, currently resides in Brooklyn, and like most New Yorkers forgets Staten Island exists. Creating safe, nourishing spaces for Black femmes and folks impacted by misogynoir through digital media and live events is her style of activism. She is one half of The Tea with Queen and J. podcast and centers dismantling white supremacist patriarchal capitalism, because why the fuck not! Always encouraging healthy community building, her podcast’s annual Black podcast meetup, #PodinLiveNYC, has grown into the largest Black podcaster meetup in the world! Ms.Vixen, her online magazine, has been running 7 years strong, and with the addition of live events and workshops through the Ms.Vixen IRL series, plus Ms. Vixen The Podcast, she continues to deliver incisive, witty, lit womanist perspectives on pop culture, media, and politics. Queen’s work has also been featured at Afropunk.com, AMny, and you can catch her as a panelist on the youtube series, The Grapevine. Always someone with something to say, her goal is media domination, to always have huge hair, and to always stay fly. J.J. is a cultural critic, podcast producer, and a womanist race nerd from the Bronx focused on dismantling white supremacist patriarchal capitalism while laughing, drinking tea, and indulging in various forms of Black joy. For over five years she's created audio content centering Black women and Black femme-identifying individuals, exploring America's caste system, allowing herself to learn and be challenged publicly, and sharing her journey through mental health. As a podcast geek with a commitment to increasing visibility and access for people of color, she co-founded #PodinLiveNYC, the largest annual Black podcast meetup in the world. In addition to freedom and liberation, Janicia loves cosplay, believes there's a special place in her heart (and hell) for body paint, and lovingly asks that you do not call her a "lady". Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Making spaces like music festivals feel more welcoming to queer folksCreating intergenerational events that appeal to everyone and avoid ageismThe effect of marginalized people thinking from a scarcity mindsetWho gets their work published and whyWhy it’s important to remember that there is always room for your voice and your storyThe role of capitalism in holding us back from pursuing our interests Quotes from the show:“The community activated to provide a kind of care, and I think that is something that you really can’t harness or you can’t force.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #195“I think as a marginalized person you’re always thinking about the deficit; you’re always thinking about the scarcity. On purpose you’re made to think there’s not enough for everyone, so you don’t ask for more. If there’s not enough, you won’t ask for more. If there’s not enough, you won’t require more. If there’s not enough, you won’t expect more. That’s just what is stuck down your throat as a marginalized person. So it is really important for us to remind everyone that the market can never be saturated. That language in itself is exclusionary to make you not want to do this, to make you think it’s not possible for you to be in a space.” – Queen, Stitch Please, Episode #195“People don’t think of all the players in capitalism and how invested corporations are in keeping independent creators, entrepreneurs, out of this space… They want to control the market, so they will tell you the market is flooded until they’re ready to play. There’s a lot at work to keep individuals from playing whatever the game is.” – J., Stitch Please, Episode #195“There’s a lot of that trying to maintain the status quo, and that is a symptom and a function of maintaining the capitalisty, and all of these little things work to the benefit of those on top of the financial hierarchy that we have, and that is power.” – J., Stitch Please, Episode #195“I think the question to ask is ‘who benefits?’. If you count yourself out, if you take yourself out of the game before you give yourself a chance, who benefits from that? You are not benefitting, because you're not following something you’re excited about. Don’t count yourself out. Don’t push yourself out because you’re afraid.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #195“When I started this podcast, it was just like when I created Black Women Stitch. I built what I needed. I needed to know that there were other Black women, girls, and femmes out in the world doing things with needle and thread, that I did not have to turn to these sources that were crafted by white people for the benefit of other white people but told to me like ‘yes, you can do it too, but if it doesn’t fit you, then something’s wrong.’ None of that is the case. There absolutely is not just a history of us in this tradition, but also us being great innovators and making things that are completely new. And to also leave something behind for those who will come next and make sure that door is propped wide open for more flourishing to continue beyond just what’s happening right now. I think that anything we can do to make that more of a regular practice would be to the good. I really do.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #195“None of us are free unless all of us are free. I don’t understand how we don’t appreciate that. You don’t get to just be a little bit racist. You don’t get to be a little bit oppressive of other people because it makes you feel better or because you think you have good reason for it. That is not the way to wholeness. It’s just not the way.”  – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #195 Resources MentionedPodInLiveNYCEssence festival Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Tea with Queen and JWebsite: Tea with Queen and JInstagram: teawithqjTwitter: TeawithQJFacebook: teawithqueenandjTumblr: teawithqueenandjEmail: [email protected] QueenTwitter: @TheQueenSpeaks_Instagram: @TheQueenSpeaks_YouTube: @MsVixenEmail: [email protected] J.Twitter: @JaniciaFInstagram: @JaniciaFPodcast: Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon Store Jennifer OldhamJennifer Oldham is a thread artist who creates beautiful embroidery hoop designs through which we can see our sisters and ourselves. Jennifer shares her designs through @herhoopdreams and a collection of her work was recently displayed at the Nashville Hermitage Library. While her mom has sewn throughout her entire life and she wore handmade clothes regularly including to her prom and her wedding, Jennifer never took to sewing like her mom did but used the skill when she first got married and couldn’t afford to buy curtains and placemats, making them herself. Still, she understood the beauty, skill, and time it takes to make things by hand and eventually found her joy in embroidering. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:How Jennifer discovered an art form that spoke to herExpressing facial features in a realistic way through embroidery and getting the details rightHow learning and unlearning play an important role in both the creating process and in lifeWhere Jennifer gets her inspiration fromThe importance of seeing ourselves and people who look like us expressed through artThe therapeutic power of creative art forms Quotes from the show:“You are creating things from your needle and thread that are a reflection of so much Black beauty, so much patience, so much intricate detail.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #194“Even now I still take things to my mother’s house for her to sew them!” – Jennifer Oldham, Stitch Please, Episode #194“A part of the journey that I’m on is one of unlearning things that don’t fit who I am now and recreating myself–or creating myself and being intentional about that.” – Jennifer Oldham, Stitch Please, Episode #194“This is my year, this is my time, this is my phase of life. Finding me, rediscovering me, taking the pieces that still work and basically stitching them together.” – Jennifer Oldham, Stitch Please, Episode #194“Learning and unlearning, all of these are such vital elements of what it means to just exist in this world, and you have given us a model for putting that not on stage or Instagram where that feels sometimes so forced, but making something really permanent and beautiful and taking the time to do so. That’s something I really appreciate, the care and detail about your work.”  – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #194“Sometimes people have asked me how do you decide what to make, and it’s just whatever I’m interested in at the moment; there is no rhyme or reason. I’m just like ‘I want to make that!’, so I make it. Which is very freeing! There aren’t a lot of spaces in our daily lives where we can just do what we want. Sometimes there might be pockets of that, but it feels like with this particular medium I can just do what I want, and it feels very freeing, it feels very calming. It’s a good way to sometimes feel a little bit more control when things feel out of control.” – Jennifer Oldham, Stitch Please, Episode #194“I think one of the things that matter most in sewing and in life is to have boundaries. To exercise your boundaries to stay within the lines that you create yourself, not necessarily what other people have created for you. To take time to play. For me, play is just as vital as breathing. Make boundaries for yourself, honor other people’s boundaries, and just enjoy yourself!” – Jennifer Oldham, Stitch Please, Episode #194 Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Jennifer OldhamInstagram: @herhoopdreams Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our  merch too! Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon Store Uzoma Samuel AnyanwuUzoma Samuel Anyanwu was born in 1981 and is a painter and photographer whose passion for photography compliments his studio painting practice. His inimitable approach to fabric collage paintings and the transformation of recycled materials into art distinguishes him as a strong emerging artist. He currently lives and works in Lagos State, Nigeria.Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:What goes into his creative processHow to fight discriminationSamuel’s creative backgroundWorking with diverse fabricWhat fabric teaches us about living harmoniouslyShowcasing his work at QuiltconLessons he learned working with people and preparing for Quiltcon Quotes from the show:“No one’s first quilt ends up at a juried quilt show, it’s not something that often happens, but it did happen in this case” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“First, I do photography and then it compliments my painting and collage and fabric work. Most of my work comes from the compositions from my camera” —Uzoma Samuel Anyanwu in “Stitch Please”“Anything racism and tribal discrimination is taught somehow (…) it’s something that parents should try their best to let their children be free of this kind of discrimination” —Uzoma Samuel Anyanwu in “Stitch Please”“My coming into fabric art is a kind of genetic endowment from my mother. I can always say that because she has been a fashion designer all her life” —Uzoma Samuel Anyanwu in “Stitch Please”“Having experience from photography, and drawing and painting, then coming into fabric is not a new medium to me. It’s just an extension of what I do with my camera” —Uzoma Samuel Anyanwu in “Stitch Please”“I really work with large varieties of fabric, and this is important because I have been able to define globalization with my work, in terms of all these fabric coming from different places” —Uzoma Samuel Anyanwu in “Stitch Please”“We can live in a world whereby whatever you practice, be in peace with everyone. This is what fabric has been able to do”—Uzoma Samuel Anyanwu in “Stitch Please”“Fabric is that common item that connects all humans” —Uzoma Samuel Anyanwu in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Uzoma Samuel AnyanwuWebsite: Samuel Uzoma - Biography | IMPART (impartfair.com)Facebook: Uzoma Samuel Anyanwu Instagram: uzo creative artz (@uzomasamuel_)  This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon Store Ella ClausenWhen Ella Clausen fell in love with sewing, she fell HARD. She started a few months before the pandemic began and has been riding a wild frenzied wave ever since, savoring every seam, learning all that she can about this skill from patternmaking to couture tailoring and everything in between. Ella lives in Oakland, California where she works for a nonprofit foundation that’s a part of Levi Strauss & Co. She is a first-generation American, a Black-Filipinx maker raised by a single mother, and a believer in the power of strong women. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:How cherishing pieces that have been passed through generations and the practice of sewing itself can connect us with our heritageTurning STEM into STEAM and valuing the physics and engineering skills involved in designing and sewing our own clothesHow Ella decided to make her own wedding dress and the skills that she developed in doing soThe process of designing patterns for Mimi G’s Know Me line for Simplicity, developed solely by makers in the sewing community Quotes from the show:“If there is something in your vision that you know is not at the store and you can create it from nothing or from the raw material of your imagination? That’s joy. That’s power. That’s freedom.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #52“It’s beautiful, the connectedness and the longevity, to think that the things I might create, this jacket I’m wearing, could have so much meaning to someone 2 or 3 generations down the line if it’s repaired and held together and treasured.” – Ella Clausen, Stitch Please, Episode #52“Sewing doesn’t save you money unless you have expensive taste.” – Ella Clausen, Stitch Please, Episode #52“Do not be the force that holds yourself back. Go for it. Try it. Don't listen to that voice that’s telling you that you can’t do something.” – Ella Clausen, Stitch Please, Episode #52 Resources Mentioned:Ella’s 6-part Project Wedding Dress blog seriesStitch Please episode: Parallel Universe Mystery Quilt with Ebony Love, Latifah Saafir, Gyleen FitzgeraldTipStitched blogTechno-Vernacular Creativity & Innovation by Nettrice R. GaskinsElla’s Know Me by Mimi G pattern Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Ella ClausenWebsite: Handmade MillennialInstagram: Handmade MillennialPinterest: Handmade MillennialTikTok: Handmade MillennialYouTube: Handmade Millennial Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

LONDON REIGN discount code: STITCHPLEASE35 for 35% off the London Reign dress pattern. Not compatible with any other offer. Valid until October 1, 2023. One purchase per customer.Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon Store Janet HensellJanet Hensell is a blogger who shares her handmade wardrobe and encourages others to sew and design their own style. She is best known as Miss J Sews, offering tips for setting trends and relying less on fast fashion. Her mom taught her to sew and they started off on dolly, but when she realized that she could make clothes that actually fit instead of always having to rely on shops, that was amazing. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Extending the life of a garment to last beyond the trendsPattern cutting: what it is, and making something fit well from the inside outHow Janet’s fashion came to be the talk of her fellow jury membersThe inspiration behind the London Reign pattern, from the design to the nameThe importance of crafting as self-care Quotes from the show:“I’m kind of bootylicious in my figure, and they don’t cater for that in the shops. But I can cater to myself if I sew, and that became the key thing. The feeling of making a thing that fits is unmatched.” – Janet Hensell, Stitch Please, Episode #191“It really is this vicious circle of consumption and discarding. Buy it, wear it, throw it away. And this is another thing that sewing can reduce. It is a form of sustainability because the pieces that you end up making, you tend to hold onto them longer.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #191“Crafting is self-care. Whether you’re a carpenter, a seamstress, a dancer, whatever you do for your mental health and fun, it is self-care. For me that was sewing.” – Janet Hensell, Stitch Please, Episode #191“Know what fits your lifestyle and fits your body. And when I say fit, know to fit your garments to fit you. Even if the garment is made from a cheaper fabric, once it fits you, people won’t even notice.” – Janet Hensell, Stitch Please, Episode #191 Resources Mentioned:Stitch Please Podcast episode: Pattern Cutting Deconstructed with Monisola OmotosoLondon Reign pattern and discount code: STITCHPLEASE35 valid on the London Reign dress pattern for 35% off. Not compatible with any other offer. Valid till October 1, 2023. One purchase per customer. Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Janet HensellWebsite: Miss J SewsInstagram: Miss J SewsFacebook: Miss J SewsTwitter: Miss J SewsPinterest: Miss J SewsTikTok: Miss J SewsJoin the Miss J Sews Community Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon Store Robyn BurgessRobyn Burgess has been 6’2” since she was 13 years old and has always loved making every hallway and sidewalk her runway, but finding fashions that fit all of her proportions is a struggle. After recording her cooking journey on her food blog Runaway Apricot for over 7 years, Robyn decided to expand her love of learning by taking on the art of sewing. She began her fashion design and sewing journey in 2015 to build a wardrobe of quality garments that fit her inseam and show off her bold style, and in 2019 started Styles InSeams to record her sewing journey and share information with others in the #sewingtall struggle. Robyn is an organizer of NYC Frocktails, a cocktail party for sewists, has created a 5-class learning path on sewing skills for Skillshare, and is currently preparing to launch her new clothing line for tall women in summer 2023, Robyn Bandele. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:How Robyn organized her learning path to improve her sewing skills on a shorter timelineFeeling comfortable in your body when it’s hard to find clothes that fit you, and learning what adjustments work for youSewing for events and getting inspiration from photos of her grandparents’ wedding and the latest season of BridgertonDeveloping a new clothing line specifically for tall women named after her aunt, Robyn Bandele Quotes from the show:“It allows for your sewing to be more sustainable in the long run when you don’t find yourself having to re-do things.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #49“People assume that fashion is for tall women because models are tall… I want to be able to make the clothes that we want to wear, which is not much different than what smaller or ‘normal-sized’ people wear.”  – Robyn Burgess, Stitch Please, Episode #49“There’s been so much amazing conversation about the plus-size market and inclusivity for plus-size women, which absolutely is necessary, but tall women are left out of that conversation, I think, in part because height is seen as a privilege, and there isn’t much privilege to being an outsider. Regardless of where you sit on that outsiderly spectrum, being an outsider is not a privilege.”  – Robyn Burgess, Stitch Please, Episode #49“Your vision of success may not look like what your family holds as successful, what your colleagues hold as successful, what your classmates hold as successful, and you don’t need to compare your success to anyone else. Come up with your own unique vision, and then chase that.” – Robyn Burgess, Stitch Please, Episode #49 Resources Mentioned:Robyn’s course on SkillshareMetro Textiles Fabric NYCNYC FrocktailsChristopher Sartorial’s YouTube drafting tutorials Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Robyn BurgessWebsite: Styles InSeamsInstagram: Styles InSeamsFacebook: Styles InSeamsPinterest: Styles InSeamsYouTube: Styles InSeams Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon Store Sasha BlackSasha Black is a home sewist and content creator who is known for her amazingly hilarious sewing videos as Sasha Sews. She started sewing in 2015 as an amateur and began sharing her mishaps on Instagram, learning how to improve her craft from the sewing community along the way. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:What led to the switch from sewing for fun without much care for instructions or technique to making something that would lastFinding humor in the process of sewing, making mistakes, and learningDefining your summer styleThe story behind Sasha’s TikTok apology to her CoverstitchNavigating a change when your brand name no longer represents you Quotes from the show:“People are so willing to help, and that is why I have gotten to where I am and am still going–because of the fact that people are so willing to share information.” – Sasha Black, Stitch Please“I enjoy creating. It’s a form of art for me, the same way sewing is. I want my page to be a space where people can feel like they can be creative. Like they can be themselves. Like they can make whatever it is they want, even if other people may not like it. So what? Do you like it?” – Sasha Black, Stitch Please“I believe that Black women, girls, and femmes, we use our sewing as an extension of our freedom–as an expression of our freedom.” Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please“Don’t let anybody force you to turn your hobby into a business. If you don’t want to make your hobby a business, then let it stay a hobby! A lot of times people will be like, ‘Oh, you could do this! You can make money off it.’ Maybe I want to! Maybe I just want to do it because I love it!” – Sasha Black, Stitch Please“Be yourself with what you’re making. Don’t make anything because it’s popular or trendy. Find out who you are as a person and what fits you, what your style is, because I promise you, people are going to gravitate towards those who are authentic in their style.” – Sasha Black, Stitch Please, [35:06] Resources Mentioned:YouTube sewing tutorials by Annika Victoria“Freedom is not a secret. It’s a practice.” – Alexis Pauline GumbsMimi G’s Simplicity patternsDose of Fabric (Black-owned Ankara fabric company)Kila Tank, Allie Olson Patterns Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Sasha BlackInstagram: SashaSews  Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon Store Julian CollinsJulian Collins works in public health, but loves to bring joy to the world through his colorful menswear creations by night as Julian Creates. His work has been featured in multiple publications including Sewn Magazine and Sew News. He is a BERNINA and Laurastar Ambassador and a current Fabricmart Fabricista. When he is not sewing, he loves connecting with people throughout the sewing community, especially in his Facebook group Sew “Manly”. Carmen GreenCarmen Green is a stylist, an influencer, a community builder, an absolute fashionista, and a role model entrepreneur who always aims to learn not only about fashion and sewing but marketing as well. She is the founder of the Black Sewing Network on TikTok. She believes in building creative communities on social media not only by shifting the culture of Instagram to be more fun, relaxed and authentic but also by trying new platforms such as TikTok to to create a really inclusive and safe space like the Black Sewing Network where women from various countries not only learn to sew but are seen and supported in order to thrive. Terrance WilliamsTerrance Williams is a small business owner, self-taught sewer, makeup, and skincare enthusiast, brand ambassador, and content creator. He designs, creates, and sews dresses, scarves, handbags, totes, and other accessories, and Terrance Williams Designs has been featured everywhere from NBC News to Buzzfeed. Terrance believes that it’s important to not just create beautiful, expressive, and quality pieces that are gender and size-inclusive, but crafted in a way and with materials that support a sustainable lifestyle. All of his items are made with ethically sourced and sustainably produced materials to make, create, and inspire a better tomorrow. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:How they designed and created costume patterns in the spirit of Beyonce’s Renaissance tourThe power of music to connect generations even if we don’t have the same tastesTips for sewing with Renaissance tour-themed fabrics like glitter, sheer lace, and stretch mesh to play it up for BeyonceHow to upcycle and create a Beyonce-worthy costume if you’re not ready to start from scratch Quotes from the show:“We can all appreciate Black artistry at its finest in all different platforms, and basically in sewing that’s what we’re doing. We’re practicing our all-Black artistry.” – Julian Collins, Stitch Please, Episode #188On why they took the time to put on some sequins and design costumes for Beyonce’s tour: “Renaissance is everything LGBTQ+, really celebrating us–specifically the Black people and people of color within that culture–so it’s really important for us to show up because this whole Renaissance is for us. It’s our songs, it’s our music, it’s our dances. It’s the voguing, it’s the fans, it’s the handclaps. It’s everything.” – Terrance Williams, Stitch Please, Episode #188“The LGBTQIA+ community has such a huge influence on my style personally, and I thought I was going to show up to a ball. I wanted that experience for myself, so I’m like, ‘No, you gotta show up and show out!’” – Carmen Green, Stitch Please, Episode #188“I love this idea that ballroom culture is something that is specific to Black queer, Black trans folks, and that as Black cis-identified folks [like Carmen and I] we are being invited to respect that space, and you do that by being courteous and mindful. The way that we tend to do that is to honor the looks that are so spectacular and so generative. This is an occasion, so you will dress for the occasion.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please, Episode #188“Don’t be afraid to be yourself! Step out of your comfort zone, do something a little out of the ordinary!” – Terrance Williams, Stitch Please, Episode #188“If no other time but now, you have been given the permission to be extra, so be extra! Have fun! Concentrate yourself down to an essence and show up. We are in the summer of acceptance of ourselves.” – Julian Collins, Stitch Please, Episode #188 Resources Mentioned:Black Sewing NetworkCarmen at Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour in ParisThe group’s Beyonce costume designs Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Julian CollinsWebsite: Julian CreatesInstagram: juliancollinsTikTok: juliancreatesFacebook: Julian CreatesYouTube: Julian Creates Carmen GreenInstagram: cagreinventedTikTok: cagthemagFacebook: CAGReinventedBlogAmazon Store: Carmen Green Terrance WilliamsWebsite: Terrance Williams DesignsInstagram: terrancewilliamsdesignsTwitter: terrancedesignsTikTok: terrancewilliamsdesignsFacebook: Terrance Williams DesignsYouTube: Terrance Williams DesignsPinterest: terrancewilliamsdesigns Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our  merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon StoreDubsado helps me organize the podcast. Try it for 20% off. Nikki BrooksBeaute’ J’adore is the love child of Nikki Brooks-Revis: who is a wife, a mom to an awesome toddler,  proud pet parent to Callie, Nelson, and Curious, sunglass lover, fashion admirer, foodie, DIY fanatic, closet Martha Stewart skincare enthusiast who also happens to be the style blogger for Mood Fabrics and a licensed pattern designer for McCall’s Patterns. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Nikki’s sewing storyHer transition from the corporate world to sewingThe beauty of trusting in yourselfHer journey of altering patterns and piecesHow she can turn complex ideas into simple tasksInsights into summer sewingCreating for all body types Quotes from the show:On her sewing journey: “I was like I wanna make some clothes, and I ended up getting some more fabric, and I just started sewing, and I was like I’m kinda good at it and started making patterns” —Nikki Brooks in “Stitch Please”“This is such a beautiful testimony to what it means to take a step of faith, to step and just see and trust yourself and the vision that you have to see yourself and your life differently” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“It’s not about the time it takes, it’s about the time you give” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“The reason we are sewing is because we wanna create something that will be unique to us” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“When I think what I can make, I think about not just myself, because you do have to be true to yourself with these patterns, but I also think about how will other bodies look and feel in these patterns” —Nikki Brooks in “Stitch Please”“Take a chance, make the risk and go out there and actually do it. People plan so much that they plan themselves out of actually going in and jumping in and doing it. Stop all the planning and do it!” —Nikki Brooks in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Nikki BrooksWebsite: Beaute' J'adore - The Art Of DIYLinkedIn: Nikki Brooks Instagram: Nikki BrooksFacebook: Nikki Brooks This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon StoreQueenora IrvinQueenora Irvin is a fabric designer and owner of Queenora Renee Fabrics, offering small batch custom inclusive fabric to home sewists and small businesses that center Black people, our community, and our culture.Janine LecourJanine Lecour is an Atlanta-based digital pattern designer who loves to design vibrantly colored, exuberant patterns. Mixing bold pattern motifs with eye-catching color palettes, she strives to create a whimsical art experience. Something that gives the viewer a sense of joy and optimism.Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:The origin story of Black Magic Leopard fabric and all of the considerations and details that went into the designTips for reaching out to artists for commissions, sharing your vision while still giving the artist room to breathe life into the designThe response from the Black creative community to the gift of Black Magic LeopardGaining the courage to reach out, ask questions, and collaborateQuotes from the show:“Creativity is in steps… You can just wake up one day and be great, but that’s not the norm. You have to work at it.” – Queenora Irvin, Stitch Please“When the idea came across [for Black Magic Leopard], I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that makes total sense.’... I don’t always get them very quickly, but I saw this one pretty quickly and it just became a matter of how do I take the standard shapes, me understanding different hairstyles and textured hair, and how do I use particular ones to translate this overall look. I feel like it came together very fast.” – Janine Lecour, Stitch Please“It really does feel like I’m looking at a community; I’m looking at a group of people who have affinity and relation with one another. The diversity… their skin colors are different, their hairstyles are different, some of the textures seem a little different from the other… the detail really pays off.” – Lisa Woolfork, Stitch Please“When it comes to creativity and artistry and putting it out there, you really are putting a piece of yourself out there.” – Queenora Irvin, Stitch Please,“I think that there has long been a need for some equity around who gets represented on fabric, just like who gets represented anywhere.” – Lisa Woolfork“Enjoy the process. Enjoy where you are now... I think sometimes we look to where we want to be with such anticipation… just enjoy where you are, and it will make the journey so much more fulfilling.” – Queenora Irvin, Stitch PleaseStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please PodcastLisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkQueenora Irvin Website: Queenora Renee FabricsInstagram: Queenora ReneeFacebook: Queenora Renee FabricsYouTube: Queenora Renee FabricsPinterest: Queenora ReneeJanine LecourWebsite: Janine LecourInstagram: Janine Lecour Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon StoreThis episode was recorded live at the Sew Black Affinity Space hosted by Black Women Stitch at the MQG Quiltcon in Atlanta, Georgia in February 2023. Click here to see warm memories of a wonderful time. Guest: Janine Lecour is an Atlanta-based digital pattern designer who loves to design vibrantly colored, exuberant patterns. Mixing bold pattern motifs with eye-catching color palettes, she strives to create a whimsical art experience. Something that gives the viewer a sense of joy and optimism.Host: Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Produced by Latrice Sampson Richards. Insights from this episode:How Janine got into fashion design. 4:37Growing up in a family of artists.Going to Savannah college of art and design.Taking on a job for a company in Italy.Saying "yes" before you know for sure. 9:00Saying yes before knowing for sure.Finding a space where she fits into design.Janine's favorite approach to design: Is design a verb or a noun?Design as a category of expression.A room with 110 yards of Janine Lecour fabric. 15:05The jumbo jumbo and small jumbo pieces.What the studio audience sees in the jumbo shape.How to get out of the creative block. 17:18How she started designing the design.How she got started on spoonflower.The power of hearing what others think.How to overcome creative block.The freedom of not having to design for others' taste. 21:11Designing for someone else's taste vs her own.Conversational printmaking and pattern design.Taking a contract from a company or organization.The pressure to create every day.How to create a modern design. 25:57One of her favorite pieces, a modern print.A calming color palette.The power of affirmations in daily life.How to center yourself.The slogan of the stitch please podcast. 30:06 

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our  merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon Store Ava & Michael GardnerMichael Gardner is a proud Father, self-taught sewist, lifelong crafter, and DIY enthusiast. Also Known As "Ava's Dad." He can be found exercising his creative abilities. He began his sewing journey in 2014. He wanted a way to bond with his daughter while looking for a new creative challenge, and he created Daddy Dressed Me by Michael Gardner. His mission is to help Ava build her self-esteem and establish confidence in herself and her abilities. He sews the clothes, and Ava models. He started sewing by thrifting women's clothing and refashioning the clothes for Ava. He learned through trial and error, watched tutorials on YouTube and Pinterest, and just started creating.  Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:The story of Daddy Dressed MeWhat it means to Ava wearing her dad’s piecesThe transition from self-taught to following a patternMemories they have made together and documenting them through her dressesInsights into fatherhood, fashion, and funHow Michael navigates fatherhoodDetails on Michael’s patchwork dressStories behind Michael’s creative workMichael’s creative process Quotes from the show:I just wanted to deliver a beautiful dress for her, so she walked into her school confident to say her recital. So, we’re basically growing together, and that has been our journey for the nine years” —Michael Gardner in “Stitch Please”What it means to wear dad’s creation: “To feel beautiful, but also happy that my daddy has taken the time to make me something to build up my confidence and my self-confidence. It was also really fun to wear because I literally set the room off” —Ava Gardner in “Stitch Please”“When I started this journey, I had to figure out how to be a father because my father didn’t raise me. So, the thing that made more sense to me was to fuse my creativity into my fatherhood experience because that just felt very natural to me” —Michael Gardner in “Stitch Please”“I’m often inspired by women’s fashion, but I have to keep in mind that I’m putting it on a child, so I have to make sure it feels appropriate for her” —Michael Gardner  in “Stitch Please”“My advice would be just to create what you wanna create. There’s a lot of noise sometimes when it comes to social media and keeping up with other people; a lot of times I just have to block all that out and focus on what I want to do” —Michael Gardner in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Michael GardnerWebsite: Daddy Dressed Me by Michael GardnerInstagram: Daddy Dressed Me by Michael GardnerFacebook: Daddy Dressed Me by Michael GardnerYoutube: Daddy Dressed Me by Michael Gardner This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Registration info: KINDRED SPIRITS: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN QUILTERS CONVERGENCE, June 15-17, 2023, Durham, NC Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our  merch too! Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon Store Porfiria GomezPorfiria Gomez is a sewing enthusiast, a designer, and a blogger. Her love of sewing began as a child and is a native New Yorker. In 2014, she began sharing her passion with others - with her Sewing 101 classes. Today, she continues to train and learn as much as she can about the beautiful world of sewing, cooking blogging, and living her best life as a maker. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Insights from this episode:Porfiria’s sewing storyDetails into her early days of bloggingJuggling between being a mom and quiltingHow she came up with the name ‘Eat. Quilt. Joy’Details about her upcoming bookDetails about her quilt projectsRedefining the misconceptions of quilting Quotes from the show:“When I got pregnant with my first son, I just remember wanting to create something with my hands and I think I identify that with family” —Porfiria Gomez in “Stitch Please”“I really like how it seems as though three different modes of creation were coming together for you at one time: you were growing a child, a life in your body and you are learning about quilting” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Family brings so much joy to my life and I think we take life for granted and we don’t enjoy the joyous things” —Porfiria Gomez in “Stitch Please”“Eat Quilt Joy essentially sums up who I am (…) if I am not quilting, I’m cooking, if I’m not cooking, I’m quilting” —Porfiria Gomez in “Stitch Please”“I was trying to do it all. I wanted to create some sort of community for me as I was going on this journey to being a mom” —Porfiria Gomez in “Stitch Please”“For me, I wanted to be the change that I wanted to see (…) I couldn’t understand for the life of me why the boxes didn’t look like me: why in modern quilting, I didn’t find people who looked like me” —Porfiria Gomez in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Porfiria GomezWebsite: Porfiria GomezInstagram: Eat.Quilt.Joy (@mrsporfiria)  This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

 Registration info: KINDRED SPIRITS: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN QUILTERS CONVERGENCE, June 15-17, 2023, Durham, NC Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our  merch too! Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon StoreMartha McIntoshAlso known as GariChild, Martha McIntosh is a powerful creative. An engineer by trade, she also makes stunning works of apparel that are guaranteed to impress while also sending her self regard into the stratosphere. You can find Martha being fabulous on Instgram, Facebook, and her website. She also has work indexed at the ever-helpful Curvy Sewing Collective.Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Introduction to Martha McIntosh. 0:31Welcome to the stitch please podcast.Introducing Martha McIntosh, GariChildCheck out Martha in the sewing holiday tradition series.How Martha got started in sewing.Bias, fat phobia and fat shaming. 4:46Bias, fat phobia, fat shaming and stigma.Culture is reinforcing toxic and harmful ideas.Plus size clothing is more expensive than regular size clothing.Small clothes don't cost less to make.Swimsuits and kaftans. 8:29Swimsuits and caftans feed her spirit.Her first project was a wrap dress.Pouring into the garment and the journey.Time is not on her side.How to get ready for a trip. 13:15How to get ready for a trip.How to plan a trip to Cuba.Carnival is one of her favorite times to do soul work.Honor other cultures and cultures.The story of how she got the idea for the dress. 18:34An all black look for visually impaired people.The story of the piece.Deciding what fabrics to bring on vacation.The importance of having the right fabrics. 22:07The importance of being intentional when shopping.Meaningful times when she sees another sister.Showing up in her bathing suit.Martha’s goal is to be happy. 26:23The goal is to be at a space and be happy.Martha is a possibility model.Nothing is ever complete until it's put together.Packing cubes and suitcase. 30:50Trusting yourself and trusting yourself to keep going.Packing a packing cube in a suitcase.Summer is coming. Time to treat yourself.Where to find Martha on social media.

Registration info: KINDRED SPIRITS: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN QUILTERS CONVERGENCE, June 15-17, 2023, Durham, NC Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our  merch too! Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon Store  Tasha HenryTasha is a widely talented creative with specialties in sewing and dance.  She likes to make videos about travel, sewing, hair, lifestyle, and whatever else catches her interests. She describes herself as a multifaceted person who is proud of her Panamanian and Jamaican heritage. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Tasha’s sewing storyTasha’s creative endeavorsHow her dance career boosts her creativityPreserving traditionsDetails about Tasha’s trip to PanamaDetails about the dress she made for New York FrocktailsTasha’s sewing spaceInsights into her creative processGetting inspiration and motivation from her sewing space Quotes from the show:After losing weight: “I was not rich, and I can’t go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, so I just had it in my mind that I was gonna go and find a sewing machine and was gonna fix all my clothes to fit me or change them” —Telltale Tasha in “Stitch Please”On Tasha’s first piece: “You got a lot of good love out of it. It’s clear, when I wear this, I feel good. I love how I look in this garment, and that is the kind of love that we can generate through the love we have for making the things we wear” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“When you have a multi-generational attachment to something, that’s excellent because it keeps the thing moving forward, you can sustain the traditions, but you can also practice them in a way and make sure they are preserved and pushed forward” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”On Tasha’s creative process: “When you walk into your space, you step into the fullness of a creative power” — Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”On Tasha’s sewing space: “It really does pull my creativity even when I don’t want to sew. Sometimes I just come in here and play with the fabric and see it happen” — Telltale Tasha in “Stitch Please”“The advice I would have to help people get their stitch together would be to not create out of a process of desperation, or stress, but to create from a place of love and excitement (…) so that you can continue to enjoy what you are creating” — Telltale Tasha in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork The Telltale TashaWebsite: The Telltale TashaYoutube: The Telltale Tasha Instagram: Tasha (@thetelltaletasha)  This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Registration info: KINDRED SPIRITS: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN QUILTERS CONVERGENCE, June 15-17, 2023, Durham, NC Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our  merch too! Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StorePREORDER YOUR AFRICAN STRETCH FABRICS BY TUESDAY, MAY 23! Danielle PierceIn addition to her work as a designer, Danielle Pierce is the proprietor of African Stretch Fabrics, a small business that delivers big impact designs and fabrics. For the first time ever, Danielle is offering COTTON LYCRA (which just sew happens to be Lisa's favorite apparel knit fabric). This is a TEST run to see how sell the fabric sells.  So get it while you can! Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.From the episodeDanielle's parents' love story began at her grandfather's tailor shop when her mother applied for a seamstress job and met her father, adding a touch of romance to the family's sewing legacy.A black-and-white picture from 1968 captures a protest outside Danielle's grandfather's tailor shop on Main Street in Memphis, symbolizing the shop's significance as a gathering place for black people and their fight for justice.The resilience and determination passed down through generations, as Danielle's family overcame challenges and established themselves in the world of sewing, leaving a lasting legacy.The connection between sewing, creativity, and personal expression, highlighting the transformative potential of this craft in shaping individuals' identities and narratives. Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkDanielle PierceWebsiteInstagram  

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our  merch too! Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon StoreDubsado helps me organize the podcast. Try it for 20% off. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Celeste Nicole  Insights from this episode:How did Celeste know she was in the design worldHow her family influenced her artistic processesWhat type of things did Celeste study at Parsons that helped her nowadaysCeleste’s thesis and how it has become truly personal for herWhat is Rat VirginityCeleste’s first collection “American Dream”The paradox of the United States' democracyGucci Changemakers AwardWhat’s next for Celeste’s lifeCeleste’s advice for keeping your stitch together Quotes from the show: “I think American Dream for me is about telling the story of being un-American and anti-American while being also all American because these experiences that I’ve had in childhood, being part of an amazing beautiful Black family, but then also having like these really common American things like my nuclear family breaking apart at a young age” —Celeste Nicole in “Stitch Please”“We are the bed on which the American dream was slept. We are the sediment that allowed this country to be a country. There are few things more American than Black Americans” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“[About the Gucci scholarship] We got like this amazing opportunity to sit on different guest speakers, who would give us insight into the industry and sort of open our minds to the possibilities of where we can fit in within the industry because is not just all about making the clothes, there’s so much that happens from production and distribution” —Celeste Nicole in “Stitch Please”“What has taken me most of all on this journey is just being very connected to my child self that was not afraid to dream big and see big things for me” —Celeste Nicole in “Stitch Please”Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkCeleste NicoleLinkedIn: Celeste NicoleInstagram: Celeste NicoleFacebook: Celeste NicoleThis episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our  merch here Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonAmazon StoreDubsado helps me organize the podcast. Try it for 20% off. Amina ColemanAmina Coleman was born and raised in the East End of Richmond, Virginia, and found her interest in the arts by observing the creative talents of her family. Her family is full of musicians, singers, and dancers, so she was heavily encouraged to continue pursuing her dreams in fine art from a young age.Their support, combined with her dedication and tenacity, allowed her to graduate from Henrico High School’s Center for the Arts Visual Arts Program in 2019 with massive artistic accolades, including a national medal from Scholastic’s Art & Writing Program, a wonderful experience at Radford University’s Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts,  and multiple exhibitions.She is en route to finishing her BFA in Painting and Printmaking with a Minor in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University in December of 2022. She will continue to thrive and receive more acknowledgment of my dedication and success through multiple awards, including The Black History In the Making Award and ongoing Dean’s List recognition. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Amina’s sewing backgroundAmina’s big chopFinding herself through her artHow attending an arts high school prepared her for art collegeInsights into artsAmina’s project (weave(ings))What was her inspiration for her new projectThe inspiration behind her artwork Quotes from the show:“I watched, and she kinda tried teaching me, but I got frustrated. And I more or less picked up on the technique on my own, just sitting and reading and trying out” —Amina Coleman in “Stitch Please”“Black women’s hair has become politically loaded because of the ways in which it can so adversely impact our lives” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“I didn’t realize I was holding myself back from successful ideas or cool, weird ideas by just not allowing myself to repeat something. There are artists whose whole practice is doing one thing for their whole life” —Amina Coleman in “Stitch Please”“Sometimes art is never “done.” Art is not a product, it is a practice” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“It seems too that art is all about opening. Opening people up to new ideas, opening itself up to challenge and revision and re-writing” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“I feel my art is always been like a reaction to a lot of outside things and me trying to make something else for myself, something oppositional” —Amina Coleman in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Amina ColemanWebsite: Amina ColemanInstagram: Amina ColemanFacebook: Amina Coleman This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our  merch too! Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon Store Shorti J.Shorti J is an artist who expresses herself through photography and fashion. She recently went viral on TikTok and Instagram. A multifacedted creative, Short J challenges and inspires with her creative vision. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Shorti J’s sewing storyHow the alteration process of her clothes led her back to wholenessHow her healing is connected to her creativityInsights into her writing and poetryInsights into her creative visionBeing a muse in her photographyHow she incorporates fashion and photographyShorti J’s thrifting process Quotes from the show:“I lost a significant amount of weight, and since I can’t replace all my clothes, I’m gonna learn how to fix them until I gain the weight back, and it just went from there” —Shorti J. in “Stitch Please”“It’s such a beautiful story the way that you talk about your healing being attached to your creativity” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Art has always been one of my outlets, like I used to write poetry heavily” —Shorti J. in “Stitch Please”“There are so many times in our lives where it seems as though we really do have to remind ourselves that we have the potential to create and make the things that we need” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“I’ve always been the main subject within my photography mainly because I’ve always wanted to model” —Shorti J. in “Stitch Please”“Fashion and photography go hand-in-hand” —Shorti J. in “Stitch Please”“It’s one thing to have art speak to you, it’s another thing to listen and to know how to respond” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”On her thrifting process: “I only buy things that I am drawn to” —Shorti J. in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Shorti J.Twitter: Shorti JInstagram: Shorti J This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter!   Check out our  merch too! Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode. Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon Store Jaimie BlackJaimie Black is a wife and mother that has fallen in love with DIY sewing, shoemaking, and the occasional bagmaking a few years ago. She has always had a passion for shoes and always believed that a beautiful shoe can always make an outfit. Her brand “Black Linings” has been a few years in the making. She produces specially crafted, limited-quantity designs and hopes to grow into more designs with time. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. learnedHow growing up in Africa shaped Jaimie’s creative visionJaimie’s sewing storyThe relation between the art and utility of clothesLessons Jaimie learned sewing by hand, then transitioning to machineJaimie’s motivation to start sewingDetails about home shoe-makingInsights into Jaimie making her own clothesLessons she has learned since launchingInsights into Creations by Jaimie Quotes from the show:“Even sewing is an art because everything artistic starts in the mind. What you decide to wear is an art” —Jaimie Black in “Stitch Please”“If you are dressed to the 9’s based on the options created by someone else, there’s always a bit of a limitation and always a big chance that what you like will be there” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“One of the things I have seen, is that all these movements ‘new movements for sustainability’ about visible mending, about let’s repair things, it’s the western world rediscovering practices that people in regions that are more committed to sustainability have been doing all along” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”​​“Shoe-making became one of my big loves. I started shoe-making a few years ago, I was always an absolute lover of shoes (…) so the only way I could solve that was by making my own shoes, so that I could make as many as I wanted” —Jaimie Black in “Stitch Please”“I truly wanted to keep the art of shoe-making alive (…) as a first launch I might be a bit more open to changing a few things now as I grow slowly” —Jaimie Black in “Stitch Please”On lessons learned since launching her business: “One of the biggest things is that factories will never be on time” —Jaimie Black in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Jaimie BlackWebsite: Black Linings, Luxury Shoes & AccessoriesInstagram: Creations by Jaimie (@sewcreatebyjaimie)  This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch QUARTERLY newsletter. Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon Black Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarLisa is connecting with Julian Collins for Menswear Sunday, April 16th, at 3 pm on the Black Sewing Network on TikTok. They will sew the boxer brief pattern the Gable by Made for Mermaids. Lisa enjoys the Gable pattern because of its simplicity (3 seams, 2 hems, 1 waistband) and the size inclusivity. The kid size goes from toddler to teen; the adult size fits waist sizes 28" to 63". Not bad for $9. Get the Made for Mermaids Gable boxer briefs BWS affiliate linkCheck out the BWS Amazon store for pinned supply listLisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch QUARTERLY newsletter. Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon Black Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarLisa is connecting with Julian Collins for Menswear Sunday, April 16th, at 3 pm on the Black Sewing Network on TikTok. They will sew the boxer brief pattern the Gable by Made for Mermaids. Lisa enjoys the Gable pattern because of its simplicity (3 seams, 2 hems, 1 waistband) and the size inclusivity. The kid size goes from toddler to teen; the adult size fits waist sizes 28" to 63". Not bad for $9. Get the Made for Mermaids Gable boxer briefs BWS affiliate linkCheck out the BWS Amazon store for pinned supply listLisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork

Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StoreSEW MUCH SOULRegister for the conference hereOrder the supply kit!About SEW CREATIVE LOUNGE Cecily Habimana and Tisha Thorne met by chance in the hallway of a new building they both moved into back in 2006. They soon realized that they both had a passion for sewing.  The pair noticed that there really weren’t many places where people could take sewing classes, even though there was clearly a demand for it. So, they decided to fill that void and launch Sip and Sew DC, a three-hour workshop that teaches participants how to sew and complete a project such as a clutch, pants or skirt.  The response was overwhelming with many of the classes selling out from 2014-2016. Hosting pop-up classes was a lot of work and Cecily and Tisha’s husbands eventually urged the pair to find their own space.  It was from their recommendation that pushed them to open Sew Creative Lounge in Mt. Rainier, MD.  Today Sew Creative Lounge teaches children and adult sewing classes and hosts summer camp at their home studio and satellite studio in Chicago.  They also partner with various elementary schools throughout the DC metropolitan area including Yu Ying Public Charter School, Creative Minds Public Charter School, Center City Public Charter School and the Burke School.  In response to the pandemic, Cecily and Tisha opened up an online store and began designing their own collection of fabrics.  They excited about their work and are always eager to work with their students.Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.      

Latrice Sampson Richards ​ LPC-S, CLC is a Mental and Emotional Wellness Creative, Podcast Host & Producer, and CEO of STS Productions.  Learn more about Latrice and her work here. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Latrice's strategy for engaging contentWhy Latrice enjoys working with the sewing and quilting communityLatrice's favorite Sew Black interviewLatrice's reactions to her first QuiltConStay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork

Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StoreSew Black Info Simone Elizabeth SaundersSimone Elizabeth Saunders (b. 1983, Calgary, Canada) is a textile artist who focuses primarily on punch-needle and tufting tapestries to create allegorical narratives of Blackness and Womanhood using polychrome and textural portraits. Based in Mohkinstsis, Canada, she holds a B.F.A. with Distinction from the Alberta University of Arts in 2020 and a background in the theater arts, with a previous B.F.A. from the University of Alberta’s Acting Conservatory. Saunders’ practice is anchored in a process that starts with collages or sketches that are then transferred to large-scale frames. From there, they are tufted using a myriad of yarn colors. Saunders’ artistic process represents a performative negotiation of weaving and coloring at the same time. This results in detailed portraits that capture nuanced individuality. Recent international exhibitions include the Textile Museum of Canada, Contemporary Calgary, Minneapolis Art Institute (Minnesota), the Mint Museum (North Carolina), and Arts Westchester (NY), among other international museums and prominent collectors. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Details on Unearthing UnicornsHow Simone finds a reflection on Black women in the pastWhat it means to create a tapestryHow Simone honors those who came before herThe process of Simone’s artShowcasing her work at the Claire Oliver GalleryHow is crafting work in a group Quotes from the show:“The Unicorn to me represents everything dazzling and magical, and all dreams come true and really the purity of what it is to be human and shine your light”  —Simone Elizabeth Saunders in “Stitch Please”“It is very interesting for me, when I’m in the process, I allow for a huge sense of spirituality and honoring those who came before me” —Simone Elizabeth Saunders in “Stitch Please”“The coming together and the nesting of threads to me is also such a spiritual connotation of our history and of me reaching out to this sisterhood” —Simone Elizabeth Saunders in “Stitch Please”“I think that one of the reasons that your work has exploded in these last few years with the BLM movement is because people have started to realize that BLM is more than a call for equity and justice with policing (...) it’s also a call to existing in the fullness of ourselves” —Lisa Woolfork  in “Stitch Please”“It’s all about the sisterhood: honoring our ancestors, those who came before us, those who are her now, those who are yet to come, it’s that connectivity” —Simone Elizabeth Saunders in “Stitch Please”“I do think of all my works as extensions of and extensions of yours to be shared” —Simone Elizabeth Saunders in “Stitch Please”“Be inspired by what inspires you, not what you think that you should be putting out in the world, because everyone's voice is unique and you deserve to be heard” ​​—Simone Elizabeth Saunders in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Simone Elizabeth SaundersWebsite: Contemporary CalgaryInstagram: Simone Elizabeth Saunders This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StoreSew Black Info Janda Lipker & Rebecca Christian-LipkerThis is a mother-daughter duo who creates quilts. They run their family-owned hair and beauty company, James Lauren LLC, out of Maple Heights. The name honors Lipker’s children, Rebecca, whose middle name is Lauren, and her son, James. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Janda's sewing storyJanda’s life growing upHow Rebecca picked up sewingMaking masks during Covid-19Details about the Henry Box Brown quiltUsing color as a form of languageThe dynamics of working together as mom and daughterDetails on the trapunto quiltProjects they have coming up Quotes from the show:“I started sewing my first dress in third grade. So, I’ve been sewing, literally my own clothing, since third grade” —Janda Lipker in “Stitch Please”“I think with age came patience, in knowing like, it’s not all gonna come together, you’re not gonna be great at it initially, but there’s time” —Rebecca Christian-Lipker in “Stitch Please”“The big theme of us, is I may not know all the answers right now, but imma figure it out and it’s gonna be right!” —Rebecca Christian-Lipker in “Stitch Please”“This is what I love. I love that joy is always our option. Joy is our birthright as well! We can talk about our powerful history and you can stitch that history in about half a million stitches” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Because social media is so raggedly individualist, there are a lot of people that don’t want to help anybody else” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“There is a lot of history that goes into every piece we make” —Janda Lipker in “Stitch Please”“Stich in any way that makes you happy, no matter what anyone says. Do what makes you happy: whatever that craft is, whether it’s stitching or not” —Janda Lipker in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Janda LipkerLinkedIn: Janda Lipker  Rebecca Christian-LipkerInstagram: Rebeca Christian-Lipker James Lauren BeautyWebsite: https://jlbeautyllc.com/Instagram: James Lauren BeautyTwitter: James Lauren BeautyFacebook: James Lauren Beauty This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StoreSew Black InfoValerie GoodwinValerie S. Goodwin is a mixed-media fiber artist and architect whose works of fine art are included in museum and private collections. Most of her work is inspired by a love of aerial views of landscapes and cities. Many of her quilts are based on maps.Goodwin’s art has moved through various stages, from traditional quilting to an interest in abstract expressionism, and, currently, it is inspired by real and imaginary landscapes and cities. In some cases, her work shows an architectural sense of space with an archaeological perspective.  In others, the network of the city and its built form is more prominent.  These compositions work on several levels, from close up and far away as if one was looking at it from above.She received degrees in architecture from Washington University and Yale University. Her award-winning work has been widely published and exhibited. She also lectures and gives workshops nationally and internationally. For over 26 years, she taught architectural design at Florida A & M University.Her book, Art Quilt Maps: Capture a Sense of Place with Fiber Collage-A Visual Guide is widely available.Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Valerie’s sewing journeyThe connection between architecture and sewingHow Valerie is able to combine modern and analog techniques in quiltingHow she settled on mapping as a form of visual expressionValerie’s teaching methodologiesThe importance of perseveranceLearning from our mistakesDetails about her retrospective exhibitionWhat Valerie is working on Quotes from the show:“I’d like to think that the DNA of both my maternal and cousin Hardy, is what has become part of my creative life” —Valerie Goodwin in “Stitch Please”“I sewed up until I got to high school, and then peer pressure set in, and it wasn’t cool to do that anymore, so I stopped sewing altogether. I didn’t pick up sewing again until I was teaching architecture” —Valerie Goodwin in “Stitch Please”“I taught myself how to cut fabric, I tested over 30 kinds of fabric: there are three settings (speed, frequency, and power), and so you need figure out all those settings” —Valerie Goodwin in “Stitch Please”“Critique is a skill, that’s just my opinion. If you have to say things, say them in a nurturing way, although sometimes you have to be direct and challenging depending on who the student is” —Valerie Goodwin in “Stitch Please”“I wish for myself that there were others around me that so that I can get that critic and I have to check myself a lot of times” —Valerie Goodwin in “Stitch Please”“A lot of things that have happened to me in my life that have led me to what I am doing has kind of been happy circumstances, you know, coincidences” —Valerie Goodwin in “Stitch Please”“I think perseverance is really important, and you have to be willing to make mistakes faster. Making mistakes is just as important as succeeding: you learn from your mistakes” —Valerie Goodwin in “Stitch Please”Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkValerie GoodwinWebsite: https://valeriegoodwinart.comLinkedIn: Valerie GoodwinInstagram: @valeriegoodwinartFacebook: Valerie Goodwin Art This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

The SEW BLACK GIVEAWAY is on!  Enter to for your chance to win a Bernette 33.Sew Black InfoWant Behind the Scenes video of QuiltCon? Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon at the $15 level or higher.Black Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StoreThanks to our Sew Black underwriters: Spoonflower (SEWBLACKQC for 20%off) and Moda. Additional support: BerninaMaterial support provided by Accuquilt, Aurifil, Crimson Tate (SEWBLACKQC for 10% off), My Notions, Ruby Star Society, SpoonflowerRoad to QuiltCon: Trains, Planes, and Automobiles is sponsored by Bernina in partnership with  Amtrak and material support from SewEzi. Geraldine WilkinsGeraldine lectures and teaches at international quilt shows, like Quilt Con, and at quilt shops, regional retreats, and guilds.  As a former Westalee Design Accredited Teacher and Juki America Educator, she crisscrossed the United States, teaching at guilds and large quilt shows.Her quilts have been exhibited in local and regional quilt shows, national touring events and shows with Hoffman Fabrics, American Quilt Society Quilt Week at Paducah, Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, curated exhibits at the Virginia Quilt Museum and juried Sacred Threads 2019 exhibit.Geraldine was featured in “Designer Spotlight, “an article published in the July/August 2019 issue of Quiltmaker magazine. She is a regular contributing quilt designer in Fons & Porter's Quick + Easy Quilts and Quiltmaker magazines. She contributes to the following quilt books: 1000 Quilt Inspirations 2015, The Quilter’s Planner 2017, 2020/1, and Free Motion Framework. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Geraldine's days as a photojournalistHer transition from photography to quiltingHow she learned how to maintain machinesLessons she has carried from her photography classesRuler classes with GeraldineHer quilting project (Beautiful Sister Quilt Lock)Her teaching processWhat a successful quilt con means to GeraldineBuilding a quilting studio Quotes from the show:“I love that the skills that I developed as a photojournalist play well into my overall purpose with sewing and quilting”  —Geraldine Wilkins in “Stitch Please”“I knew that it was critical to building confidence just not only in myself but to teach others how to do it (dissembling sewing machines) so that they can have the confidence as well” —Geraldine Wilkins in “Stitch Please”“That’s what I share in my class: education through thread and needles and the machine. If you learn those three, your confidence will increase” —Geraldine Wilkins in “Stitch Please”“I’ve learned over the years that if you make it too complicated, ladies shut down. And I wanted to simplify it” —Geraldine Wilkins in “Stitch Please”“I think we all have these in our lives that are important to helping us develop and mature in different areas of our lives (…) we have women who we call sisters because they are that close to us” —Geraldine Wilkins in “Stitch Please”“My photography career has helped me accelerate my ability to create this studio. I’m always refining it. But I know I have a bit of an advantage, but I wanna share those tips so people do not have to spend weeks and months trying to figure it out” —Geraldine Wilkins in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Geraldine WilkinsWebsite: Geraldine WilkinsInstagram: @livingwaterquilter This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StoreIndigo: In Search of the Color that Seduced the WorldSew Black InfoThanks to our Sew Black underwriters: Spoonflower (enter SEWBLACKQC for 20%off) and Moda. Additional support: BerninaMaterial support provided by Accuquilt, , Aurifil, Crimson Tate (enter SEWBLACKQC for 10% off),  My Notions,  Ruby Star Society,  SpoonflowerRoad to QuiltCon: Trains, Planes, and Automobiles is sponsored by  Bernina in partnership with Amtrak and material support by SewEzi,Sandra Lee ChandlerSandra Lee Chandler specializes in making denim quilts and teaching the Sashiko and Boro methods of stitching. She travels domestically and internationally to provide virtual or live lectures and workshops for your guild. She believes every crafter can be creative. She finds joy in empowering her students to bring out their creative side. She loves teaching and speaking to groups about her creative process. She believes there is creativity in every one of us, and it’s her job to help you find it. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Sandra’s sewing journeySandra falling in love with fabricStudying sewing as an undergrad at Arizona State UniversityLessons she learned at Arizona State UniversityDetails about the lectures she offersWorking as an influencerUnderstanding the value of our (Black women) craftThe importance of showing upCelebrating Black History month through sewing Quotes from the show:“I was the person that walked in the room, and if she (her teacher) said, jump, I said how high?”  —Sandra Lee Chandler in “Stitch Please”“For me, quilting and sewing are synonymous. Like sewing garments and quilt sewings go hand in hand, so I learned both at the same time in 7th grade home economics”  —Sandra Lee Chandler in “Stitch Please”“Understanding the why before the rules are what I feel sets me apart from, or sets me in a whole lane of my own” —Sandra Lee Chandler in “Stitch Please”“The past is precedent, and the past is evidence, and that we are walking in footsteps that have been traveled by our ancestors” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“We, as Black women. have to understand our value. I work at my craft.  You work at your craft” —Sandra Lee Chandler in “Stitch Please”“When I go to conferences, if there’s a Black person that’s vending, I always buy something, even if I don’t need it” —Sandra Lee Chandler in “Stitch Please”“Good enough is good enough. If you are able to get through whatever you are doing, just get it done." --Sandra Lee Chandler in "Stitch Please""Don’t major in the minors, live in the moment, get it done!” —Sandra Lee Chandler in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Sandra Lee ChandlerWebsite: https://sandrajohnsondesigns.comInstagram: Sandra Lee ChandlerFacebook: Sandra Lee Chandler This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StoreSew Black InfoThanks to our Sew Black underwriters: Spoonflower (SEWBLACKQC for 20%off) and Moda. Additional support: BerninaMaterial support provided by Accuquilt, , Aurifil, Crimson Tate (SEWBLACKQC for 10% off),  My Notions,  Ruby Star Society,  SpoonflowerRoad to QuiltCon: Trains, Planes, and Automobiles is sponsored by Bernina with material support from Amtrak and SewEzi, Carole Lyles ShawCarole’s passion is to inspire quilters to explore the fun and creative freedom of making modern quilts. She taught herself to quilt when she decided to make quilts for her wonderful nieces and nephews.  Then, she found her first quilting home with the African American Quilters of Baltimore, who gently taught her the best techniques to express her quilt vision. She is excited about modern quilting because it brings individualism and free expression to the quilts we are making today.She teaches workshops to help quilters confidently and joyfully dive into modern quilting. Her students say that her workshops inspire them to let their creative voices shine. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:What makes a modern quiltInsights into quiltingEmerging trends in quiltingHow modern quilt borrows from traditionsRelationship between quilting and musicThe importance of respecting traditionsWhat Carol is looking forward to in 2023Details about QuiltCon Quotes from the show:“People used to phrase community over competition all the time, but sometimes, people be lying” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Modern quilting: First of all, it does have one foot in the traditional quilting world; it’s not that we hate traditional quilts, far from it. We honor that tradition, we learn from it, and then we expand it and build on it” —Carole Lyles Shaw in “Stitch Please”“Modern quilting is an emerging genre. It’s always changing and being re-invented” —Carole Lyles Shaw in “Stitch Please”“Improvisational design and actual quilting is only one design principle. Not all modern quilts are improvised; some of them are very much pattern-based and block-based” —Carole Lyles Shaw in “Stitch Please”“It (modern quilting) really is about invention, re-invention and combining and re-combining and borrowing from artistic, as well as folk art tradition from literally all around the world” —Carole Lyles Shaw in “Stitch Please”“If you are gonna learn from and borrow from a tradition, understand that tradition first, before you explore it further” —Carole Lyles Shaw in “Stitch Please”“The best teachers are not trying to create acolytes in their own image; the best teachers want to bring out the best students can do” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Pay close attention to the parts of quilt making that bring you joy and energy (...) go where your joy takes you” —Carole Lyles Shaw in “Stitch Please” Resources Mentioned:Modern Quilt GuildQuiltCon Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Carole Lyles ShawWebsite: Carole Lyles ShawFacebook: Carole Lyles Shaw Quilts This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StoreSew Black InfoSew Black underwriters: Spoonflower (SEWBLACKQC for 20%off) and Moda. Sponsor: BerninaMaterial support provided by Accuquilt, Amtrak, Aurifil, Crimson Tate, My Notions,  Ruby Star Society, SpoonflowerStacey WatsonStacey Watson is the Director of Equitable Partnerships at The National Quilt Museum. She has been an educator for nearly 17 years and specializes in African American history and culture. Watson has a Museum Studies certification from the University of West Georgia and a graduate degree in History from Fort Valley State University. One of Watson's objectives is to uphold the museum's mission of "bringing the work of today's quilters to audiences" by creating opportunities and experiences that will display all voices of the community. Her overall goal is to collaborate and build partnerships within the community locally and regionally. In addition to engaging the community, Watson lends her expertise as a history professor to the museum by researching the past and helping audiences connect history to art. Watson is a member of the Association of African American Museums and Southeastern Museum Conference. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this EpisodeStacey's academic background and her commitment to historyThe importance behind knowing your history as a Black personLisa's thoughts on Black people making historyWhat Stacey's students are able to get when they visit the quilts museumStacey's role at The National Quilt MuseumHow does Stacey get the inspiration for the exhibitions at the museumStacey's example of looking at a quilt that is teaching something different or in a more powerful wayHow Stacey's students apply the detective technique in order to understand quiltsStacey's advice to get our stitch together Quotes from the Show: "We associate history with events and people from the past but we forget about the foundation of this history and they get lost and I think it's important that we remember those who have been lost on history whether it was intentional or not" - Stacey Watson in “Stitch Please”"[About the Watson Method] What was the motive for some of these events that happened, who were involved and not justo who are the victims and who are the suspects...What were the organizations, What they were doing, how they were supportive, so I want my students to think beyond what's being presented" - Stacey Watson in “Stitch Please”"[About getting the local Black community on good terms with the museum] Community conversations was a program that I created to allow the community to come in to meet the Quilt Museum and for the Quilt Museum to meet the local community " - Stacey Watson in “Stitch Please”"There's no such thing as being too ambitious. You need to get your stitch together and know that everything can be done. Nothing is impossible. You don't need a whole entire team for your one vision" - Stacey Watson in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Stacey WatsonLinkedIn: Stacey WatsonThe National Quilt Museum: https://quiltmuseum.org/requeststacey/ This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StoreSew Black Info Carol Crocker WareCarol Crocker Ware is a fabric whisperer who runs a Facebook group, Carol’s Sewing Corner. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Carol’s sewing storySewing for his sonHow she got her son involved in her sewing journeyHow her Facebook group came aboutManaging a Facebook groupHow Carol keeps her enthusiasm aliveDifferences between Instagram and TikTok for sewing communitiesCarol’s relationship with JanomeCarol’s publications in Better Home and Gardens Magazine Quotes from the show:“It's important to pay attention to details, and there are some sewists that really prioritize that, and you want the inside of your garment to look as good as the outside” —Carol Crocker Ware in “Stitch Please”“I heard this very interesting phrase, and it said amateurs practice until they stop getting it wrong (...), whereas professionals are practicing until they can't do anything but get it right, the practice is to get it right” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“I love that you have created a child who is make worthy, someone who values what you do, is proud of the things that you do in your skills” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“[About sewing] it's my therapy and second of all, I am a lover of outfits and clothes” —Carol Crocker Ware in “Stitch Please”“I think that it really does take a special person to create a learning environment where people can ask questions and something where it's okay not to know something” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“So my thing is if you want to be an ambassador for a sewing machine company, don't just do it to get a sewing machine, you need to know what you're getting into” —Carol Crocker Ware in “Stitch Please”“My fellow sewists, please slow down, enjoy the process, perfect your techniques and you'll always have a wonderful outcome” —Carol Crocker Ware in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Carol Crocker WareFacebook: Carol Crocker Ware Instagram: Carol Crocker Ware This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StoreSew Black Info Carmen GreenCarmen Green is a stylist, an influencer, a community builder, an absolute fashionista, and a role model entrepreneur who always aims to learn not only about fashion and sewing but marketing as well. She is the founder of the Black Sewing Network on TikTok. She believes in building creative communities on social media not only by shifting the culture of Instagram to be more fun, relaxed and authentic but also by trying new platforms such as TikTok  to create a really inclusive and safe space like the Black Sewing Network where women from various countries not only learn to sew but are seen and supported in order to thrive. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this EpisodeHow did Carmen start sewingCarmen’s perceptions of the differences between TikTok and Instagram as a sewing communityWhy TikTok is a great place to create a sewing communityHow did Carmen achieve 5000 followers on TikTok in 30 daysCarmen’s thoughts on the aggregate value of her sewing contentDifferences between going live on TikTok and InstagramExplanations on why social media reproduce the white supremacy standard via algorithmsWhy the Black Sewing Network is much more than a sewing spaceCarmen’s opinion on the stereotype that black women don’t support each otherHow does Carmen manage to organize her social media scheduleCarmen’s advice to help us get our stitch together Quotes from the Show: "I think in the way that Instagram first was curating still images, you were meant to look at a picture and get all the information you needed and it was really about putting forward something that was already finished, it was like the end result, not about the process at all and what I think TikTok has done is that it has opened the door to real true learning-" - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”"I think people think Black Sewing Network is exclusionary, it's not! We welcome everybody but the goal is…to amplify and celebrate black voices in the sewing community" - Carmen Green in “Stitch Please”"There is not enough forward facing social media programming that right off the bat  says hey Black women, hey Black folks, I see you and I want you to see me and we’re gonna do this thing together and support each other" - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”"There’s a huge misconception that Black women don’t like each other and don’t support each other when it's just like no…Black women have been the ones that had elevated me, pushed me forward, supported me, bought my sh*t, it's always been Black women first" - Carmen Green in “Stitch Please”"[About Black Sewing Network] I’m using my personality to push others forward, that is ultimately essentially my goal" - Carmen Green in “Stitch Please”"Don’t be afraid to fail, everybody makes mistakes regardless of how long you’ve doing something, I’ve been sewing for ten years and I’m not afraid to make mistakes publicly, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable in a safe space, Black Sewing Network is that space for a lot of people of various backgrounds…we’re not afraid to fail" - Carmen Green in “Stitch Please”Shout out to Julian Collins of Julian Creates for the name Black Sewing NetworkSee Safiya Noble's Algorithms of Oppression to learn more about why social media seems/is whitewashedStay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Carmen GreenTikTok: Carmen GreenInstagram: Carmen GreenAmazon Store: Carmen GreenFacebook: Carmen GreenBlack Sewing Community: https://linktr.ee/blacksewingnetwork This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonBlack Women Stitch 2023 Wall CalendarAmazon StoreSew Black Info Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Lemarie PaschallLenmarie Paschall is Trinidadian. Her business, Rest by Len started out of a desire to promote restful habits. It became a 'thing' after making these gigantic pillows for youth in my church and community. Insights from this episode:Lenmarie’s sewing storyLenmarie’s earlier days of sewingLenmarie’s career as a financial analystLetting your creativity shineWhy it is important to take a breakLaunching Rest by LenWhat to expect at a Rest by Len eventLenmarie’s next phaseHow pillows by Len are an invitation to restProviding a lounging experience using pillows Quotes from the show:“I think there’s something that happens when tap into our creative nature and the ability to create vs just the ability to be consumers” —Lenmarie Paschall in “Stitch Please”“I have a really strong creative gene in me that I understood and I think that’s what gave me life” —Lenmarie Paschall in “Stitch Please”“Take a break to celebrate, to take a load off, to laugh, to play games. I believe that people, they didn’t know they needed it, but once they got it, they really embraced it” —Lenmarie Paschall in “Stitch Please”“People think that taking a break, resting, I've heard like it's lazy, it's not productive. It's an easy thing to do. But I think one of the hardest things to do is to say no” —Lenmarie Paschall in “Stitch Please”“It just brings us (her partnership events) both joy because people come there and they don’t think of anything else, but just laughter, having a good time resting” —Lenmarie Paschall in “Stitch Please”“I think what is extremely helpful is knowing what fills you, knowing what brings you joy knowing the things that regenerate you and energize you” —Lenmarie Paschall in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Lenmarie PaschallWebsite: Rest by LenInstagram: Rest by Len (@restbylen)  This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon.Check out the Black Women Stitch Amazon store for products mentioned in the podcast and on socials.Buy a Black Women Stitch Wall CalendarSign up for SEW BLACK AT QUILTCON infoLisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Kamali ObiaguHer first craft was crocheting, which she began in 2014. A few years later she decided she wanted to learn how to sew. Once she learned about PDF patterns and all the things she could make with a sewing machine, she knew she had found her passion. That was late 2018 and since then she has been sewing nonstop and has improved her sewing skills and taken over most of her wardrobe with her makes. Insights from this episode:How does Kamali incorporate her crafts into the gift-giving and decorating aspect of the holidaysThe significance of celebrating KwanzaaImportant lessons that Kamali gives to her childrenKamali’s desire to design pajamas based on African prints this yearKamali’s plans for her crafts during the Kwanzaa seasonWhat is the message behind KwanzaaThe importance of hand-made things for KamaliThe joy that brings to Kamali doing handmade gifts  Quotes from the show: “As for decorations, our family has a different flayer on this Kwanzaa season…we still have a tree, a holiday tree but we call it the black tree, the pan African tree so its a black tree with red and green decorations to mimic the pan African colors” —Kamali Obiagu in “Stitch Please”“Kwanzaa is our time to remind ourselves how powerful we are as black people, the potential we already have and what we have for the future and to remind ourselves that we are the greatest as we are” —Kamali Obiagu in “Stitch Please”“The principles in Kwanzaa remind us what we need to do to be better within ourselves and within our community” —Kamali Obiagu in “Stitch Please”“ [About handmade gifts] I take pride in knowing that I contributed to something other than spending a whole bunch of money on a gift, it seems the roundest time it's the most expensive time of the year, and knowing that I can make something that comes from my hands…it's amazing” —Kamali Obiagu in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Kamali ObiaguInstagram: Kamali ObiaguTwitter: Kamali ObiaguTikTok: Kamali ObiaguBlog: Kamali Obiagu This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Florence TaylorFlorence Taylor is a firm believer that “clothes to fit the body, not the body to fit the clothes". Insights from this episode:What Christmas meant for Florence’s parentsFamily traditions at Florence’s houseThings that fill up Florence’s familyWhat Christmas means for Florence and her family Quotes from the show:“Christmas for them (Florence’s parents) was not about what we wanted or what we needed, such as heavy and beautiful winter clothes, boots, snow pants, mittens, socks, and such. To adolescent children and teens, this was not exciting at all” —Florence Taylor in “Stitch Please”“I wanted my children to understand that they have a responsibility to our local community, to have the opportunity to provide amazing imprints of who they were as individual character” —Florence Taylor in “Stitch Please”“So Christmas for them (her kids), is about those little that one big thing that speaks to who they are as individuals” —Florence Taylor in “Stitch Please”“Christmas for us, whether it’s the food that we partake in, the gifts that we share, are about filling our children and the people that we love, their souls, their spirits and their bodies” —Florence Taylor in “Stitch Please”“We want our house to be filled with warmth and creativity. We want the spirit of Christmas to be about being altruistic (…) it is about community, it is about building, it is about sustaining family and traditions” —Florence Taylor in “Stitch Please”“In my family, Christmas is about sights, sounds and smells. The sounds of laughter and music, the sight of color and imagination, and the smells of how I show my love to them in terms of baking and how I wanna nourish them” —Florence Taylor in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Florence TaylorFlorence’s Blog: Carissa Knit Corset Crop, Top, Mini, Dress, Midi & Maxi Instagram: Florence Taylor This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Martha McIntoshMartha is a proud Garifuna-American from the Bronx, NY, with strong roots in Livingston, Guatemala. She is a sewing enthusiast learning to sew for her curvy, plus-size body and others as well.  Insights from this episode:Details about her Garifuna originHer Christmas traditions growing upTransferring those traditions to her childrenChristmas traditions as a GarifunaThe influence of Garifuna tradition on her sewing Quotes from the show:“I already knew what to expect because of how my parents had prepared me, you know, here in the United States. Even though we were not able to go for Christmas every year, my mom and my dad made sure to tell me and share their memories of what it was growing up and what those experiences were that” —Florence Taylor in “Stitch Please”“Trying to figure out what my favorite aspect of our tradition is, is kinda hard because I love it all. There is nothing that I don’t love about being Garifuna” —Florence Taylor in “Stitch Please”“According to Garifuna traditions, shared generation to generation, taught to me by my grandmother, taught to me by my parents, and as I share those stories with my children, the Wanaragua dance is a reenactment of when we were fighting the British in St. Vincent” —Florence Taylor in “Stitch Please”“It is truly inspired by the culture (Garifuna). My sewing always takes and leads to the bold, that’s what speaks to me: the bold fabric, the colorful fabric. I truly credit that to a lot of the Garifuna traditional wears that we do” —Florence Taylor in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Martha McIntoshWebsite: https://marthamcintosh.comInstagram: Martha McIntosh This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Vanessa MartinaVanessa Martina lives in The Netherlands with her husband and two boys. She was born and raised in The Netherlands. Insights from this episode:Christmas in the NetherlandsFireworks in the NetherlandsWhat Christmas was like for Vanessa growing upChristmas at Vanessa’s homeDetails about Sinterklaas and why her family doesn’t celebrate it Quotes from the show:“Fireworks are a major topic of discussion every year. Fireworks are forbidden the whole year round in the Netherlands except for New Year’s Eve” —Vanessa Martina in “Stitch Please”“The next big holiday or celebration is Christmas and we have three days of Christmas. We have Christmas eve, we have the first day of Christmas (December 25th) and the second day of Christmas (December 26th)” —Vanessa Martina in “Stitch Please”“As a child, the best Christmases used to be at my grandmother’s house. My grandmother used to demand entertainment from all her grandchildren. We used to have to prepare, a performance was mandatory“ —Vanessa Martina in “Stitch Please”“My kids love Christmas, they really look forward to Christmas. We put Christmas presents under the tree, but we don’t tell them that’s from Santa, it’s from us, the parents” —Vanessa Martina in “Stitch Please”“Sinterklaas is probably the biggest celebration here in the Netherlands. There are books of Sinterklaas, songs that are sung, there are movies of Sinterklaas, toys, all the shops are with Sinterklaas, it’s a huge thing” —Vanessa Martina in “Stitch Please”“So basically, I try to make all the Christmas outfits and New Year’s outfits for me and my children and my husband, and I sew a little bit for things around” —Vanessa Martina in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Vanessa MartinaLinkedIn: Vanessa Martina This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Lena KingLena King is married, with two daughters, and lives in London. She was born in Ghana, and she loves to craft through sewing. She sews for garments for herself and her family. Insights from this episode:Lena King’s sewing storyLena King’s holiday traditionsSewing during ChristmasTraditions from her childhoodWrapping presents in cuts and scrapsChristmas at Lena King’s Quotes from the show:“I have tried different things but sewing is the thing that really sticks, I think with me as a craft”  —Lena King in “Stitch Please”“Every year, I think to myself, do you know what, I’m going to sew some presents for people. And I plan it in my mind, I think about who I want to sew for and what they gonna get” —Lena King in “Stitch Please”“I tend to have lots of cuts and scraps of fabric every year from my sewing. And last year I wrapped quite a number of presents up in fabric that I had and that made a nice little additional present” —Lena King in “Stitch Please”“One tradition I have brought along with me from my childhood is that of having something new to wear on Christmas day. My mom was a real stickler for that” —Lena King in “Stitch Please”“I found some black fabric which is a bit sparkly and I asked her whether she (her daughter) liked it, and she did, and I made her a very simple neat little top and she loved it” —Lena King in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Lena KingLena’s Blog: Lena King's Babydoll Dress - Simple Sew BlogInstagram: Lena King This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Alexandra EregbuAlexandria Eregbu is a multimedia artist, writer, and educator whose practice draws from ancestral histories, lived experiences, and her own imagination to deepen her connectivity to the natural world. Her work is driven by travel, storytelling, memories (whether lived or dreamt), and surrealist activity across the diaspora— spanning from Nigeria, West Africa, the Caribbean, and her native city in Chicago. Her contributions have been presented at the Center for Afrofuturist Studies at Public Space One in Iowa City, Poets House in New York, the Camargo Foundation in Cassis, France, Casa Rosada in Salvador, Brazil, and Contemporary Art Center in New Orleans, among others. Her writing has been published by the University of Chicago Press, Terremoto Magazine, and Green Lantern Press. Alexandria is a current Emerging Artist Fellow with the Driehaus Museum (2020); a recipient of the 3Arts Award (2016); and Newcity Breakout Artist (2015). She teaches as faculty in the department of Fiber & Material Studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:What it means to teach sewing at art schoolHow art intertwines with social justiceHow artwork works as a form of empowermentAlexandra empowering young boys and girlsWhat textile means to AlexandraAlexandra landing and working with IndigoWhat the project ‘Finding Ijeoma’ is and what it meant for herExpressing herself through deejaying Quotes from the show:“Justice is definitely something that has become more and more central to my practice. Where that initially started was my work teaching young people between the ages of 14-19 years old” —Alexandra Eregbu in “Stitch Please”“When I first started this program, a lot of them (young boys and girls) assumed I was just like them. It really pit me in a unique position to be a friend and also a mentor” —Alexandra Eregbu in “Stitch Please”“The power of being present, is what these young boys and girls, who often times just need a listening ear, a little affirmation here and it will take them so far” —Alexandra Eregbu in “Stitch Please”“You can have a job that doesn’t require you to clock in and clock out. You can have a job that is not extracting from you. You can have a job where you create beauty (…) I think that it’s important that kids know that” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“I take responsibility and I think it’s a privledge to be able to know where it is you are from. And I take responsibility: that’s something I don’t really take lightly” —Alexandra Eregbu in “Stitch Please”“Some of those girls still check in with me to this today, which is a blessing: you just never know whose life you gonna touch” —Alexandra Eregbu in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Alexandra EregbuWebsite: Alexandria EregbuLinkedIn: Alexandria Eregbu Instagram: Alexandria Eregbu This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Businesses in this episode (in order of appearance)Baby Cakes Bags and RagsSew Hooked On TreasuresCultured ExpressionsAfrican Stretch FabricsDru Christine Fabrics and Design at the DC Creative Suite Thanks, I Made ThemMondes ThreadsGifted Hands by Chrissy, LLCNicole Elise, LLCScraplanta Creative Reuse CenterSeams and Such Boutique, Seams and Such Boutique, LLCBeau Jé DesignsSew Creative LoungeSew Sweet AcademyLiving Water QuilterKena QuiltsGeaux Savvy DesignsKrafting Cuzzins and More, LLCWhat's She Creating EnterprisesTangular Irby, Pearl and her Gee's Bend Quilt  Couture Man Sewing Bzy Peach, LLCDovetailed London     

Preorder the beautiful 2023 Black Women Stitch Wall Calendar hereEpisode 138 of Black Women Stitch, Fabric Intake ProcessBlackWomenStitch Instagram, homepage, Patreon 

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. LaTisha PorterLaTisha Porter was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, where she currently resides. She is a mother of two amazing daughters, Maiya Nicole and Makenzie Elise.​LaTisha decided to make garments for women adding later both children and men to her line of custom sewing. The choosing of her company's name, NicoleElise LLC, was developed by her desire to leave a legacy for her daughters using their middle names, Nicole and Elise. Her love for all things fashion has been since she can remember. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:LaTisha’s sewing storyLaTisha’s transition from a reluctant apprentice to where she is nowWhat sparked LaTisha’s interest in sewingPhiladelphia’s sewing sceneLatisha’s experience in a magazine How she overcomes the challenge of fitting another person Quotes from the show:“The feeling that I got when I got into a fabric store was just overwhelming, so it just made me want to make things” –LaTisha Porter in “Stitch Please”“The Philly sewing scene is unscripted if you will, it’s very organic. No one is scared to be themselves and present what they like for themselves. No one sews alike, but everyone is bold in what they do, that’s the major thing” –LaTisha Porter in “Stitch Please”“I try not to conform to what everyone else does. If I like a pattern, and I wanna wear that pattern, and I’m gonna make that pattern about 50 thousand times. I’m not a one and done” –Latisha Porter in “Stitch Please”“One of the things about making 50 dresses in the same style: the difference between you doing that and maybe some fast fashion house is that every single one of yours is different”  –Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“A lot of times, people want something that they have seen me in. I mainly sew dresses and skirts for people” –Latisha Porter in “Stitch Please”“There’s no better time than now. If there’s something you wanna do, just do it. We have to turn the volume down on life, and listen to ourselves, and hear our hearts, and follow our path” –Latisha Porter in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected: Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Latisha PorterInstagram: LaTisha PorterWebsite: https://www.nicoleelise.shop/ This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Jen HewettJen Hewett is a printmaker, surface designer, and textile artist. Depending on how you look at it, artist is either Jen’s second or fifth career. With a degree in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley, she started her working life in education and educational nonprofits. She then briefly ran her own stationery business and took a few detours through business operations, human resources, and consulting before becoming a full-time working artist (again). She partly credits the success of her experience running her own creative business to her non-linear (but always interesting) career path.Jen’s first book, Print, Pattern, Sew: Block Printing Basics + Simple Sewing Projects for an Inspired Wardrobe, was published by Roost Books in May 2018. Her second book,  This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community, and Connection, was published by Roost Books in November 2021. Her clients include Anthropologie, Cost Plus World Market, Moda Fabrics, Unilever, and Yelp. Her work has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Uppercase, and MSNBC. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Who Jen Hewett is and what she doesHow Jen’s book came to beHow Jen got into printmakingJen’s print-making processHow to believe in your work and voiceWhy Jen considers herself a textile artistThe inspiration behind Jen’s bookCreating representative workWhat to expect from Jen Hewett Quotes from the show:“I design a lot of things for the sewing industry. So, I design primarily fabric and I have been doing that since 2018. I am on my third or fourth fabric collection at this point” —Jen Hewett in “Stitch Please”“I have done a lot of textile art and didn’t call myself a textile artist. I always say I am a printmaker first and everything flows from that, but I am owning it now, that I am a person who does and likes many things” —Jen Hewett in “Stitch Please”“With printmaking, you do one thing and you do it over and over again, unlike being a painter who does a one-of-a-kind one thing. A printmaker is already set up operationally, it makes sense to do the same thing over and over again” —Jen Hewett in “Stitch Please”“What’s the saying like ‘walk around with the confidence of a white man and you will get what you want’?” –Nicole Angeline  in “Stitch Please”“The nice thing about the work that I do is that it is replicable. So it feels in many ways, low stakes. That I am constantly putting things out there, some will stick, some won’t” —Jen Hewett in “Stitch Please”“When I find books like this one, that are good and I like them, and I like to go back to them, because not every book you get that you are gonna go back to, but this one is nice and it's very digestible” —Ada Chen in “Stitch Please”“The overall consensus seems to be celebratory and gratitude, if I can put it in two words. Folks who are celebrating that this book exists and that women of color are having their voices centred and amplified, and talking to a variety of people. And then the gratitude which extends towards you for creating and pulling this together” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“I wanted it to be representative. Not necessarily everybody because that’s impossible, but to include people who are not included” —Jen Hewett in “Stitch Please”“In many ways, writing this book didn’t feel like a race because I had this really strong sense that the community would have my back. But then I had to do everybody’s story’s justice in order for people to have my back”  —Jen Hewett in “Stitch Please” Resources MentionedAsian Sewist Collective Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Jen HewettWebsite: Jen HewettInstagram: Jen Hewett This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Kia SangriaKia Sangria is passionate about cosplay, costume creation, being a sewist, and creating costumes for black people in play. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Kia meeting her husband through cosplayKia’s cosplay-themed weddingKia’s generosity and helping people in sewing and cosplayGetting recognition from brandsKia being a cosplay panelInsights into cos-fashionCollaborating with Zelouf fabricsKia’s plans for Halloween Quotes from the show:“For me personally, my husband represents one of the more positives aspects of cosplay which is not just someone in a costume, but actually someone becoming the character” —Kia Sangria in “Stitch Please”“That (sharing information generously) is pretty rare, not a lot of folks will go out of their way, they might tell you a few things, but it takes something, I think very generous to create an entire video to show somebody something” —Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“I don’t really do the things that I do for brand recognition, but it’s really nice that folks notice” —Kia Sangria in “Stitch Please”“I am a resource; that’s what I tell people, please don’t be afraid to ask me questions cause I am here to help you” —Kia Sangria in “Stitch Please”“Color is very big for me. As someone that likes to take different types of creative control over how I make costumes, having so many different shades of blue and green, and what have you, allows me to customize my looks” —Kia Sangria in “Stitch Please”“For the type of sewing that I do, which is sewing for cosplay, it’s a little bit different from sewing a blouse, or a shirt, or a pair of pants, or a dress. There is a lot of pieces that go into cosplay making. I am looking to be that resource”  —Kia Sangria in “Stitch Please”“Sewing is hard, but I think that sometimes sewing on your own can also be difficult if you do not have that experience, and you do not know where to turn to” —Kia Sangria in “Stitch Please” Resources MentionedZelouf Fabrics Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Kia SangriaFacebook: Kia La SangriaPinterest: Pinterest This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Sarah HillDr. Sarah Ashley Hill is a psychologist and lupus warrior who started sewing in 2019, after learning that she had a severe form of lupus nephritis. Having had a knack for fashion from a young age, Sarah has used sewing as an articulation of her style and to suit her current lifestyle. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:How Sarah got started in sewingHow diagnosis with lupus led to her sewing journeySarah’s lupus journeySarah’s pursuit of creativity Sewing her grandma’s Bridgerton Ball Quotes from the show:“An artist has to create, so it wasn’t an option for me to not do something with this creative energy. Even if the body was breaking down, not creating, not finding beauty or making beauty was not an option” -Sarah Hill in “Stitch Please”“It’s not going to kill me [lupus], or if it kills me, it’s gonna kill me doing what I am gonna do [sewing]” -Sarah Hill in “Stitch Please”“What you can’t do and can't control is your attitude, your outlook, the space in your heart, the vision that you have, and those who you’ve allowed to hold that vision with you and for you” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“We all get to claim our time, and we do not have to live by someone else’s calendar or somebody else’s clock” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“If you wanna do something, just go try it, and if you do not have the resources, there are plenty of organizations like sewing communities if you do not have a sewing machine” -Sarah Hill in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Sarah HillInstagram: Sarah HillWebsite: Sewing for Myself  This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Shasta SchatzShasta Schatz loves to create. Her favorite hobby is sewing, where she dabbles in yarn manipulation, painting, 3D printing, hot gluing, and duct taping. Her costuming inspiration is mainly from the 16th century drawing inspiration from her love of art museums.  Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Insights on historical costumingDifferences between costuming and cosplayShasta’s journey in costumingHow art museums have inspired Shasta’s workHow Shasta found a community in costumingThe challenges she has experienced in making garments Quotes from the show:“I do a lot of observing when I am costuming no matter where I am” -Shasta Schatz in “Stitch Please”“Every single garment that I make, every accessory, every headpiece, every beaded pin that I put in my hair, I can probably trace it back to art history or letter that was written to a person” -Shasta Schatz in “Stitch Please”“I absolutely give out information freely, always send me messages, I will tell everybody everything because nobody told me anything when I started out after college” -Shasta Schatz in “Stitch Please”“Nobody wants to sew upholstery fabric by hand, so you put that part in the machine, but you do the linen part by hand” -Shasta Schatz in “Stitch Please”“Incorporate a little bit of hand sewing into every single garment that you make” -Shasta Schatz in “Stitch Please”“Go out and grab a big three pattern that looks close to what you want coz it’s at least gonna give you an idea of what goes into it” -Shasta Schatz in “Stitch Please” Resources mentioned:Audre Lorde’s essayThe Tudor Tailor Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Shasta SchatzInstagram: Shasta Facebook: Green Linen Shirt Twitter: ScifiCheerGirl  This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. SerenaSerena sews and collects vintage patterns and sewing machines. She enjoys creating vintage content from the 1940s-1950s for Instagram and YouTube to help encourage diversity in the vintage world and share her passion for vintage style. She enjoys dressing up and creating her vintage reality.  Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Insights on Serena’s style as a form of costumingHow Serena describes her style and practiceHer journey in transforming her wardrobeSerena’s journey into vintage clothingSerena’s favorite vintage decadeInsights into Serena’s black vintage inspiration Quotes from the show:“I felt comfortable with myself like as a person, I’ve always been into vintage” -Serena in “Stitch Please”“I don’t think I have a favorite, I chose my style in seasons” -Serena in “Stitch Please”“I love that your creative genius is not gonna be encumbered by the historical demand of the time” -Lisa in “Stitch Please”“I think the word authentic is a word that gets absolutely beaten to death, it gets overused. There are some folks that will have you think that authenticity is a thing that you do, rather than who you are” -Lisa in “Stitch Please”“First, I am a creator. I like to dress in the past, but I like to leave room for creativity” -Serena in “Stitch Please”“I think 100 percent historical accuracy is not realistic” -Serena in “Stitch Please”“I try not to be too inspired by people that I can’t talk to and relate to, and usually that not gonna be celebrities. I try and find inspiration in everyday things and people” -Serena in “Stitch Please”“I try and find inspiration from all types of people in all walks of life because I don’t want to live in this tunnel of monotony” -Serena in “Stitch Please”“Never believe you are ever done learning” -Serena in “Stitch Please”“Don’t underestimate the power of just trying because you really don’t know if you are capable until you actually try” -Serena in “Stitch Please” Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork SerenaInstagram: SewrenaYouTube: SewRena  This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

THank you SEW much for helping get 5-star reviews, 500 total Patreon supporters, and 500k downloads by the end of 2022!Black Women Stitch PatreonDownload Stitch Please episodesShare 5-star reviews hereWant to participate in Stitching Holiday Traditions? Want to say "hi"? Leave a direct voicemailLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Olugbemisola Rhuday-PerkovichOlugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is a crafter, a blogger, a sewist, and the author of several children’s books, including Operation Sisterhood, It Doesn’t Take A Genius, 8th Grade Superzero, Two Naomis, Saving Earth: Climate Change and the Fight For Our Future, as well as the picture book Someday Is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-Ins, and Mae Makes A Way: The True Story of Mae Reeves, Hat and History Maker. Her most recent release is The Sun Does Shine: An Innocent Man, A Wrongful Conviction, and the Long Path to Justice with Anthony Ray Hinton and Lara Love Hardin. She is the editor of the We Need Diverse Books anthology The Hero Next Door, and has contributed to several collections. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Olugbemisola’s start of her sewing journeyOlugbemisola’s childhood and growing up with black dollsHow Olugbemisola is bringing dignity to black folks through her books and amplifying their voicesInsights on affirming black women and how they can claim their space in the worldThe power of black creativityThe connection between writing and sewingThe process of narrating an audiobook Quotes from the show:“When you make something yourself and put that creative energy into something, it makes it even more special” -Olugbemisola in “Stitch Please”“Dignity is not something you give, dignity is something you affirm. Everybody is born with dignity, everybody has it, but not everybody gets to have it affirmed” -Lisa Woolfork  in “Stitch Please”“I think a lot of times the focus is on the struggle and the striving and not enough on just the beauty, creativity and the art” -Olugbemisola in “Stitch Please”“You have a relationship with every book or every story that you read, and it’s a very personal relationship” -Olugbemisola in “Stitch Please”“We are a people, and a people does not throw their geniuses away” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Telling your own story and telling the story of your people and having those stories was just so important to me from a very young age” -Olugbemisola in “Stitch Please”“Be generous with yourself, be kind to yourself, do not feel that your process has to reflect anybody else’s ” -Olugbemisola in “Stitch Please” Resources Mentioned:In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Olugbemisola Rhuday-PerkovichWebsite: Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich Instagram: Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich Twitter: Olugbemisola  This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Black Girls Sew Projects by Hekima Hapa and Lesley Ware available hereJoin the Black Women Stitch Patreon.Hekima HapaHekima Hapa is the founder of the nonprofit, community organization Black Girls Sew in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Not only is Hapa the founder, but she is a fashion designer and a business owner of Harriet’s by Hekima (HbyH), a Harriet’s Alter Ego company. Hapa is investing her over two decades of experience in fashion styling, fashion merchandising, sewing, and designing to teach courses for Black Girls Sew to leave the youth excited about education in sewing, design, and entrepreneurship. She has also co-authored the book Black Girls Sew with Lesley Ware. Lesley WareLesley Ware is an author, educator, entrepreneur, and personality who has written five books: Sew Fab: Sewing and Style for Young Fashionistas, My Fab Fashion Style File, How to Be a Fashion Designer, 101 Ways to Love Your Style and Black Girls Sew.Lesley’s passion for inspiring youth began when she earned her degrees in Elementary Education and Public Administration and continued when she orchestrated national programs for institutions like the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Girl Scouts of the USA.She has created fashion education programs for the Parsons School of Design, Metropolitan Museum of Art with the Costume Institute, Pioneer Works, Museum of the City of New York, New Visions, New York Times Student Journeys, and other institutions.Insights from this episode:Insights into what led Lesley and Hekima to write their bookHow they chose the fashion icons to interview in their bookHow denim is connected to black ancestryInsights on how they bring in fashion and black cultural knowledge Lessons Hekima and Lesley learned while writing their book during the pandemicThe lessons they hope people will learn from reading their bookQuotes from the show:“I talk to people all the time about how easy it is to upcycle denim and how easily and readily available it is, but it is not something easy to produce” -Hekima Hapa in “Stitch Please”“It is really important that we think about it [denim] historically: it being connected to cotton, and how our ancestors being here” -Hekima Hapa in “Stitch Please”“Every time that I get an opportunity to do anything, especially working on books, in my head I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to do this again, so I give it everything that I possibly can” -Lesley Ware in “Stitch Please”“The logistics of writing a book in the pandemic present challenges and opportunities” -Lesley Ware in “Stitch Please”“I think the book itself is like a love letter to Black girls, and that's something that I really love about it” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“To get your stitch together, you’ve got to write it down” -Lesley Ware in “Stitch Please”“Just keep trying even when it seems impossible, it doesn’t seem like it’s gonna happen: whether it’s stitching and you are making a garment, or it’s really like stitching in life” -Hekima Hapa in “Stitch Please”Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkHekima HapaInstagram: Hekima Hapa Twitter: Hekima Hapa Facebook: Hekima HapaLesley WareLinkedIn: Lesley Ware Instagram: Lesley Ware Twitter: Lesley Ware This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Support Black Women Stitch on Patreon. Bianca Springer was born and raised in The Bahamas, now lives in Pearland, Texas, with her husband and two children. She learned to sew as a child, but says motherhood cultivated her passion for the craft. Representation matters and Bianca always tries to honor that through her writings. Recently she wrote REPRESENT! an embroidery book that looks like you! It celebrates diversity with more than 50 embroidery motifs of people in a wide array of skin colors, body shapes, and natural hairstyles. No need for painstaking design alterations—you can simply jump right in and start stitching. These inclusive embroidery projects represent every kind of beauty; see yourself and your loved ones in these designs. Expand your embroidery and sewing skills while increasing your appreciation of others! Celebrate beautiful YOU!Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English,  specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Insights from this EpisodeWhat does the word “represent” means to BiancaWhy does Bianca feel a strong urge to represent the black community in an unapologetic wayBianca’s trajectory writing down her designs and patterns on blogs and  magazinesHow was Bianca’s process to write her bookHow Bianca’s character has been put to test in the industryBianca’s thoughts on community buildingBianca’s  “Represent!” book and its framesWhat would Bianca say to a person that is looking to “get their stitch together”Quotes from the Show: "[About  the meaning of represent] It means authentically showing off as your true self or allowing people into your space so they can do that as well" - Bianca Springer in “Stitch Please”"This is me stepping into a space, I am not whispering, I am not easing in, I am not trying to stand back and wait for you to acknowledge me, I feel like in my craft life and in the craft spaces I have been in as an introvert, I had been happy to do that" - Bianca Springer in “Stitch Please”"We are the ones we have been waiting for" - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”"As someone who is trying to encourage others into craft, I want people to understand perfection is not the goal so if your work is less than perfect framing it elevates it. I’m highlighting the imperfection" - Bianca Springer in “Stitch Please”"I say this book [Represent!] is for everyone, not about everyone" - Bianca Springer in “Stitch Please”"Try something different and ask themselves two questions beyond their resistance, whatever thing is stopping you from advancing, ask yourself why and then why not and once you begin to explore that, you’re gonna get some stitches together" - Bianca Springer in “Stitch Please”Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkBianca SpringerWebsite: https://thanksimadethem.comBlog: https://thanksimadethem.blogspot.com/Instagram: Bianca SpringerBook: Represent! Embroidery - C&T PublishingPinterest: Bianca Springer 

Join Black Women Stitch on Patreon. Tracy Perry is a self-taught artist with 30+ years of experience in sewing and art to create unique dolls using fabric or clay. She's been creating and selling dolls since 2008. Tracy was the owner and operator of ImaginePerryDolls and TerranDollmaker.  Tracy endeavors to make dolls that show the many colors and uniqueness. She strongly believes that everyone should have access to a doll that looks like them or inspires them. Her dolls have appeared in an issue of Art Dolls Quarterly.  And she has a sincere fan base that includes Virginia-based doll clubs, and collectors from around the United States.Host: Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of African American Literature and Culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, the fiction of Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black Lives Matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she became a founding member of Black Lives Matter Charlottesville. Actually, she is active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the College Fellows Program to reshape the undergraduate general education curriculum.Insights from this episode:How Tracy got started in doll makingInsights into the different types of dollsDifferences between soft sculpture and cloth dollsTracy’s button-jointed doll experience and the lessons she learnedTracy’s favorite tools in doll makingTracy’s process in doll making and choosing the personality, shape, outfit, and characterQuotes from the show:“Plushies can be a novelty, they can represent lots of different things: they can be abstract, they can be representational” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Don’t overcommit if you are a solopreneur” -Tracy Perry in “Stitch Please”“You love dolls, you love doll making, and that love was very much tested and it stood its test but you also got to learn lessons about boundaries, about protecting the peace of your creative life” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“My number one tool is my hemostat” -Tracy Perry in “Stitch Please”“If you have something that is working for you, don’t change” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“One of the things I love about your dolls is how they look like you” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“I just try to do what I like, I was just bending myself backward trynna say ‘people don’t like this, people don’t like that,’ then I would find out that people did like it” -Tracy Perry in “Stitch Please”“I think too often when women, especially Black women, wanna do something that’s self-directive, self-determined, self-reflective, it’s seen as selfish, which is absolutely false” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“The work that comes from your hands should reflect the deepest essence of who you are, as well as from the inside and outside” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkTracy PerryWebsite: Seams Like TracyInstagram: TR PerryYouTube: Seams Like Tracy 

Host: Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of African American Literature and Culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, the fiction of Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black Lives Matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she became a founding member of Black Lives Matter Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the College Fellows Program to reshape the undergraduate general education curriculum.Guest: Chris Cooper is the owner of Studio Tissue8 and is a Master Seamstress with over 30 years of professional experience specializing in bridal/wedding gowns. Having started sewing for dolls, Chris has transcended all her fears and become a master seamstress and shares her gift of sewing through her store, Studio Tissue8, which offers various services, including its signature Valet Service for Alterations.Insights from this episode:Insights into Chris’ workHow Chris is sharing her gift of sewing with other peopleChris’ journey into sewingHow she came up with the name Studio Tissue8Her journey running Studio Tissue8Chris’ commitment to sharing her gift of sewingHow sewing allows her to think and process her problems Chris’ fear of getting started on her journey and how she overcame itQuotes from the show:“I distinctly remember thinking that it was a gift [sewing] because it was never hard for me, it kinda just came to me” - Chris Cooper in “Stitch Please”“It was gifted to you so you wanna offer that and amplify that so that other people can have the benefit from it, but also know how to do it themselves as well” - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“There is something about that fabric in my hand, and the sound of the sewing machine that just puts me at total ease” - Chris Cooper in “Stitch Please”“I don’t think ‘I can’t do’ it’s just that I have never done it before” - Chris Cooper in “Stitch Please”“Something that I tend to think about fear is that sometimes your victory is on the other side of fear” - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“You’re never gonna do anything that you wanna do unless you get yourself out of this fear thing” - Chris Cooper in “Stitch Please”“Fear is what pushes you, fear is what makes you do things that are out of your comfort zone. If you don’t have fear, then maybe something is not right” - Chris Cooper in “Stitch Please”“When I have fear, it sometimes helps me to get the additional information and to find possibility models” - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkChris CooperWebsite: Studio Tissue8 Instagram: ​​Studio Tissue8  

Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of African American Literature and Culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, the fiction of Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black Lives Matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she became a founding member of Black Lives Matter Charlottesville. Actually, she is active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the College Fellows Program to reshape the undergraduate general education curriculum.Teju Adisa FarrarTeju is an environmental equity consultant, speaker, and creator/host of the Black Material Geographies podcast. She centers on climate, racial, and distributive justice by sharing ideas on regenerative practices and co-collaborative design. Teju uses a social geographies perspective encouraging us to think about space, place, and identity. Teju’s lens includes sustainable fiber and fashion systems, urban ecologies, nature, history, activism, and art. She supports people, collectives, and organizations who are mapping / making alternative futures.Insights from this episode: How to reclaim the traditions that are valuable art and are valuable to usHow do we look at geography in relation to humans who identify as Black across the planetStrategies to help people get economic independence and freedom so that they have to borrow from people and be forever indebtedDetails on how to alleviate people from poverty and give them a platform for economic freedomWhy it is important to learn where the different textiles come fromHow understanding the importance of making things for ourselves or where they come from can shift how we consume thingsQuotes from the show:“We need to know how to make things with our hands because that’s how we can support ourselves and live outside systems that don't support us, that don’t value us and in many cases are violent to us and oppress us” - Teju Adisa Farrar in “Stitch Please”“I don't ever underestimate the joy and creativity that is involved in Black folks getting dressed, and especially Black women” - Teju Adisa Farrar in “Stitch Please”“Black joy is our birthright. We live within systems of oppression that convince us constantly to devalue the things that we do, that are not connected to capitalism and patriarchy” - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Freedom isn't a secret; it is a practice” - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“When you get dressed, and you look the way you wanna look, and you wear the colors you wanna wear and texture, and the style, you feel good” - Teju Adisa Farrar in “Stitch Please”“What you wear is like your armor” - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Nature is constantly guiding us and resisting us and our efforts, and we can learn a lot about how the natural world operates” - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Sustainability is how do we keep things in circulation for as long as possible” - Teju Adisa Farrar in “Stitch Please”“Sustainability is if we cannot use it in the way we have been using it, can we use it in a different way and can we find a way to make it work, can we find someone who knows how to use it in a different way” - Teju Adisa Farrar in “Stitch Please”“It just the human thing to do, to give people agency, dignity, leisure pleasure” - Teju Adisa Farrar in “Stitch Please”“Making is one of the most important pleasures of human life” - Teju Adisa Farrar in “Stitch Please”Resources Mentioned: Black Material Geographies PodcastStay Connected:Black Women Stitch PatreonLisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkTeju Adisa FarrarWebsite: tejuadisafarrar.comInstagram: @misstejTwitter: Teju Adisa-FarrarFacebook: Teju Adisa-Farrar  

EMERGENCY SUPPORT REQUEST: Sew Hope Community Sewing Room, a Black woman led nonprofit sewing studio was recently damaged by severe flooding: 16 inches of water saturated the newly opened venue. Please donate to the Go Fund Me or directly to the project.  CashApp$SewHopeSTL If financial support is not possible, Sew Hope is accepting donations of machines and fabric. About the episode:Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of African American Literature and Culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, the fiction of Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black Lives Matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she became a founding member of Black Lives Matter Charlottesville. She is active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the College Fellows Program to reshape the undergraduate general education curriculum.Angela FranklinWith a BA in Art from Xavier University in Cincinnati and her MFA from Bradley University, Angela Franklin-Faye has exhibited her works both throughout the US and internationally.She has lived abroad since 1997 and, since 2007, has divided her time between Senegal and the United Arab Emirates. This international experience has resulted in a body of work that has encouraged her to chronicle the experiences of people from the diaspora worldwide. Her works are presently featured in the national exhibition of Contemporary African Art for the 13th DAK’Art Biennale, along with the Dialogue in Black and White Exhibition at the Charleston City Gallery.  In addition, Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, The Art Hub-Abu Dhabi, The Renwick Gallery - Smithsonian Institution, Ohio Craft Museum, and Musee Boribana - Dakar are just a few spaces that featured her work. Works by Franklin-Faye are in the corporate collections of Atlanta Life Insurance Company, The NationsBank, Arco Chemical, and Household Finance. In 2013, she earned a second Master's Degree in Online Education and Leadership Management and credits this with having an even greater impact on her artwork. She is the owner of Chez Alpha Books - a bookstore and academic resource center in Dakar, Senegal.Insights from this episode:Angela’s beginning of her sewing journeyAngela’s adaptability to the fashion and fabric worldHow she has been able to thrive as an artist based on her geographyInsights into her study of art at Xavier UniversityInsights into slavery and black history in regards to Ohio/Kentucky borderInsights into the stained glass initiativeQuotes from the show:“I made a rule that if I am going to be here, let me find a fabric that is found here, let me not rely on African fabric in the Pacific Island, or if I am in the Middle East, let me rely on the fabric that I find there” -Angela Franklin in “Stitch Please”“It’s really incredible because what that [adaptability] allows you to do is to both grow as an artist and to be connected to the community in which you are living” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“I used to enamel a lot, do a lot of couple enameling and glass fusing, and my whole passion right now is to go back to it” -Angela Franklin in “Stitch Please”“When I do this series of work, I said to everyone that it’s not about the trauma of slavery, it’s about the contributions that they made, economically because they would build the prairie” -Angela Franklin in “Stitch Please”“Slavery is not black people's shame. Black people should not be ashamed of having been enslaved. The shame is in white people. The shame is in those folks who could compromise so much of their own beliefs to enact the greatest crime against humanity” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“The stain glass initiative seeks to acknowledge and perpetuate the diversity of experience and reflection that is needed to envision a better common good” -Angela Franklin in “Stitch Please”Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkAngela FranklinInstagram: Angela Franklin Facebook: Angela Franklin 

Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, the fiction of Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black Lives Matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she became a founding member of Black Lives Matter Charlottesville. Actually, she is active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the College Fellows Program to reshape the undergraduate general education curriculum.Support the Black Women Stitch Patreon (swatch cards are available for Patrons to download)Stay Connected:Website: Blackwomenstitch.orgInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork

Cultured Expressions on the Stitch Please podcast: episode 52 and episode 78. Find Lisa Shepard Stewart on social mediaWebsite:  www.CulturedExpressions.comFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/CulturedExpressions/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturedexpressions/YouTube:  www.youtube.com/CEFabricVideos/VideosBlog: www.culturedexpressions.wordpress.com

Host: Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of African American Literature and Culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, the fiction of Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black Lives Matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she became a founding member of Black Lives Matter Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the College Fellows Program to reshape the undergraduate general education curriculum.Marcia SpencerMarcia Spencer is a style & fashion lover, designer, entrepreneur, and stylist based in Raleigh, Carolina. Marcia loves to incorporate trends into the season and loves the 70s vibes. She has a background in fashion design and retailing and runs the Keechi B Style blog. She has designed and marketed a line of children’s clothing as well as luxury bags and is currently a blogger on the Mood Sewing Network.Insights from this episode: How to pursue your passion and follow non-traditional careersWhat it means to have a fashion-driven selling philosophyHow to transition from one business to another and still maintain the passion that you started withDetails on the inspiration behind the fashion pieces that Marcia createsStrategies for getting inspiration from others and tailoring it to fit your styleQuotes from the show:“I never thought about it [sewing] as something I could do, make it a career” - Marcia Spencer in “Stitch Please”“Fashion has always been a part of me” - Marcia Spencer in “Stitch Please”“I am driven by fashion; I make clothes that I want to wear. Why make something that you are not going to feel fabulous in?” - Marcia Spencer in “Stitch Please”“Your selling is very fashion-forward and fashion-driven” - Lisa Woolfork, Episode #4“Fashion does push the envelope” - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Everybody has their own style, and sometimes people haven’t defined their style yet” - Marcia Spencer in “Stitch Please”“You know how to sell; you can make it” - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“The selling process is both a skill and an art, and you’ve been able to use your sewing machine to bring those together” - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“I think the best way to go about it [fashion] is to look at it as inspiration, not as to copy it, but to be inspired by it” - Marcia Spencer in “Stitch Please”“One of the great things I like about buying a pattern is that we can buy the same pattern and it's not going to turn out the same” - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“What you wear speaks volumes” - Marcia Spencer in “Stitch Please”“I am very passionate about wearing the inside on the outside” - Marcia Spencer in “Stitch Please”“I like to be versatile when I go about my pieces… I like to get the most about my outfit ” - Marcia Spencer in “Stitch Please”“The biggest thing to get your stitch together is to look at inspiration from other Instagramers and other stitchers, and creators and get inspiration from them, but be yourself” - Marcia Spencer in “Stitch Please”Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkMarcia SpencerWebsite: Marcia SpencerInstagram: Marcia SpencerBlog: STYLE BLOG | Keechii B Style

 Mahdiyyah Muhammad is a self-taught Artist, Fashion Designer, and Instructor who began designing at a very young age, breathing new life into discarded clothing. She draws inspiration from her practice of fabric alchemy; with an ability to take recycled, bio-based materials and turn them into one of one works of wearable art that boost healing properties. Taken from her research of naturally occurring materials and the effects they have on the body, each design is created with intentional fabric carrying high vibrational frequency like linen, cotton, wool, and organic cotton. Knowing the body in its optimal health has a vibrational frequency of 100, and fabrics like linen and wool contain an extremely high frequency of 5,000, she carefully selects her materials with this in mind. Mahdiyyah speaks more about this in her educational fabric workshops.With a passion for sharing her knowledge about fabric textile origins, healing qualities, and sewing education, she offers sewing classes, educational healing fabric workshops, and project-based sessions. Her upbringing in East Orange, NJ rooted her values in the importance of community, and creating opportunities for others who may not easily be afforded them. Other initiatives include mentorship opportunities for youth, and collaborations with various community organizations to provide sewing and healing fabric workshops for their members.Insights from this EpisodeHow Mahdiyyah would characterize her sewing storyHow Mahdiyyah built her creativityAt what point in her life Mahdiyyah decided she wanted to make design her only careerHow Mahdiyyah made all her pieces without a sewing machineWhy doing her own outfits was a special moment for Mahdiyyah in order to build her confidenceHow Mahdiyyah founded her own businessWhy "repurposing textile" is fundamental forMahdiyyah’s businessHow did Mahdiyyah pair fashion with teaching and community buildingHow Mahdiyyah’s experience with an artist in Barbados influenced her purpose with fashionWhat challenges did Mahdiyyah face in her collection of natural materialsHow Mahdiyyah’s childhood influenced her desire to help under-resourced communities through fashionWhat is fabric alchemyHow does vibration in fabrics worksWhat Mahdiyyah would say to help someone to "get their stitch together"Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkMahdiyyah MuhammadWebsite: https://www.mahdiyyah.co/LinkedIn: Mahdiyyah Muhammad Instagram: Fabric AlchemistFacebook: Mahdiyya Mbugua

Lisa Woolfork is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black Lives Matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she became a founding member of Black Lives Matter Charlottesville. Actually, she is active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the College Fellows Program to reshape the undergraduate general education curriculum.Stephanie Dean is a vintage-style handmade doll with a modern twist, she wears beautifully colored dresses that are fashioned to appeal to today’s modern child. She has always loved dolls, and her mother, an elementary school teacher, went to great lengths to find African American dolls for her because her mother felt it was important for Stephanie’s self-image to have a positive reflection of herself during playtime. Actually, she is the founder of Cinnamon Annie Dolls where she always seeks to make her dolls representative of her and the black race taking into account the nostalgia of the classic dolls her customers remember from their childhood as well as the modern styling that a contemporary little girl would like. Stephanie has lived in Georgia all her life, she is a keepsake doll and believes that dolls can be everything that you want them to be, the dolls can be played with, used for decoration or collected. Stephanie is married to Tony and is the mother of two young adults, Joseph and Danielle.Insights from this EpisodeStephanie’s childhood and her relationship with dollsWhy Stephanie’s mother wanted her to have black dollsWhy dolls are important for a child's imaginationHow times have changed for black representation in mediaHow Stephanie got involved in AfroBlack WomenHow Stephanie got the opportunity to expose her dolls in the Time SquareHow her company started to growHow the last quarter of 2021 was life-changing for StephanieWhat would Stephanie say to a person that is looking to “get their stitch together”Quotes from the Show: "A doll can become a friend, you know they’re always there, the doll can become anything that the child wants it to become…it can become a playmate, it can become a tool for learning" - Stephanie Dean in “Stitch Please”"I think we have better success, a  more sustainable success when we work in a community than when we are individually scrabbling against each other…there is abundance, there is enough" - Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”"Get back to basics and do some things and improve productivity" - Stephanie Dean in “Stitch Please”"Follow your enthusiasm…learn about it, love on it, do the best as you can because if you decide to turn this into a business you are going to have to be enthusiastic about it because it's a lot of work" - Stephanie Dean in “Stitch Please”Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkStephanie DeanWebsite: https://www.stepstitches.com/Instagram: Stephanie DeanFacebook: StepStitches Pinterest: Stephanie Dean

Dr. Plummer's websiteStitch x Stitch conference

Deborah's gorgeous is shop, Our Fabric Stash, located within Seattle's Pike Place Market.This show was supported by Afros and Audio, (instagram, facebook) and by BerninaBernina ambassadors and past Stitch Please guests include Aaronica Cole and The Corny Rainbow, Nefertiti Griggs

Jonelle DawkinsMomo con. Blurred con closet cosplay.

Laquana's Blue Cup Shop is on Etsy,  InstagramThat Black ChicLaquana mentions a  sewing class, Skirt Skills and follow-up classes with Brooks Ann Camper .

Find out more about Neci Love HarmonTikTokInstagramYou TubeWebsite  

Resources Mentioned:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mondes_threads/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mondesthreadsWebsite: https://mondechisenga.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkL2FJlQ6U3NmPPtc10Z9hg

Dru Christine's website is druchristine.com.Dru is also on Facebook and Instagram @druchristineBlackWomenStitch Instagram, homepage, Patreon

Learn more about DC Frocktails on the website and Instagram page. 

May 14th Is Black Fae Day. Learn more about this delightfully Black festive holiday from its founder and principal organizer Jasmine LeFleur and Kia Sangria, a 2022 ambassador. Both are visionary joy practitioners within the Black Fae community, a platform and annual event that increases the positive visibility of Black people in mainstream fantasy. These women are joining the Stitch Please podcast to share their journey with cosplay, what influenced them to get involved in making costumes, and how they turned their creative passion into an annual event for other Black cosplayers. This opened up the conversation as we talked about the perceived barrier of entry to cosplay, how a few stitches allow cosplayers to be whoever they want, and why the spirit of cosplay and spreading black joy through Black fantasy and fairytales are so powerful.We also touched on how they provide a community that welcomes and supports Black people in their quest to be their most authentic selves. They also spoke on the play and wonder that adults indulge in through cosplay and the importance of leading by example so kids know they can be and do whatever they want.This episode is an absolutely beautiful story of creativity and community and how the energy and love that goes into making costumes can be a part of a larger pattern.

Aja Barber’s website, instagram, facebookAja Barber’s book, Consumed: The Need for Collective ChangeAja intentionally has only one sponsor, Vestiaire Collective and provides special access to her  Patreon supporters.Aja mentions Fashion Revolution, the world’s largest fashion activism movementWhat should everyone watch? Aja says “The Story of Stuff!” BlackWomenStitch Instagram,  homepage, Patreon

Find Shams el-Din Rogers' on InstagramShams mentions reading Vicki Robin,Shams volunteers at Creative Reuse Toronto.Lisa and Sham mention Aja Barber and her book Consumed Aja is on the podcast next week!Lisa mentions a poem by Francis Ellen Watkins HarperLisa also mentions Fannie Lou Hamer's 1971 speech "Nobody's free until everybody's free."Shams mentions Shaun King's vertically-integrated, Black t-shirt company, A Real OneBlack Women Stitch's NEW webpage, patreon

Follow Nefertiti Griggs on  socials!@thecornyrainbow and @nefertitihaidera (photography page) on IG Meaningful sewing events:  Find out more about these on her website!Pretty Girls Sew Rippin Aint Easy challengeRare Oscar De La Renta vintage Vogue pattern (met President Obama and Michelle)Beyonce 2016 Grammy bridal gownHer 2019 vow renewal gownBlack Magic Collab with Spoonflower and J.ClappArticles:Featured on the cover of  Sewn magazine's 2021 October issue 10 Black Sewists you should follow- SpoonflowerCreating Black Magic - Spoonflower 

Alexis Galloway on InstagramSew Sweet Academy website, Alexis' Etsy ShopIt's Sew Sweet to Learn Facebook groupMy Pretty Perfect Planner by AlexisBlackWomenStitch Instagram, homepage, Patreon

e bond’s webpageStitch Please Episode 113 "e bond's GLYPHS: A Fabric Collection of Black Women Writers"Stitch Please Episode 93 "Threads Across Time" with Sarah BondLisa's teaching partner mentioned Tobiah Mundt interviewed in Episode 44: Tuft Love: Felt(ing) Emotions with Tobiah Mundte bond’s Glyph fabric collection from Free Spirit fabricsSarah, e and Lisa discuss Lucille Clifton's poem, "Reply" as well as My Monticello by Jocelyn Johnson One of e bond's newest artists books is in a show RIGHT NOW. Details below:Adaptation: Artist Books for a Changing Environment, Bauer Wurster Hallat University of California, BerkeleyCheck out e bond's online Creativebug classes:Words Inform Images: 31 Prompts Using Writing as Inspiration for ArtUnconventional Book StructuresPersonal Map Making - A Daily Mixed Media PracticeUpcoming for Sarah Bond at Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center:Play with Color and Greyscale with Sarah Bond - Schweinfurth Memorial Art CenterAll the Elements: Designing Quilts with Foundation Piecing with Sarah BondAND upcoming for Sarah Bond at the Madeline Island School of the Arts: Piecing Perspectives–Medallion Madness!Y'all, ask your LQS (local quilt shop) to carry GLYPHS or find it at online retailers including Victoria Findlay WolfeHere are the garments Lisa plans to sew with GLYPHS: Zadie jumpsuit, Adrienne Blouse, Valerie DressBlackWomenStitch Instagram, homepage, Patreon

Dr. Diana Baird N'DiayeInstagram @dndaiayegorgeous website: https://ndiayedesign.myportfolio.com/Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited or HARYOUMamie Phipps Clark  and Kenneth ClarkCyril deGrasse Tyson led anti-poverty programs inside and outside of governmentZelda Wynn Valdes, American fashion designer and costumerArthur Mitchell, American ballet dancer, choreographer and founder of ballet companiesGladys KnightEartha Kitt, American singer, actress, comedian, dancer and activistDiahann Carroll, American actress, singer, model, activistMae West, American stage and film actress, playwright, screenwriter, and singerJohn Whittington Franklin, historianThe Will To Adorn, African American Dress and the Aesthetics of Identity and at the Museum of the African DiasporaThe Crown ActThe DuSable Museum of African American HistoryInstitute of Texan CulturesMadaha Kinsey-Lamb, Mind Builders Creative Arts CenterCrafts of African FashionCamila Bryce-Laporte,  "Black In The Land of the Piscataway"Kibibi AjankuMichael Twitty, TastemakerJames Beard AwardBlackWomenStitch Instagram, homepage, Patreon

Kianga Art webpage, instragram, facebookReginald LewisLaVerne Hall, Holiday Festival of Black DollsCrowationsInternational Black Doll Show and Sale, PhiladelphiaFaith RinggoldGee's Bend QuiltersRead Until You Understand; the Profound Wisdom of Black Life and Literature, Farah Jasmine GriffinWalter Dean MyersOf Water and The Spirit, Maliodoma Patrice Some Palm Beach Culture Council Artist Innovator FellowshipGwendolyn Aqui-Brooks, Mixed Media ArtistLauren Austin, Fiber Art and Art QuiltsChristena Cleveland, God Is a Black WomanKevin Quashie, Black Aliveness, or A Poetics of BeingThe Sovereignty of Quiet: Beyond Resistance in Black CultureThe Nap MinistryBlackWomenStitch Instagram, homepage, Patreon

Resources:Episode 12 of Stitch PleaseSocial Justice Sewing AcademyStitching Stolen Lives: Social Justice Sewing Academy Remembrance Project bookThe Yarn MissionNational Quilting Museum (a.k.a. Paducah)Latifah SaafirLibs ElliottKevin E. Quashie, "Black Alivesness or, A Poetics of Being"Places to find Sara's book events and the Remembrance Project banners: Pacific International Quilt Festival (PIQF), Santa Monica Pop-Up Shop, October  11,  Quilt Con in FebruaryC&T PublishingBisa Butler, ArtistBlackWomenStitch Instagram, homepage, Patreon  

Patricia TurnerCrafted Lives: Stories and Studies of African American Quilters, Patricia Turner. January 2009Paremiologist-one who studies proverbsAlan DundesRalph EllisonGee’s BendClaudia Rankine, CitizenChimamanda AdichieGladys-Marie FryDeborah GraysonStitched from the Soul, Slave Quilts from the Antebellum South, Gladys-Marie FryChurch's Chicken mythUnderground Railroad Quilt CodesHidden in Plain ViewAshley’s Sack (book All that She Carried, by Tiya Miles)Roots: The Saga of an American Family, Alex HaleyBisa Butler  

A House Called Hue, Destiny Brewton Destiny's AMAZING webpageYou can find her on facebookor on InstagramBlack Women Stitch NEW webpage, patreon

Kristine Mays website, instagram, facebookEldridge Cleaver, writer and political activist''Our crown has already been bought and paid for. All we have to do is wear it.'' -James BaldwinLisa shared her exploration of “Forecrafting:” using one’s limited resources to craft something that will save and preserve your future- whether you’re there to see it or not. inspired by Joshebed, biblical Moses’ mother, and fueled by Sally Hemmings, an enslaved Black girl (she gave birth to her first child by Thomas Jefferson at 14) and woman (half-sister to Jefferson's wife) who "negotiated extraordinary privileges" with  Jefferson  for the eventual freedom of her children by him.  Cecile Lewis, teacher, natural dyer, quilter, and artistLisa mentions Kristine’s show “The Black Woman is God: Divine Revolution”Kristine’s upcoming installation can be experienced at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, during the Orchid Daze February 12-April 10, 2022BlackWomenStitch Instagram, homepage, Patreon

e bond’s webpagee bond’s Creativebug classes  e bond’s Glyph fabric collection from Free Spirit fabricsWriters mentioned from Glyph fabric collect: Nella Larsen, Phillis Wheatley, Maya Angelou, Octavia Butler, Lorraine Hansberry, Lucille CliftonThe Slowdown podcastTracy K Smith former host of The Slowdown podcast and author of DeclarationAda Limón, poet and current host of The Slowdown podcastBlack authors Lisa mentions teaching:  Zora Neale Hurston, Dorothy West, Ann Petry, Tayari Jones, Gwyndolyn Brooks (Maud Martha), Kevin Quashie (The Sovereignty of Quiet: Beyond Resistance in Black Culture)June Jordan on Philis WheatleyIn the Wake: On Blackness and Being by Christina SharpeHortense SpillersClaude McKayCountee CullenLangston HughesPlum Bun: A Novel Without a Moral, There Is Confusion, by Jessie Redmon FausetAracelis GirmayZadie Smithe bond’s cousin, Sarah Bond’s conversation “Threads Across Time” on Stitch Please in July 2021Zadie SmithBlackWomenStitch Instagram, homepage, Patreon

Vikisews PatternsMarimekkoBlackWomenStitch Instagram, homepage, Patreon

Rev. Dr. Renita J. Weems wikipediaRev. Dr. Renita J. Weems webpageJust a Sister Away: A Womanist Vision of Women's Relationships in the Bible, Renita J. WeemsBlack Stars African American Religious Leaders bookKatie CannonAlice WalkerKimberle CrenshawAll the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men, But Some of Us Are BraveSula by Toni MorrisonWomanbooksThe SisterhoodShanna G. Benjamin's book, Half in Shadow: The Life and Legacy of Nellie Y. McKayRenita Weems (@somethingwithin)/TwitterRenita Weems (@weemsrj)/Instagram 

Thank you SEW much to Cyndi, Tishea, and Sonja for sharing your Word of the Year and comforter coat question. Gather by Octavia RaheemHomecomingPoseKujichaguliaYou can chat with us too. Leave a message and we'll get back to you! The Black Women Stitch website is sew pretty. Get into it.There are 23 Black Women Stitch Wall Calendars left! Financial support appreciated!  Patreon   Act BlueNon financial support appreciated! Rate or Review the podcast

Enter the contest by leaving a message with your answer! (Contest is not affiliated with IG or Marimekko.)Question: How much 1.5 inch (3.8cm) bias binding will Lisa get from a piece of fabric sized 22" by 36" (55.88cm by 91.44cm)?If you want to participate in the WORD OF THE YEAR episode, leave a message about your word or lack thereof!There are 26 Black Women Stitch calendars left! Free shipping continues!The Black Women Stitch website is sew pretty. Get into it.Financial support appreciated!  Patreon   Act BlueNon financial support appreciated! Rate or Review the podcast

Thanks SEW much to Queenora Renee Irvin,  Sonja, Marissa, and Shivsews for their contributions to this episode.  Try Speakpipe. If you want to leave/send a voice message to the podcast or Black Women Stitch, you can do so here.Check out Queenora's VIsion Board Party this  Saturday, 1/8/22, 7pm EST on Instagram. Follow her on IG for more info.There are 32 Black Women Stitch calendars left! Free shipping continues!The Black Women Stitch website is sew pretty. Get into it. 

check out Episode 85 Intentional Sewing, Intentional Living with Kamali ObiaguLearn more about Kamali Obiagu!Instagram: @kamali.obiaguWebpageKwanzaa greeting "Habari Gani"  and the 7 principles of KwanzaaWays to support the Podcast and Black Women Stitch:The BWS 2022 Wall Calendar ships free for 2021Make a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same!   

Martha McIntosh, a.k.a. Garichild on Instagram @GarichildGarifunaGarifuna Settlement DayWanaragu Dance, Jonkunu, MascaroBelize Wanaragua Dancers videoChatoyer, Garifuna ChiefParandaSupport Black Women Stitch and the Stitch Please podcast by subscribing to our Patreon or buying the 2022 Black Women Stitch Wall Calendar

"Petit Papa Noël"Mariah Carey "All I Want for Christmas"Haitian hot chocolateTino RossiEpisode 95 Life's Tapestry with Florence TaylorHaitian Christmas DishesKremas or Cremasse recipe!

Kosedo StudioSurinameCuraçaoCheck out Vanessa's earlier podcast (Episode 71), "Kosedo Studios: Sewing in the Netherlands"OliebollenYouTube "How to Survive Dutch Fireworks" 

Check out these Black women own fabric, fiber, and sewing related businesses! Support Black Women Stitch and the Stitch Please podcast by subscribing to our Patreon or buying the 2022 Black Women Stitch Wall CalendarBLACKER FRIDAY BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT THIS WEEKEND! Thanks I Made Themwww.thanksimadethem.blogspot.comwww.thanksimadethem.etsy.comInstagram: @thanksimadethemKianga Arthttps://kiangaart.com/shopQueenora Renee Fabricshttps://queenorarenee.com/ Neci Harmon and What’s She Creatinghttps://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatsSheCreatinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQopUcy5xZs7rPJpmejFzTwSewrorityWear Colorful FindingsSewing My StyleBra Talk BoutiqueSew Creative LoungeSew ModestCultured ExpressionsIG and FB @culturedexpressionswww.youtube.com/CEFabricVideos/Videos www.culturedexpressions.wordpress.com Sassy Black Yarnswww.Facebook.com/SassyBlackYarnswww.Instagram.com/SassyBlackYarns1Bzy Peachhttps://instagram.com/bzypeachhttps://facebook.com/BzyPeachhttps://Twitter.com/BzyPeachhttps://www.ravelry.com/people/BzyPeach Wax and Wraps:https://www.waxandwraps.com/https://Instagram.com/waxandwrapshttps://Facebook.com/waxandwrapshttps://Youtube.com/c/AfricaFashionGuide  Wax Print Laces and More:https://www.waxprintslacesnmore.store/https://www.etsy.com/shop/Waxprintslacesnmore Angee Quilts on EtsyKristpatternJ. Desiree StudiosSandra Lee DesignsSewn MagazineQuilts Made with LoveBlack Fae Day/Jasmine LeFleurNicole Elise DesignsPatrice J Bridal StudioSelvedge and BoltsBroke and CraftyCultured Expressions Grant Program

Support Black Women Stitch and Stitch Please podcast with a 2022 Black Women Stitch Wall CalendarGEL Collective Resources: Discount Code stitch10Elemental Mystery Quilt websiteElemental Mystery Quilt Registration and ToolkitEpisode 45 of Stitch PleaseGel Design Mystery Quilts Facebook groupFrom GEL: Parallel Universe was successful beyond our imagining, and we want Elemental to be even better. The three of us reviewed what went well and what we could do better, so here’s what you can expect from the 2022 mystery:A Special Collector’s Edition Tool Box with Swag (while supplies last) – we know that getting something in the mail makes people feel more connected to the experience, and we want YOU to know that you’re special to us too! This is included in your registration and will ship to your doorstep.3 brand-new tools (1 from each instructor) that are included in your registration price – no more guessing whether it’s buried in your sewing room, no need to print paper templates and struggle with sizing and cutting repetitively! This will come inside your Tool Box.Pre-recorded video lessons that launch with the PDF pattern – eliminates tech issues and allows us to focus on what we do best: teaching!Live Q&A Sessions with each instructor – so you don’t miss out on that bonding experience with each instructor in a more relaxed settingSimulcast of live sessions into the classroom – so not having a Facebook account isn’t a barrier to your participationStandard pattern formatting & instructions, less color saturation – we’re hiring a tech editor & illustrator to make it easier for you to follow the pattern from week to week & save printer inkSimplified ordering – you can order all your supplies in our new One Stop Shop!We hope you agree that these will make Elemental a breeze for you and we look forward to seeing you!

Resources:This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community, and ConnectionJen's previous Stitch Please podcast episode  Black Women Stitch 2022 Wall Calendar available here. 

Find out more about Kris BrantonIG @sewmekrisbIG @kraftbarllcHer YouTube ChannelFacebook group- Black Girl Sewcial Club

Support Black Women Stitch and the Stitch Please podcast. Pre-Order your Black Women Stitch 2022 Wall Calendar today. Find out more about Brittany J Jones!InstagramWebsite/BlogYouTubeOn Creative BugSew It AcademyMelanated Fabrics

Learn more about Sew Creative Lounge here!

Thank you to volunteer sound designer for her work on this episode including the following music: “Chill Lo-Fi Hip Hop” by Skilsel; “News Corporate” by Skilsel; “Hip Hop Lo-Fi” by John Sib; “Hip Hop Funk” by John Sib and “African Percussion” by SofraMore about Rita DoveWhether she is crafting a line of poetry or stitching together her husband’s lavender velvet wedding suit, Rita Dove is a master of storytelling. In this episode of Stitch Please, Lisa talks with former US Poet Laureate, Rita Dove, about her introduction to sewing, the relationship between poetry and sewing, and how to walk along the seam sewn by those who have come before us. After graduating from Buchtel High School as a Presidential Scholar, Dove went on to graduate summa cum laude with a B.A. from Miami University in 1973. In 1974, she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship from the University of Tübingen, Germany and later completed her MFA at the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa in 1977 where she met her husband, Fred Viebahn. In 1987, Dove received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. In 1992, Dove was named US Poet Laureate and served as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress—a position she would later hold again as a Special Bicentennial Consultant in 1999. In addition to being the youngest individual and the first African American to hold the position of Poet Laureate, Rita Dove is the recipient of 28 honorary doctorates and numerous awards, some of which include: Poet Laureate of Virginia, the National Humanities Medal presented by President Bill Clinton, the National Medal of Arts presented by President Barack Obama, several lifetime achievement awards, and the Gold Medal in poetry from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Dove has published the poetry collections The Yellow House on the Corner (1980), Museum (1983), Thomas and Beulah (1986), Grace Notes (1989), Selected Poems (1993), Mother Love (1995), On the Bus with Rosa Parks (1999), American Smooth (2004), Sonata Mulattica (2009), Collected Poems: 1974-2004 (2016) which was a finalist for the National Book Award, and her most recent work, Playlist for the Apocalypse (2021).  In addition to poetry, Dove has published a book of short stories, Fifth Sunday (1985), the novel Through the Ivory Gate (1992), and the play The Darker Face of the Earth (1994). Rita Dove is currently the Commonwealth Professor of English at the University of Virginia. When she’s not writing timeless literary gems, Dove might be found thumbing through High Fashion Sewing Secrets and creating her own wearable works of art.

Details on Bratober 2021 Theme: Bralettes & BottomsCheck out these websites and IG accounts.www.bratalkboutique.comNikki GriffinIG: @bratalklive DeWahn CoburnIG: @sewdd1104 Naomi JohnsonIG: @naomipjohnson    Deborah Graysonwww.colorfulfindings.comIG: @colorfulfindingsQueenora Irvinwww.queenorareneefabrics.comIG: @queenorareneefabrics    

Learn more about Carolyn Norman, Diary of a Sewing Fanatic!BlogThe Sewing Cave (before the move) InstagramPrevious podcast episode 

Learn more about this fantastic project here! Ragbaby Exchange has held workshops with the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC,  Prince Georges County Maryland's Arts  Humanities Council, and with Community Family Life Services in Washington, DC with women and young mothers.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TxcNwidivAhttps://www.wusa9.com/video/news/local/i-wish-i-wasnt-fat-young-girls-make-dolls-to-remove-negative-self-image/65-8124805https://fb.watch/6bjSm59EBS/

Many thanks to Guest Producer Christina Wisboro for being an amazing Catchafire volunteer. Find out more about Christina here and see what Catchafire does here.  Music  Christina used in this episode: Find The Good by Sarah the Illstrumentalist ; Longings by justnormal; Manhattanite by Frook; Caribbean Christmas by GuustavvRemember the Patreon drive? The one with the goal of 100 new Patreon supporters in about 6 weeks?WE DID IT! THANK YOU SEW MUCH!!! We are grateful to our 100 new Patrons including those who helped us cross that threshold into our goal! Lee Aaron, Kristi, V, Nancy, Adriene, Katy, Tenia, Cee, Jennie, LaWanda, Tara, Vignette, Gerard, Amanda, Renee, Danyel, Kecia and Iris! If you are interested in joining the fun--watching videos of audio episodes as well as monthly original art and other supplemental podcast information--sign up for our Patreon! Thanks to those who supported and promoted the Black Women Stitch Patreon drive!  Thank you SEW much!

The Stitch Please podcast will celebrate its 100th episode on  9/15/2021. As part of that effort, we are looking to add 100 additional  Black Women Stitch Patreon supporters by the 100th Stitch Please podcast episode publication date. These funds will be used to build financial stability for the podcast while alleviating the pressure of a solo operation.  Will you join us? For as little as $2 a month, you can help Lisa hire consistent editorial and production support.  Thank you SEW much to our new Patrons! Welcome Cynthia, Terry, Kacina, Alyssa, Cathy, Heather, Shannon, Brandy, Gaëlle, Kristi, Lee, Mo Jo, Alison, Shonkeisha, and Kate. THANK YOU! Learn more about Catherine McKinleyInstagram: @the_african_lookbook  and@cemck2  www.catherinemckinley.net www.themckinleycollection.comCatherine says that some of her "most meaningful experiences were sitting at sewing tables in Africa and watching the contact between a seamstress and clients. Sewing orders or elaborate alterations are a weekly or monthly indulgence for many women, so the gossip and planning, the low grade competition, and the intimacy of fittings, etc. was wonderful, not to mention the latest styles and new cloth designs, which changed so rapidly."

The Stitch Please podcast will celebrate its 100th episode on  9/15/2021. As part of that effort, we are looking to add 100 additional  Black Women Stitch Patreon supporters by the 100th Stitch Please podcast episode publication date. These funds will be used to build financial stability for the podcast while alleviating the pressure of a solo operation.  Will you join us? For as little as $2 a month, you can help Lisa hire consistent editorial and production support. We are 24 Patrons away from the 100 mark! Thank you to our new supporters: Amy, Greta, Erin, Marsha, Aarthi, Tanita, Allison, Natalie, Shermaine, Shanna, Syreeta, Beth, Marie, Cassie, Lotta, Kathlene, Cheryl, Jennifer, Liz, Deborah, Valerie, Kathleen, Rashida, Aleen, Jeanne, Grace, Megan, Kathleen, Paul and Ebony. Thank you!  Find out more about Syreeta Price.Her Etsy shopWebsite/BlogInstagramYouTube

An explanatory note: This audio was recorded using a new online audio recording program. It was a mistake. Not only did my input sound terrible, the software failed to upload (or backup) LaTerry's audio. The only audio that the software managed to save was a combination of both of our voices, impossible for my limited skills to repair. All of this is to say that I apologize for the audio quality of this episode. It's a podcaster's nightmare. So I've tried to make it as audible as possible. As a bit of compensation for the poor audio, I am offering everyone access to the video of the interview.  LaTerry looks wonderful! And you can see part of her amazing studio in the background. Thank you for your patience and for your support. Learn more about LaTerrySew Modest Studio’s Lead Instructor and Founding Director, LaTerry Abdulnoor Yaseen Mohsin, is an internationally-trained Fashion and Jewelry Designer, having studied Fashion Design and Photography in London, England. After her undergraduate studies, she attained a degree in Business Management, Fashion Marketing & Merchandising with a minor in Public Speaking & Communications. She also has a master’s degree in Design and Technology.IG: Sew.ModestFB: Sew Modest StudioWebsite There's still time for Sew Modest Summer CampThe Stitch Please podcast will celebrate its 100th episode on  9/15/2021. As part of that effort, we are looking to add 100 additional  Black Women Stitch Patreon supporters by the 100th Stitch Please podcast episode publication date. These funds will be used to build financial stability for the podcast while alleviating the pressure of a solo operation.  Will you join us? For as little as $2 a month, you can help Lisa hire consistent editorial and production support. We are 47 Patrons away from the 100 mark! Thank you to our new Patrons! Kati, Jody, Liz, MOnica, Heather, Christine, Amanda, Sally, Marianne, Mindy, Emma, Ada, Cat, Kristen, and Amy. Thank you!

Thank you to our friends at KAMsnaps for donating a KAM snap starter set (hand pliers and snaps) and a 10% discount code (stitchplease10). Thank you also to our friends at I Like Big Buttons for a 10% off discount code good until September 15, 2021.  (stitchplease)  And a special thanks to GG's Designs in Wood for donating a KAM 1  Plier Base! The Stitch Please podcast will celebrate its 100th episode on  9/15/2021. As part of that effort, we are looking to add 100 additional  Black Women Stitch Patreon supporters by the 100th Stitch Please podcast episode publication date. These funds will be used to build financial stability for the podcast while alleviating the pressure of a solo operation.  Will you join us? For as little as $2 a month, you can help Lisa hire consistent editorial and production support.Thank you new Patreon Supporters! Ann, Carol, Kimberly, Ali, Whitney, Sonja, Eric, Courtney, Olivia, Carole, Laquana, Beth, Ianthia, Renee, Laurel, Sarah, Claire, Nina  

Learn more about Florence! On InstagramHer Acting:   Florence plays Juror 6 in 12 Angry Jurors (Name changed to be more inclusive  but most would recognize it as 12 Angry Men)  Her Sewing: Florence says, "When thinking about meaningful  events or experiences in sewing [two benefits stand out] mentally: the friendships I have made and more confidence and love for myself and body. Professionally: being part of  Art Gallery's lookbook and blog tours. Look for her in an upcoming collaboration with Art Gallery Fabrics Boscage---Special thanks to guest producer, Christina Wisboro. Music credits:   "Buttercup" Dylan Sitts; "Make It Real" by Wildson and "Voicemail"  by Felix Johansson Carne---The Stitch Please podcast will celebrate its 100th episode on  9/15/2021. As part of that effort, we are looking to add 100 additional  Black Women Stitch Patreon supporters by the 100th Stitch Please podcast episode publication date. These funds will be used to build financial stability for the podcast while alleviating the pressure of a solo operation.  Will you join us? For as little as $2 a month, you can help Lisa hire consistent editorial and production support.  

Ready to  sign up for the DREAM BIG QAL? Details here and Register here.Learn more about Mary Davis and MaryGoRoundQuiltsHer websiteHer Membership ProgramFacebookInstagramMary Says: "After completing the Quilter's Candy pattern writing course last year, Elizabeth helped me realize my vision of a membership that features quilters of color. She gave me the confidence to start designing quilt patterns and to date, I have released two. This is the first time I have started a legit business - besides selling quilts on Etsy.  My ultimate goal is to make my quilt business a career and quilt my day job. I'm also a 2021 Aurifil Artisan and I'm excited for the opportunity to work with this great thread and create some fun projects."Learn more about Shereece Spain and SewHookedonTreasuresWebsiteFacebookInstagramYouTubeShereece Says: "My quilting and crocheting journey began in 2010 out of boredom. I was living in a new, small town and I was looking to meet new people. Thanks to a local program, I started to learn to crochet. Then I was reintroduced to quilting (the “correct” way). My travels and everyday life began to inspire patterns I wanted to create." She is also an Eversewn Maker for 2021-2022.  She began releasing crochet and quilt patterns in August 2020 and her first  pattern publication in a magazine is coming November 2021.100+ BY 100th The Stitch Please podcast will celebrate its 100th episode on  9/15/2021. As part of that effort, we are looking to add 100 additional  Black Women Stitch Patreon supporters by the 100th Stitch Please podcast episode publication date. These funds will be used to build financial stability for the podcast while alleviating the pressure of a solo operation.  Will you join us? For as little as $2 a month, you can help Lisa hire consistent editorial and production support. We are 75 Patrons away from the 100 mark! Thank you to our newest Patreon supporters: Emily, Lee, J. , Katie, Elizabeth, Veronica, Maureen and Calvin,  Emily, Bettina, Sara, Shanna, Shasta, Julia, kweilin, Diane, Stephanie, and Linda. 

The Stitch Please podcast will celebrate its 100th episode on  9/15/2021. As part of that effort, we are looking to add 100 additional  Black Women Stitch Patreon supporters by the 100th Stitch Please podcast episode publication date. These funds will be used to build financial stability for the podcast while alleviating the pressure of a solo operation.  Will you join us? For as little as $2 a month, you can help Lisa hire consistent editorial and production support. We are 79 Patrons away from the 100 mark! Thank you to our  newest Patreon supporters: Bettina and Sara! Learn more about Sarah!Trailer for Quilt Show episode aired June 20Article on the Schweinfurth Exhibit.  Her exhibit at the Schweinfurth.  Learn WITH Sarah! THIS WEEK!Her online class at the Schweinfurth. Coming up July 31-Aug 1.  STARTS THIS SATURDAY!Sign up for Sarah's in-person class at the ATLANTA QUILT FESTIVAL --August 20, 2021  Learn to create a dynamic quilt with movement and a touch of three-dimensional illusion by combining color and contrast with angles and orientation. Master quilter Sarah Bond will teach you how to make her Diamond Stairstep quilt. The class will be held at Southwest Arts Center, 915 New Hope Road, Atlanta, GA 30331 from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  

The Stitch Please podcast will celebrate its 100th episode on  9/15/2021. As part of that effort, we are looking to add 100 additional  Black Women Stitch Patreon supporters by the 100th Stitch Please podcast episode publication date. These funds will be used to build financial stability for the podcast while alleviating the pressure of a solo operation.  Will you join us? For as little as $2 a month, you can help Lisa hire consistent editorial and production support. We are 80 Patrons away from the 100 mark! Thank you to our  newest Patreon supporters: J., Kt, Elizabeth, Veronica, Maureen, Calvin, and Emily.  Special thanks to my guests  Nesha Wright, Allysia Holland, Laverne Benton, and my mother, Ianthia Woolfork. 

The Stitch Please podcast will celebrate its 100th episode on  9/15/2021. As part of that effort, we are looking to add 100 additional  Black Women Stitch Patreon supporters by the 100th Stitch Please podcast episode publication date. These funds will be used to build financial stability for the podcast while alleviating the pressure of a solo operation.  Will you join us? For as little as $2 a month, you can help Lisa hire consistent editorial and production support. We are 86 Patrons away from the 100 mark! Thank you to our 14 newest Patreon supporters: Theresa, Ayesha, Lisa, Suzanne, Stacie, Aniko, Angel, Carolyn, Kate, Nikki, Preston, CiCi, Julia, and Lee. Thank you SEW much!  Learn more about Jacinta Green, Pink Mimosa by Jacinta and the Whole 30 Fabric Challenge Learn more about Nesha Wright on IG , Sheree's Alchemy and the 60 Day No Buy Challenge

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Find out more about Stacie!Her websiteYouTubeFacebookInstagram

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Find our more about Jacqueline ShawWax and Wraps subscription box with fabrics Jacqueline sources from African manufacturers  Fashion Africa published by Jacaranda Books available on Amazon.comwww.africafashionguide.comWww.fashionafricatradeexpo.com  www.fashionafricaconference.comwww.fashionafricasourcingtrips.comFeatured in: Vogue Italia, Al Jazeera, She Leads Africa, BBC Africa, Guardian newspaper, BBC Women's Hour, Fashion United, Vogue Business, Monocle magazine and more Speaker/Moderator: U.K. Gov DIT, European Commission, African Development Bank Fashionomics Africa, FIT NYC, and more 

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue site  Sustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonOur website is getting its stitch together. Click here to stay in the loop!FREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Learn about Lydia!InstagramYouTubeEtsyWebsiteCheck our her Juneteenth craft collaboration with Michaels! 

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Find out more about Jasika Nicole!Her Entertainment Weekly piece on why she will no longer play roles on cop TV showsInstagramWebsiteIMDBWikipedia

Special Thanks to those who visited the  Black Women Stitch Club on Clubhouse and participating in this conversation.Joanna AliLeona BraithwaitheErica BunkerCourtney CooperNikki GriffinNaomi P. JohnsonQueenora Irvin Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same!  

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Learn more about Kamali Obiagu!Instagram: @kamali.obiaguWebpageOn Celebrating a New NameKamali explains, "Making clothes that fit my body NOW instead of waiting in hopes of a different body has been the biggest change in mindset for me on this sewing journey. My body confidence grew when I started sewing because I stopped limiting my wardrobe and made clothes that fit me well. I love to bring my Blackness and power in my photos of my makes. I am proud of my Blackness and being apart of the African Diaspora. In my makes and photoshoots I try my best to embody that pride because it shows the world who I am. Changing my name to reflect my ancestors roots was/is the most important thing I have ever done. When I changed my name to one that reflected who I am, and who I am to become, I felt whole. Like my pride, mindset, and personality matched with my name."

FInd our more about Miasa OsbeyOn InstagramHer talk TOMORROW (5/27/21) at the Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House Needlework Show . Register here!Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! 

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Mentioned in the episodeRashida Coleman Hale's amazing Hey Ladies machine embroidery collectionFreezer paper roll (grocery store variety)Freezer paper printable sheets (Perfect for applique pieces, bra patterns and small bag patterns)

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Learn more about Moni!!IG @patterncuttingdeconstructed  www.patterncuttingdeconstructed.comHow to hack a runway design.  How to hack a runway design: Balenciaga  Moni says: "My business endeavours are extremely important to me. My fashion design and pattern cutting career has enabled me to now teach dressmakers and the next generation of fashion designers about pattern cutting skills. I give draping masterclasses to John Moore Liverpool fashion design students, via Zoom, which I love. My passion for draping, something I loved at University has been rekindled after my stint at Alexander McQueen in 2019 - 2020."

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Find out more about Jasmine Chandler"At the end of February I released my first pattern of my new pattern line J. Desirée Studio Patterns.  I realize that I want to shift my business from custom designing for clients to creating Ready To Wear patterns that fit well and have great styling.  I also want to focus more on the education aspect of fashion and teaching others."Instagram: here here and hereWebsiteFeatured in the April Issue of Sewn MagazineFeatured on Spoonflower's 10 Black Sewists you should follow  

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same!  Find out more about the #SewMaxiForMothersDay challenge Sew Bold, Sew BrightBe sure to follow the hashtag on IG and check out the Challenge Launch Video!Crumpets Tea and Sewing Website  YouTube Crystal Sews and  Stuff   Website    YouTube 

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Find out more Reka Barton, The Scholarly SewistHer websiteInstagramTwitterFacebookThe Makings of the Scholarly SewistReka's HERstory: Women of Color Redefining Research event is THIS FRIDAY! Register hereHere are the WOC Scholars that are featured on the PhemmeD Publication Signature TeeDr. Sera J. HernandezDr. Felicia V. BlackDr. Melissa VangDr. Darielle BlevinsVanessa Falcón Orta   

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Click to Register for Fabrigasm LIVE! Find our more about Lisa's shop:  www.CulturedExpressions.comLearn more about Lisa from her previous visit to the podcastFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/CulturedExpressions/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturedexpressions/YouTube:  www.youtube.com/CEFabricVideos/VideosBlog: www.culturedexpressions.wordpress.com 

Here are a reusable container that you might use for as  a small scrap bins with lid: Super Bubble! Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same!   

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. You can nominate Stitch Please for the Hot 50 Podcasts by Podcast Magazine! Craft/Leisure podcasts rarely make the list. Let's see if we can change that!Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Special thanks to  the following stitching sisters for sharing their commentsChiquita PearsonBonita NanceCarole Lyles ShawTierney Davis HoganMichelle RamsayLisa RiceVanessa Dodo SerikiKJH Quilter 

Find out more about the amazing Aiwan Obinyan:Social: @aiwanobinyan (insta & Twitter) Website: www.aiaistudios.comWax PrintKenyan Christian QueerLovers Rock episode of the BBC Small Axe podcast A peek at ONOMEN  her clothing line launched In 2014Also mentioned in this episodeThe Lion's Share. The film about Solomon Linda the South African man who wrote the song, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Nana BenzWays to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! 

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Supplies neededPattern Discussed: SJSA "Crown" by Latifah Saafir Fusible Web: wonder under, heat and bond, steam a seam Parchment paperIronPencilScissors 

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteRecurring donations appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, Join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! 

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Learn more about Rashida! WebsiteInstagramShopRuby Star Society Her first book, I Love Patchwork, was published by Interweave press in Fall 2009 and was awarded the 2010 PubWest Book Design Bronze Medal in the How-To/Crafts category. Her second book, Zakka Style, was published by C&T Publishing in Fall 2011and was the 2012 International Book Awards winner in the Crafts/Hobbies/How-to category. Rashida's work has been featured on notable design and craft blogs, magazines and books such as: BlogsApartment TherapyDecor8Design SpongePrint and PatternMakezineMagazinesMollie MakesReadyMadeStitchSewNewsBooksPrint and Pattern: GeometricColor and Pattern: 50 Playful Exercises for Exploring Pattern DesignThe Cotton + Steel Coloring BookSignature Styles: 20 Stitchers Craft Their LookBlock Party - The Modern Quilting Bee

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteRecurring donations appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, Join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! 

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same!  Find Alissa Bertrand and JaBellaFleur Jabellafleur on InstagramInterview on Junior StyleThings Mentioned in the episodeSewn MagazineDaughters of the Dust, Julie Dash's 1991 filmLemonade, Beyonce visual albumLOL DollsAlissa's phone: iPhone XRSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchMake a one-time donation here at our Act Blue siteSustained financial support: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Treaure Mallory is a self-taught Handbag Designer. She learned to sew in Fashion Design School but taught herself how to sew/make handbags. Her company Nikki&Mallory specializes in custom leather goods; specifically handbags, accessories and (soon) home decorFind Treasure and Nikki+Mallory on Instagram @nikkiandmallory  and Her website And learn more about her work  in this article Seamwork Magazine "Sharing the Art of Leathercraft"

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App For longer term support, join our  Patreon  for exclusive content, such as the video of this interview and many more fun things.Products mentioned in this episodeButtonhole knifeButtonhole scissorsFray CheckFray BlockFrixion PensGlue Pen (for sewing)Iron-Off StabilizerSimflex Expanding Sewing GaugeTearaway StabilizerWater Soluble Stabilizer

Support Black Women Stitch -- Your support is SEW appreciated! Black Women Stitch Act Blue -- one-time donationYou can donate to BWS at the link abovePatreon -- sustained monthly supportAnd all sorts of bonuses!  Videos! Resources! Art! Oh My! BigCartel -- BWS goodiesStickers, Embroidered Patches, and Enamel PinsFInd out more about the amazing Black History Month Pattern Challenge. Follow the hashtag #BHMpatterndesigners and sign up for the NEWSLETTER!Nateida Lathan is Sew Natural Dane on InstagramWebsite: https://www.sewnaturaldane.com/bhmpatterndesignersInstagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sewnaturaldane/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SewNaturalDaneFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SewNaturalDaneKiera Wood is Island Sewcialist on InstagramBlog: www.islandsewcialist.com Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/islandsewcialist Instagram: www.instagram.com/islandsewcialist 

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here Patreon Contact Bianca on her social and shopping channelswww.thanksimadethem.blogspot.com www.thanksimadethem.etsy.com [email protected] Instagram: @thanksimadethemFeatured in the following publicationsThreads Magazine Holiday GuideSew Quick + EasyBianca says: I try to make things that are first, meaningful to me. If I share it and it connects, inspires, delights or motivates someone else, that is wonderful to me. From a business perspective, having exposure and visibility of my products on large platforms is important to spread the word. I appreciate it when it happens and will not turn those opportunities down. I have noticed however, that exposure does not necessarily drive sales. The individual customer who is excited about their order, the ease of use, the diversity of designs that are a reflection of their values, do. The story post, the unboxing post, the IG or Youtube videos showing their enthusiasm is contagious. They tell a friend and the cycle of kindness continues. I don't ask for it and I know it takes work on their part. It is meaningful to me that customers go above and beyond to support me and spread the word.

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App For longer term support, join our  Patreon  for exclusive content, such as the video of this interview and many more fun things.****************Get to know MARCY HARRIELL******************Connect with Marcy in SEW many ways likeHer websiteHer YouTube ChannelHer InstagramHer role as a Threads Digital AmbassadorHer Facebook Her IMDB pageand WIKIPEDIA!  

Check out this wonderful video story of the podcast! Many thanks to the listeners and supporters who responded to my request on 12/31/20 to meet a goal. At the end of 2020, I needed 340 downloads to reach 120,000. I was a bit embarrassed to ask, but I did. And I am glad. You amazing people ended up downloading more than 4000 episodes!  Such abundance! Thank you!Support the Stitch Please podcast  2021 Black Women Stitch Wall Calendar   PREORDER until January 12, 2021.This beautiful, full-color printed calendar features original illustrations celebrating Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. The calendar's dates include important moments in Black history, sewing history, and activist history. Calendar measures 8.5" by 11" when folded in half and 17" by 11" when hanging, unfolded, from a wall. $38 with free shipping to USA for preorders received by 1/12/2021. Sustained support also appreciated on Patreon: For as little as $2 a month, you can join the Black Women Stitch  Patreon for exclusive videos and documents.Mentioned on the podcastGather by Octavia Raheem at Amazon and CharisImani Community ChurchSewing My Style classes and all levels, private sessions on sloper and moulage fittings.

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here PatreonJen HewettYou can find Jen on her website and on instagram. And she will have a fabric collection coming out in the spring of 2021. Her book, This Long Thread, will be published in Fall 2021. And she will be launching her 2021 Scarf Club soon! She has two home collections coming out Fall 2021.  She is also working on a packaging redesign for a beloved personal care brand. Learn more about and from Jen  here:https://ownyourcontent.wordpress.com/2019/04/23/jen-hewett-on-letting-go-of-perfection-and-growing-multiple-skills-to-enrich-her-creativity/ https://hellogiggles.com/lifestyle/jen-hewett-artist-of-color-perfectionism/ https://creativemornings.com/talks/jen-hewett/1 

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here Patreon

Planners mentioned in the episodeThe Happy PlannerPassion PlannerThe Productivity PlannerThe Full Focus PlannerElefan PlannerSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here Patreon

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here PatreonFollow Jessica, The Fashionable Therapist on her website and on Instagram Jessica explains her approach to her work-sewing balance this way. "I take my job very seriously because I know the profound impact my words have on people's lives and outcomes. So, everyday I get to be a Therapist is a day that is both meaningful, and heavy to me. Sewing, on the other hand provides me with the freedom to be myself. It gives me a space to make mistakes and say exactly what I have to say, in the way I want to say it without consequence. That experience is so meaningful to my emotional and mental health. I have been a Marriage and Family Therapist, in private practice for 10 years By far, branching out on my own to become an entrepreneur of a sustainable business has been an awe inspiring event for me. Over the years, I/my business has been featured in publications like Parenting Magazine, Heart and Soul magazine, Counseling Today magazine, but my greatest accomplishment is the work that happens behind closed doors, with my people. I have only been sewing for 5 years but my sewing journey has provided me with so many opportunities to learn who I really am through the process of building my own self-esteem. I never would have imagined that 5 years ago, when my client gifted me an old sewing machine of hers, that I would become a Janome maker, be featured in Sewn magazine, have an opportunity to speak on a sewing related podcast or even become a coalition member of Black Makers Matter. I have learned that my perspective matters and I don't want to squander the opportunity to positively affect people, either through sewing or through my therapeutic intervention. To me, there is nothing more meaningful than that!"Her upcoming project is the relaunch of Relationship Rocket Science: I am so excited to be relaunching my Relationship Rocket Science brand which is geared toward teaching people how to create the lives they want through their relationships. I am an educator at heart, so it is very important to me that my people walk away from me with tools and skills that will allow them to execute what they have learned successfully. For this reason, I will soon be releasing a series of workbooks that will address healing oneself, communication skill building and, dating and marriage tools for success. I realize that I cannot be everyone's therapist, so I'm using Relationship Rocket Science to touch as many people as I can in a variety of ways. I love to answer people's questions about love and all kinds of relationships, so My Relationship Rocket Science advice column podcast is in the planning stages and will be up and running soon. I'm so excited about all of it!

Find Linda of Gotta Be Handmade  on these social channelsYouTubeFacebookInstagramWebsiteEtsy ShopPinterestTwitterSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here Patreon

Support Black Women Stitch and the Stitch Please podcast$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free USA shipping. You can also use  Cash App  Sustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! BLACKER FRIDAY BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT THIS WEEKEND! Thanks I Made Themwww.thanksimadethem.blogspot.comwww.thanksimadethem.etsy.comInstagram: @thanksimadethem Kianga Arthttps://kiangaart.com/shop What’s She Creatinghttps://www.etsy.com/shop/WhatsSheCreatinghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQopUcy5xZs7rPJpmejFzTw SewrorityWear Carole Lyles-ShawInstagram @carole_lylesshaw  Colorful Findings Sewing My Style@sewingmystyle - FB IG YouTube Sew Creative Lounge Sew Modest Cultured ExpressionsIG and FB @culturedexpressionswww.youtube.com/CEFabricVideos/Videos www.culturedexpressions.wordpress.com Fashion Design School of South JerseyTerinaNicole.com  Twitter    InstagramFacebook Sassy Black Yarnswww.Facebook.com/SassyBlackYarnswww.Instagram.com/SassyBlackYarns1 Bzy Peachhttps://instagram.com/bzypeachhttps://facebook.com/BzyPeachhttps://Twitter.com/BzyPeachhttps://www.ravelry.com/people/BzyPeach AT Haynes House YarnsIG: AT.Haynes.House.YarnsFacebook:  AT Haynes House Yarns Christian Crochet Addict New Vintage Lady Karen Guinn Customshttps://Etsy.com/shop/karenguinncustomshttps://Instagram.com/kgcsewingpatternshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/603933313645774/?ref=share Wax and Wrapshttps://www.waxandwraps.com/https://Instagram.com/waxandwrapshttps://Facebook.com/waxandwrapshttps://Youtube.com/c/AfricaFashionGuide  Queenora Renee Fabricshttps://queenorarenee.com/ TA-OSHhttps://www.etsy.com/shop/designsbyTAOSHhttps://www.ta-osh.com/ Wax Print Laces and More:https://www.waxprintslacesnmore.store/https://www.etsy.com/shop/Waxprintslacesnmore African Stretch Fabric:  www.africanstretchfabric.com 

Find out more about The Sisters B!Sierrahttps://seamslikesierra.com https://www.instagram.com/sierraburrell/SierraSierra's IGTV interview with Erica of My Body Model: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CFQcQ8BgKkH/Sierra is excited to sew up some garments for fall that she sketched and planned. She used My Body Model to customize a croquis and the Seamwork Design Your Wardrobe series to plan out my makes. The blog post is here: https://www.mybodymodel.com/wardrobe-planning/chic-easy-fun-my-fall-sewing-plans/Sone-Seerehttps://www.instagram.com/jusre/https://www.jusre.com/Sone-Seere is  taking on a few new challenges including making a coat and some jeans for the first time. She also wants to finish some quilts she’s started.  On the horizon for 2021 is a vision she has to start some beginner sewing classes for small groups in her studio. Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here Patreon

Products mentioned Avery Labels 5264Glossy Photo PaperPaper Trimmer-- I have two: one with guillotine for big projects. And a small one for quick cuts.Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here Patreon

Previous episodes in the Marking Tools SeriesFrixion Pens, episode #19 Wax and Wheels, episode #29Connect with Naomi P. Johnson on Instagram!Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here PatreonProducts Mentioned available on Amazon. If you buy from these links, the podcast gets a a little money.Hem Skirt Marker with Powder Chaco LinerBohin Mechanical PencilAllary Chalk CartridgeDritz Tailor Chalk PencilTriangle Clay Tailors ChalkSpirographAcrylic Rulers for Domestic Sewing Machines Kalle Shirt Dress by Closet Core  

Find out more about VantaBlackCosplay on Instagram and TwiiterVanta was featured in Cosplay Realm Magazine’s September issue for her Articuno cosplay. She made the cape and carnival headdress herself. Vanta was also featured on BET for my panel called “Kinks and Curls: ethnic hair in the cosplay community” 

Ways to support the Podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free USA shipping. You can also use  Cash App  Sustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Learn more about Aaronica and her sewing life on her social pages WebsiteInstagramFacebook And check out these media sites that feature her!https://lovetosewpodcast.com/episodes/episode-109-curvy-sewing-with-aaronica-cole/ https://wildandwanderful.com/blog/2019/08/icmt1-aaronica-cole/ https://fabricatestudios.com/artists-and-crafters-in-atlanta/

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women StitchBuy these amazing STITCH PLEASE pattern weights Made by Bianca Springer of Thanks I Made Them! 20% of September purchases will be donated to us! $15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free USA shipping. You can also use  Cash AppSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. If monetary support isn't possible, no problem! Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same!  This really helps the podcast to increase its visibility. Register for Lisa's Trunk Show  this Friday! Find Lisa on social mediaWebsite:  www.CulturedExpressions.comFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/CulturedExpressions/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturedexpressions/YouTube:  www.youtube.com/CEFabricVideos/VideosBlog: www.culturedexpressions.wordpress.com

Lisa speaks with Carole Lyles-Shaw, an internationally recognized modern quilter, quilting instructor, and author. Carole shares her sewing story including her affection for her home guild in Baltimore and building a new modern quilt guild in her current city. And she did this while writing, teaching, designing, and creating. Carole also reveals why quilting is an entire universe of creative possibility.

Get your stitch together for BlackTOBER! Check out  the following classes and custom fabric options. Yes YOU can make a bra! Nikki G, Sewing my styleYes YOU can acid dye fabric for that bra! Deborah Grayson, @colorfulfindingsYes YOU can buy holiday fabrics with Black people on it! Queenora Renee FabricsWays to support the Podcast and Black Women StitchBuy these amazing STITCH PLEASE pattern weights Made by Bianca Springer of Thanks I Made Them! 20% of September purchases will be donated to us! $15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free USA shipping. You can also use  Cash App  Sustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, you can join our  PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Learn more about Renee on her social media channels! Blog InstagramTwitterPinterestShe has been social sewing via her Miss Celie's Pants blog and PatternReview.com for about 15  years and on Instagram for seven. Currently, she is  also a temp editor with Sewcialists. Some people might recognize her as an occasional model for Cashmerette Patterns. She has modeled the Holyoke maxi dress, Ipswich Swimsuit, and the Tobin Sweater.A few months ago, Renee wrote about being Black and how it shaped the way she presented herself in the sewing community and why.  Here's a link to that blog entry.Check out Renee and Lisa's SEWING NOTIONS VERZUZ. Which do YOU think is best in each category?Category:  Cutting Renee: Bird In Hand  vs.  Lisa: Pattern WeightsCategory: Marking Renee: ChacoLiner  vs.  Lisa: Frixion ColorsCategory: Pressing  Renee: Ham Holder vs. Lisa: Clover Hot Ruler Perfect PressCategory: Presser Feet Renee: 1/4inch foot vs Lisa: Stitch In the Ditch foot (I said "topstitch" but was describing  a foot with a stitch guide built in the center)BONUS CATEGORY: The Notion that Defies All CategoriesRenee: Seam Gauge  vs  Lisa: Fasturn Tube Turning Set  

Get your stitch together for BlackTOBER! Check out  the following classes and custom fabric options. Yes YOU can make a bra! Nikki G, Sewing my styleYes YOU can acid dye fabric for that bra! Deborah Grayson, @colorfulfindingsYes YOU can buy holiday fabrics with Black people on it! Queenora Renee FabricsSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women StitchBuy these amazing STITCH PLEASE pattern weights Made by Bianca Springer of Thanks I Made Them! 20% of September purchases will be donated to us! $15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free USA shipping. You can also use  Cash AppSustained financial support also appreciated here: For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. If monetary support isn't possible, no problem! Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same!  This really helps the podcast to increase its visibility. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Find out more about Najah Carroll on her website and on  InstagramJoin her newsletter to receive a free chapter of her ebook, Najah shares part of her story here: A few years ago, I "lost my sewjo" when life and work overwhelmed me all at once and activated my go-to coping skill: Strong Black Woman Survival Mode. I put my family and job ahead of my own needs, got real efficient at "running shit", and further away from my creativity. Garment sewing and writing stories about it on my blog had become my main self-care practice because it was freeing me from an adulthood of ill-fitting ready-to-wear (I am short and curvy) and fully engaged my brain and hands in something meant just for me. When I stopped keeping and making sewing promises to myself, I was determined to find out why and began a quiet journey of self-examination. I re-read the book by bell hooks that saved me in college, Sisters of the Yam: Black Women & Self-Recovery and began some much needed inner work and healing. The process is on-going. When the pandemic hit, I was triggered back into SBM mode. This time I recognized it! Those lost sewjo feelings were my call to action. I reached out to the sewing community, found out I wasn't alone and started writing, plugging holes in my self-care, and therapy-sewing my way out of the shadows. I called it my Sewjo Reclamation Project and immediately created my first sewing social media meme with an image from the movie, How Stella Got Her Groove Back. From there, I decided to self-publish my first writings as a for-profit ebook instead of on my blog. This is a transition for my platform that aligned with my 2019 transition to independent consulting from 20 years in the tech industry. The first chapter of my ebook is called "3 Reasons Why Passionate Women Lose Their Sewing Mojo" and is available for free download by my email subscribers. They will be the first to know when the ebook is available for purchase in September. To bring awareness to my Sewjo Reclamation Project, I have also begun live-streaming answers to questions from the sewing community about sewjo reclamation to my Instagram followers. Sharing my ideas, stories, and vulnerabilities has been its own healing experience. My intention is to help other passionate women reclaim their sewjo by transforming their craft into a ritual of self-care.

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women StitchBuy these amazing STITCH PLEASE pattern weights Made by Bianca Springer of Thanks I Made Them! 20% of September purchases will be donated to us! $15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free USA shipping. You can also use  Cash App  Sustained financial support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Thank you today's Guest: Jeresther Thorpe PageFind our more about Jeresther on InstagramWatch her "And I Quilt" video hereAnd  learn more of her story hereRead about her quilting for a special little boy here Learn more about HandiQuilt machines hereGIVEAWAY! Win a set of four iron-off pencils from HandiQuilter. Check Black Women Stitch IG page for the podcast promotional image posted on 9/14/20 to enter.AME-Zion Church -- Jeresther mentioned her church affiliation as significant in shaping her interest in creative histories.  

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women StitchBuy these amazing STITCH PLEASE pattern weights Made by Bianca Springer of Thanks I Made Them! 20% of September purchases will be donated to us! $15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free USA shipping. You can also use  Cash App  Sustained financial support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here PatreonFREE SUPPORT Is also appreciated. Please rate, review, subscribe to the podcast. Tell a friend to do the same! Learn more about Sahara Clemons!Sahara Clemons is a multimedia artist, designer and activist born in Washington, D.C., and based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Playing with both the traditional and unconventional, Clemons creates paintings on wood and fabric, wearable art and fashion design. Her work confronts interpersonal and intersectional concepts and provides commentary on the historic, political and social trauma of people of color and its effect on shaping identity. Her work has been shown at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Second Street Gallery, The Bridge Progressive Arts Institute and McGuffey Art Center. Clemons is a YoungArts alumni and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Rhode Island School of Design.  From  Cville Tomorrow. More information on Sahara:Follow her on InstagramHer TedX Talk Art as ConversationOn the installation of her 2020 mural. Art Against the ClockThe Fall 2018 SOUP.  Sahara won.  About her McGuffey Art Studio Residency Other mentions: The Nap Ministry  is a vital project. Check it out. 

Celebrate the 1st Birthday of the STITCH PLEASE PODCASTYou can rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. You can make one time gifts to Paypal.You can make monthly contributions to our Patreon page.Buy these amazing STITCH PLEASE pattern weights Made by Bianca Springer of Thanks I Made Them! 20% of September purchases will be donated to us!  Mentioned in today's episodeDaughters Of, film by Shantrelle P. LewisGirl Trek, the world's largest Black women's health and wellness program"The Will to Adorn"  

Register for the Parallel Universe Mystery Quilt here! The six-week class begins January 1, 2021. An early bird discount price is available until August 21, 2020. More about Ebony, Gyleen, and LatifahEbony: website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube  Award-winning author and quilter Ebony Love is recognized as one of the leading experts in fabric die-cutting techniques who regularly contributes to magazines, videos, and television programs.  A founding member of the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild, she’s best known as the author of The Big Little Book of Fabric Die Cutting Tips, Binding Crazy Angles, and other books about quilting, sewing and die cutting. Ebony is fond of blindingly-bright prints and takes a contemporary approach to traditional designs. She’s also designed fabric lines in collaboration with Island Batik, including Primo and her upcoming release, Forecast. Latifah: website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube  Latifah Saafir is known for her bold and innovative quilts. Combining her training as an engineer with her lifelong passion for sewing, Latifah creates designs that are graphic and contemporary, featuring challenging techniques with meticulous attention to detail.A co-founder of both the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild and the worldwide Modern Quilt Guild, Latifah currently teaches workshops to guilds around the world. She has a line of patterns and templates that she has designed to use her favorite techniques, including a line of patterns called Quilt Cadets that teaches kids how to sew!She has released three fabric lines with Me + You, the modern fabric brand with Hoffman Fabrics. She’s been featured in over a dozen books, magazines and newspapers.Gyleen: website,Facebook, Facebook, Facebook,  Gyleen X. Fitzgerald makes quilts that blend color, pattern and texture to provide a contemporary essence in traditional quilting. She infuses engineering tools and innovative techniques to simplify visually complex geometric polygon quilts. An avid quilter, Gyleen has earned Best of Show honors. As an author/publisher, she is a consistent Gold Medal winner which included Polygon Affair…So Easy You’ll Fall in Love.  She is best known for inspiring Trash to Treasure Pineapple Quilts and the creation of the Pineapple Tool by Gyleen.Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here PatreonBuy these amazing STITCH PLEASE pattern weights Made by Bianca Springer of Thanks I Made Them! 20% of September purchases will be donated to us!  

Connect with TobiahAt her websiteOn InstagramAt the Hive (mail-order projects also available)In this article by New City Arts Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here Patreon

Episode NotesRegister Here for Deborah's Dye Class: https://www.colorfulfindingsclasses.com/courses/colorful-findings-course-1Learn more about Deborah Grayson on social mediaGraysonStudioshttp://www.graysonstudios.comhttps://www.instagram.com/colorfulfindings/https://www.instagram.com/graysonstudios/https://www.facebook.com/GraysonStudios Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here Patreon

Find Fleshia Gillon on the socials!https://www.instagram.com/elle.g.designs/ (Fashion IG)https://www.instagram.com/fleshiad/ (personal IG)https://www.youtube.com/thestylecornerhttps://www.facebook.com/ElleG.Designs1New Orleans Fashion Weekhttp://neworleansfashionweek.com/top-design-competitors-2019The research paper that she presented at the International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conferencehttps://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1592&context=itaa_proceedingsProduction of Microbial Leather from Culled Sweet Potato Sugars via Kombucha CultureSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. You can also pay with  Cash App Sustained support also appreciated here:For as little as $2 a month, your Patreon support means a lot: Join  here PatreonLearn more about ChaCha and her projects!WebsitesThe SEWcial Café Website: www.thesewcialcafe.comChaCha N'Kole Website: www.chachankole.comSocial MediaThe SEWcial Café Instagram: @thesewcialcafeChaCha N'Kole Instagram: @chachankoleSewing with ChaCha N'Kole Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sewingwithchachankole/The SEWcial Café Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesewcialcafe/Course LinkThe SEWcial Café Course Information: https://thesewcialcafe.com/courses.htmlCheck out these amazing stories!Building Community Through Sewing- http://horn.udel.edu/building-community-through-sewing-from-delaware-to-ghanaSewing Socially- https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2019/december/sewing-socially/WHYY, Learn to Sew at The SEWcial Café- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhpEPeC7UqQ&t=57sJoin The SEWcial Café Mask Making Networkhttps://thesewcialcafe.com/join-mask-making-network.htmlMask Making InitiativePhiladelphia Inquirer Online Video: https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/philly-area-businesses-help-fight-mask-shortage-amid-coronavirus-20200331.htmlPhiladelphia Inquirer Online Article (1): https://www.inquirer.com/photo/fashion-designer-sews-masks-during-coronavirus-pandemic-20200403.htmlPhiladelphia Inquirer Online Article (2): https://www.inquirer.com/life/coronavirus-face-mask-fashion-prints-instagram-20200410.htmlWHYY/PBS: https://video.whyy.org/video/finding-community-in-quarantine-m2rupx/ (starts at 7:55)CBS: https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2020/03/23/coronavirus-philly-south-jersey-people-making-resuable-face-masks-donate-health-care-workers/ABC: https://6abc.com/health/heading-out-you-may-want-to-put-on-a-mask/6075469/?fbclid=IwAR0Ajy-8MhbxlCWVzAWTkSSFa-ViAq7xoOHIy4E7rZA-nd2EhNz3TBvcxm0Coworker Magazine: https://www.coworker.com/mag/the-sewcial-cafe  

You can find Bekah at the Tipsy Pincushion on IG.https://www.instagram.com/thetipsypincushion/The picnic dress is by Lila and June https://lilaandjune.com/products/picnic-dress-patternJack USA makes various  buttonholers, industrial lockstitch and specialty machines https://jacknorthamerica.com/Here’s an IG link to a video of the machine’s maiden voyagehttps://www.instagram.com/p/B5OWaXLgWbo/?igshid=fe5tqwzcdlii

Support Black Women Stitch and CELEBRATE our upcoming 2nd anniversary on July 19th.How to support with $$Amazon Wish List of things to support the projectBecome a PATREON supporter: as little as $2 a month is a big help. How to support for FREE99: RATE. REVIEW. SUBSCRIBE. to the podcastGiving the podcast 5-star ratings really helps the podcast to become more visible. If you have time to add a few sentences in review, that is even better! Thank you! Learn more about The Yarn Mission:website  Twitter InstagramLearn more about The Social Justice Sewing Academy: websiteFacebook InstagramMentioned in episode:Tea with Queen and J. podcastRebel with a Cause yarn projectChurch of Black Feminist ThoughtTiny PricksThreads of ResistanceAdrienne Maree BrownAlexis Pauline GumbsJessica Nembhard Gordon - Collective CourageWombcarewomxn.com - Andrea Richardson

Find Li Li's Creations on the socials! Her websiteOn FacebookOn YouTubeOn InstagramOn Etsy The Etsy Commercial on YouTubehttps://www.etsy.com/listing/785656200/face-mask-and-headwrap-set-african-print?ref=shop_home_active_3&frs=1&crt=1https://www.etsy.com/listing/571448538/yellow-floral-open-back-short-sleevehttps://www.etsy.com/listing/777563347/tank-top-and-headwrap-set-goddess-tankhttps://lili-girl.com/products/copy-of-lili-afrobelle-dressPhotographers mentioned in the episode:https://www.instagram.com/aderonmothersill/https://www.instagram.com/rickeyallen/ Support Black Women Stitch and CELEBRATE our upcoming 2nd anniversary!How to support with $$Amazon Wish List of things to support the projectBecome a PATREON supporter: as little as $2 a month is a big help. Our goal is to reach 50 Patreon peeps by our birthday!  

Find more information about Harlem Needle Arts at their website : //harlemneedlearts.org/classesFilm Short about the Harlem Needle Arts current public installation: We the People | Disrupting Silence -  https://vimeo.com/395001456 Commission with the Museum of Food and Drink (currently postponed):  - https://www.mofad.org/the-legacy-quiltMentioned in the podcastChief Nike Okundaye: An Odyssey Through the Years See description here Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App 

Products mentioned in today's episodeScotch Transparent Tape3M Painter's Tape for Multi-SurfacesAvery Address Labels #8167Sheet Protectors Printable Freezer Paper for Ink Jet printers Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

A Special thanks to the women of Black Women Stitch. Allysia, Ayesha, Candy, Deborah, DeWahn, Jill, Katrina, Naomi, Nikki, Queenora, Shana, Shani, Sherri, Sierra, Sone-Seere, Toni Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free USA shipping. Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash AppYou can also support the podcast without spending any money at all by Rating, Reviewing, and Subscribing to the podcast. Reviews are especially helpful for increasing the podcast's visibility.  

Special thanks to the women of Black Women Stitch:AllysiaAyeshaCandyDeborahDeWahnJillKatrinaNaomiNikkiQueenoraShanaShaniSherriSierraSone-Seere  Created the cover art/logo for the Stitch Please podcastToniThe recast photo for this episode is courtesy of Ryan Kelly who took it during a march for #GeorgeFloyd  #BreonnaTaylor #Tony McDade #AhmaudArbery in Charlottesville, Virginia, May 30, 2020. Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App 

Lisa's Faves  mentioned in the podcastRetractable magnet -- https://amzn.to/3eOkZR1Printable Freezer Paper Sheets -- https://amzn.to/2z22vNY Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Find  DeWahn and Naomi on the socials!Supporters for this Episode! Follow them on IG to enter the fantastic giveaway that goes with this episode! Designs by Taosh specializes in nude fabrics for black women. She has more than 150 different skin colors for those of us with melanin. She has donated a swatch kit and a half yard of powermesh for the giveaway. She has a website and an IG page (in addition to the Etsy shop linked above). Emerald Erin designed the Black Beauty Bra. She has a website and an IG page. She has donated a bra pattern and bra making kit for the giveaway. There is also a discount code for her shop  in the episode. It expires June 24, 2020.Bra Builders makes gorgeous bra kits. They have a website and an IG page. They've donated a bra making kit for the giveaway. There is also a discount code  for her shop in the episode. It expires May 30, 2020Stitch Love Studio makes the Daisy bralette that converted Lisa. They have a website and an IG page. They've donated a bra pattern and bra making kit for the giveaway.  There is also a discount code for the shop in the episode. It expires December 2020.Mentioned in the episodeTee Jones-Actie, American Sewing Guild, Retreat Organizer, introduced DeWahn to bramaking about 10 years ago. Ms. Jones-Actie is interviewed here by Crystal Sews and Stuff. Liz Sews has popular bra making tutorials on YouTubeHow To Grade a Bra and Brief (digital book)Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

The Black Anime custom fabric is available for pre-order from May 19th to June 2nd. Find Queenora Renee Fabrics in these social media spots:Website: queenorareneefabrics.comIG: instagram.com/queenora_renee_fabricsFB: http://facebook.com/queenorareneefabricsAnd tune in to her podcast, co-hosted with her husband, "Married n Shit"On Facebook: https://facebook.com/marriednshitpodcastOn iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/married-n-sh-t/id1508749065On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4SIuCG3lgV0xoEMYdzrUHAMentioned in this episodeDragon Ball ZInuyasha Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Find Zina on InstagramDownload the Trello app hereSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Previous installment on Frixion productsProducts mentioned in the episode. These are from Amazon. If you buy using this link, a portion of the proceeds come to the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch.Saral Transfer Paper SamplerTracing Wheel--solidTracing Wheel--serratedHeat Resistant Tape (preserves tissue patterns when tracing, won't melt when ironed/pressed)Simplicity 9012Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Website: www.sewingmystyle.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/sewingmystyle/IG: https://www.instagram.com/atlantasewingstyle/IG: https://www.instagram.com/sewingforbeginners/FB Group: Sewing Projects for Beginners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/195988314358866FB Page: Sewing My Style - https://www.facebook.com/sewingmystyleFB Page: Sewing Lessons LIVE - https://www.facebook.com/sewinglessonslive   Begin Thursday April 30 (exclusively for FB Group). Classes release to the public on May 7th. Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Pamela has a new round of fabric! Her Round Six is Open now until May 5th. Check out her social media pages to see the amazing selections. You can place your preorders on her website.InstagramFacebookWebsite (to preorder fabrics and browse current retail offerings)Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Find Kris on social media:FacebookYouTubeInstagramKris mentioned her training at the The Fashion Institute of South Florida. Of special influence was an instructor named Rucht D'OleoLisa mentioned Chioma (chi9ja on Instagram) a Nigerian sewist who explained about pattern drafting and personal style in a previous episode of the podcast. You can find that episode here: Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash AppMentioned in Today's EpisodeGroup ProjectsProject Sew Zoom RoomSew "Manly" by Julian CordellSew Much Talent by Alethia Hudson Instagram Challenges, Accounts, Hastags#sewmaxibymothersday by CrumpetsTeaandSewing#sewfreshsewclean13 by SewEu#sewcialdistancing#isewlated#virtualfrocktails Small Businesses MentionedCultured ExpressionsThree Little BirdsEwe Fine Fiber Goods  Church MentionedI have really enjoyed the virtual services at Imani Community Church Sewing Projects to TryPersonalized Embroidered Kitchen Towels  and Fabric Napkins (to cut down on  paper towel use) 

Follow Carolyn on Social MediaHer blogHer Instagram account Interview with SewcialistSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Lisa's Cancelled 50th Birthday Party Donations Here: Patreon   Paypal   Cash AppThanks so much to ShanailR for sharing her image for this episode and for telling us about her experience in medical care providers battle against COVID19.Research: Here are some of the articles I read to better understand the efficacy of homemade masks as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).3M has doubled its production of N95 masks to a rate of 100 million a month. No certainly that it's enough. And based on the current shortage, it doesn't seem to be enough.Testing the Efficacy of Homemade Masks: Would They Protect in an Influenza Pandemic? from the journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health PreparednessCenters for Disease Control guidance on Facemasks includes the following comment on homemade masks (note: HCP = Health Care Provider): "In settings where facemasks are not available, HCP might use homemade masks (e.g., bandana, scarf) for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort. However, homemade masks are not considered PPE, since their capability to protect HCP is unknown. Caution should be exercised when considering this option. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face."The World Health Organization issued interim guidance in January 2020 about "Advice on the use of masks in the context of nCoV outbreak." The briefing document talked about not re-using masks and proper protocols for wearing them (for which I have included an additional link below). The final line of the paper is striking: "Cloth (e.g. cotton or gauze) masks are not recommended under any circumstance."To Mask or Not to Mask?Why Telling People They Didn't Need Masks Backfired, an opinion piece in the New York Times about the benefits of masks. You can get free access to the New York Times COVID19 articles by registering an email.When and How to Use Masks from the World Health OrganizationBest Materials for Masks: Please read to understand the very limited effectiveness homemade masks against COVID19. It is  better than nothing. Some materials are better than others. Locations that asked for masks but no longer needs them: Deaconess Hospital in Indiana has met their need. Providence Hospital in Washington State has given out enough kits to make 100 million masks with special medical grade materials. Who is NEEDS masks: I am asking for support for my city.The Mutual Aid Infrastructure of Charlottesville, VA--FB group is hereThe University of Virginia Hospital. Contact information to mail masks is here:LaDelle GayVolunteer Coordinator, Volunteer ServicesUVA Health1215 Lee Street, Room 1650Box 800668Charlottesville, VA 22908Phone: 434.243-4009Fax: 434.243.5872If you want to help...My suggestion is to act locally. If your hospital is not accepting masks for clinical use, the Medical Staff Office for hospital administration might be glad to have them. Call the following local places to see if they would accept homemade masks. Ask if they have guidelines (filter pocket?) or a preferred pattern. Arrange to mail or drop off some to be picked up from your car: Medical offices (where people most still come to work to manage the medical/patient administration, in cubicles where social distancing is limited), Primary Care Providers: pediatricians, internal medicine, geriatricians (especially important, I'd think, for dealing with older patients), long term acute care facilities, urgent care offices, nursing homes, hospice care, jails and prisons, dialysis centers.Here are some social media organizations working on mask making and other me-made projects.Relief Crafters of America on FacebookWe Need Masks.org connects makers with medical facilities for mask distribution. Patterns and TutorialsSewing My Style has a tutorial on her IG highlights using 10 by 10 fabric squares. These are sometimes called layer cakes. Lisa Stewart of Cultured Expressions has a video tutorial on her IGTV channel. Patrice of Patrice J Bridal has a tutorial on her YouTube channel. Here is a  link to over THIRTY mask patterns and tutorials assembled by So Sew Easy. An Olsen Mask pattern provided by Unity Points hospital in Cedar Rapids

More information about the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild·         Website: brownsugarstitchersquiltguild.com or bssquiltguild.com, https://bssquiltguild.com/·         Facebook: Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild - https://www.facebook.com/BrownSugarStitchers/·         Instagram -  @brownsugarstichersquiltguild·         Pinterest -  www.pinterest.com/bssquiltguild1400·         Evenbrite – the Guild advertises events on this serviceArticles about the Guild·         2/2020 - Georgia Public Broadcasting, by: Leah Fleming, Taylor Gantt and Jade Adbul-Malik, https://www.gpbnews.org/post/meet-brown-sugar-stitchers-quilt-guild-atlanta also on Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3_ZYSTbuuI·         12/2019 – Scalawag article - https://t.co/VFZoXVVbR6·         4/2019 – Bitter Southerner article - www.bittersoutherner.comCharity / Donations:·         Guild member Joyce Turk, coordinated donations to FACES: The National Craniofacial Association is a non-profit organization serving children and adults throughout the United States with severe craniofacial differences resulting from birth defects, injuries, or disease. The Guild donated to this charity 2018 & 2019.·         Carrie Steele Pitts Children Home – csph.org –Sickle Cell program Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, https://www.choa.org/medical-services/cancer-and-blood-disorders/blood-disorders/sickle-cell-diseasePreview YouTube video Meet The Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt GuildMeet The Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt GuildVisit the Guild in person!They meet the 3rd Saturday of every month (except July/December) at 10:30am at the Wesley Chapel-William C. Brown Library. 2861 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur, GA 30034 Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Upcoming Sewing Retreats and Events That's Sew Monica and Stitched with StyleProject Sew Atlanta: one day workshops can give you a feel for if you like retreats or not. An Afro Modern Quilt Weekend with Carole Lyles Shaw A Wine Lover's Quilt Retreat hosted by Lisa Shepard Stewart of Cultured Expressions Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Mentioned in the episodeThat's Sew Monica on  Instagram and her websiteSew Your ViewProject Sew2CraftyTwinChicksSewPrettyNikkiRobynu42Stitched With StyleSewing My StylePlano ASGSEWN MagazineSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Mentioned in the episode as good for sewingFrixion MarkersFrixion StampsFrixion Fine LinersLisa also uses for writing and note-takingFrixion  ClickerFrixion Color SticksFrixion Ball PointFrixion Highlighter The information read on the podcast came from a blog that offers a Comprehensive Guide to Frixion. Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Note: My most recent JoAnn's flyer includes pattern sale information.  This is different than the "surprise" version of last month's pattern sale.  Whether the omission was an oversight or an experiment, the response I gleaned from shoppers was unfavorable.  The store may indeed need to "wean" customers from reliance on pattern sales, but that was not the way to go about it.Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Alissa Bertrand on social media.Jabellafleur on InstagramInterview on Junior StyleAlissa's Next phase: She is attending Art Institute of Atlanta!Things Mentioned in the episodeSewn MagazineDaughters of the Dust, Julie Dash's 1991 filmLemonade, Beyonce visual albumLOL DollsAlissa's phone: iPhone XRSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Naomi on the socialsInstagramCut. Sew. Wear. Her Facebook group for DC area sewistsDC Frocktails TeamThree Little BirdsDNH FabricsA couple of the folks who made my DC Frocktails  experience  lit AFSatchmoe Art TattoosDJ DC INFAMOUSDaKimaSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping.Support also appreciated here:PatreonPaypalCash App

Find Patrice on social mediaPatrice on Instagram Defining This Thing series with Patrice and her husband Ian on InstagramPatrice J Bridal to Rent, Buy, or Create the Dress of your Dreams! Defining This Thing video series with Patrice and her husband  on YouTube Shops MentionedGail K FabricsFine FabricsVogue FabricsTextile Discount OutletSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch$15 to the Paypal account for a Black Women Stitch lapel pin! DM or email your mailing to address for free shipping. Support also appreciated here:Patreon PaypalCash App  

Mentioned on the podcastJanuary Sew Your View, Simplicity 8532 sewing room accessories are a fun way to show off special fabricsAmy Butler's book In Stitches with patterns for the Document Duvet and Photo File.Sew Much Talent Stashed Gems Challenge on Facebook. Here are a few of the challenge rules: For more details visit the groupRules:1. No buying patterns.+2. No buying fabric.*3.80% of your project MUST come from fabric in your stash, which can be anything in your house you can use for fabric.*20% of purchases can be for additional fabric, notions, etc.+ Your patterns CAN be self-directed, but you CANNOT download new PDF patterns ( including free patterns).MUST USE THE PATTERNS ALREADY ON HAND.Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch.For a limited time, you can get a box of MYSTERY FABRIC from Lisa's extensive fabric collection. For $30, you can get a medium USPS flat rate box stuffed with fabric. Chevron, Black+White, and Nature fabric boxes available. Shipping/tracking/insurance included :)   DM blackwomenstitch on Instagram  or email [email protected] for more info. You can get an adorable enamel pin by sending $15 to Paypal or Cash App.Or you can support at the following: PatreonPaypalKo-FiCash App 

Mentioned in this episodeSewMuchAerialMarissa's etsy pageAerialympicsCustom DressformSheer Performance Fabrics with MelaninSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch. You can get an adorable enamel pin by sending $15 to Paypal or Cash App.PatreonPaypalKo-FiCash App 

ACTION ITEMS to support the SOCIAL JUSTICE SEWING ACADEMYSign up to embroider/embellish a quilt block made by a young artist during a workshopGive money (PayPal link is here, donations are tax deductible)Share your time, if you live in the Bay Area of CaliforniaSend fabric*: Kona Cotton, batiks and all shades of skin colors but especially brownsDonate equipment*: extra notions, scissors, needles, threadSend a good word about SJSA: write/email Paducah and commend them for the exhibition. Check out the excellent versions of the block on the FB page: say nice things about them on their Facebook or Instagram pages.Host the Art: Invite SJSA to show a quilt at your quilt guild's next quilt show. They can also show quilts at local libraries, heritage centers, community centers, etc. If you know museum curators, tell them about SJSA (and NOT just for Black History Month, but it IS coming up so IJS...)Invite them to give a workshop to young people in your community.STITCH THE BLOCK!! Black Women Stitch is giving away 10 copies of the paper piecing pattern printed on Lisa's favorite foundation paper. If you want a FREE copy of the printout, contact Black Women Stitch via IG direct message. Share your address and we'll send you a printout.The link to the study mentioned in the episode: "Daily multidimensional racial discrimination among Black U.S. American adolescents"*SJSA mailing address for fabric, notions, equipment:Social Justice Sewing Academy, PO Box 2473, Antioch, CA 94531 Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch. You can buy an adorable enamel pin for $15 with free shipping to USA addresses. There are also a few Mystery Destash Fabric boxes available (apparel, knits): $30 shipping included to USA addresses. You can send payments for boxes or pins to Paypal or CashApp links below.Patreon--to set up a monthly donationPaypal--one time donation or to purchase a pin or fabric boxCash App---one time donation or to purchase a pin or fabric box 

MentionsKristal Branton; Black Girls Sewcial ClubThe Yarn MissionBrown Sugar Stitchers Quilt GuildCivic Innovation FellowshipNew City Arts SOUPSew Creative LoungeDC FrocktailsLater this month, check out SewMuchAerialJabellafleur Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch. You can buy an adorable enamel pin for $15 with free shipping to USA addresses. There are also a few Mystery Destash Fabric boxes available: $30 shipping included to USA addresses.  You can send payments for boxes or pins to Paypal or CashApp links below. Patreon--to set up a monthly donationPaypal--one time donation or to purchase a pin or fabric boxCash App---one time donation or to purchase a pin or fabric box 

Toys Mentioned in the episodeCabbage Patch DollEasy Bake OvenBaby Alive  

You can find LInda Nance here:Gotta Be Handmade websiteInstagramTwitterFacebookYoutubeSupport the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women Stitch.A cute way to show your support: a lapel pin! Send $15 to Paypal or CashApp (include your mailing address) to receive a Black Women Stitch Lapel Pin. This 2 inch by 1.25 inch pin features the Black Women Stitch logo. It's an adorable way to show support.Patreon for monthly contributions for as little as $2 a monthPaypalCash App 

Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women StitchYou can buy a cute Black Women Stitch lapel pin for $15: send it to Paypal or CashApp. Include your mailing address :)PatreonPaypalKo-FiCash AppSpecial thanks today to OLISO for giving us irons! We talk about the TG1600pro and the MiniProject Iron. You can find links to them in the Gift Guide belowSpecial thanks to Allysia Holland IG: @hrhally who will be teaching at the 2020 Craftcation Conference https://dearhandmadelife.com/craftcation-conference/Links for Gift Giving GuideWe divided the guide into FOUR categories: Beginner, Intermediate-Advance, Upgrade YOU, and Sewist-to-SewistThe links below are for Amazon. When you buy from these links, Black Women Stitch gets a bit of money :)BeginnerSeam Ripper, ergonomicThread SnipsPinsSewing ClipsBodkinButtonhole knifePoint turnerPoint turner WITH seam gaugePress clothRetractable Magnetthe MiniProject Iron.Guterman Thread Box (26 spools) Intermediate-AdvancedFasturn Tube Turning SetPattern Weights Or Bianca's Custom Made https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThanksImadeThemSeam RollTailor’s HamClapperClover Curved Ruler setUpgrade YouTG1600proZirkelFelt Pressing MatScissors Sewist-to-Sewist Gift IdeasFast Fit by Sandra BetzinaFitting and Pattern Alterations (this is used in design schools, hence the $ but it's excellent)Pants for Real PeopleReader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing 1976 edition -- This is a rare gem of a book. If you find one at an estate or yard sale, snap it up! Otherwise, it is here. :)Supplies for a GIFT KIT include...Appleton Dress – a favorite Black Women Stitch dressPDF Plotting—Save your sanity! NEVER tape a PDF pattern again. Buy the A0 format and print it with PDF Plotting. 

Alethia's Social Pageswebsite: https://www.alethiahudsondesigns.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/356147378053601/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SewMuchTalentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sewmuchtalent/Also mentioned in the podcast:That's Sew Monica: http://www.thatssewmonica.com/Erica Bunker: http://www.ericabunker.com/Patricej715: https://www.instagram.com/patricej715/?hl=enBeaute' J'adore: https://beautejadore.com/Support the Stitch Please podcast and Black Women StitchPatreonPaypalKo-FiCash App

Support the following businesses during this shopping season:Carole-Lyles ShawThanks, I Made ThemTA-OSH by designs by TAOSHHouse of Mami WataWaxprints Laces and MoreFiner Fabrics By QueenoraFabric for the CultureCultured Expressions-------We also encourage our listeners to check out DC Frocktails, an event organized by DC native and Black Women Stitch sew sister Naomi P Johnson. Tickets are limited. They go on sale Sunday, December 1st.Ways to support Black Women Stitch and the Stitch Please podcastIf you'd like an adorable Black Women Stitch lapel pin, send $15 to the Paypal account below. Free shipping in the US. Be sure to include your current mailing address.PatreonPaypalKo-FiCash App

Designs by TAOSH Contact InformationEtsy shop to purchase illusion fabricsWebsiteAlso mentioned in the podcastRIT Dye color formulasThe Sax Dinner Theater in Washington DCLisa's affinity for/as a "regular black girl" as Tressie McMillan Cottom describes in her award-winning book THICK (Hey, Friend, Hey!)Support Stitch Please and the Black Women Stitch ProjectPatreonPaypalKo-FiCash App  

Special thanks to Melvinia Smith of Designer Fresh Custom Tailoring for sharing the story of her fantastic vintage Simplicity B888 iron. You can find her Instagram page here.Melvinia's amazing Iron is no longer available for purchase but you might get lucky and find one at an estate sale or on eBay.Irons used/mentioned in podcast. If you buy from these links, I get a tiny bit of coin.My teeny tiny craft ironMy ride-or-die sidekick ironMy gravity feed ironMy new Oliso ironMy dearly departed Rowenta Steam GeneratorSupport Stitch Please and the Black Women Stitch ProjectPatreonPaypalKo-FiCash App

How to find Chioma (Chi9ja)InstagramYouTubeWebsiteTwitterFacebook

Cosplayers mentioned in podcastwww.facebook.com/brichibicosplays/Chocolate Covered Cosplayhttps://twitter.com/tranquilasheshttps://twitter.com/thatjayjustice?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor- Community Groupshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/230325643710157/?ref=br_rshttps://blackcosplayersofficial.tumblr.com/- # tags #BlackCosplayerherehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/ikrd/black-cosplayers-are-letting-people-know-they-do-exist-with#28daysofblackcosplayshttps://blacknerdproblems.com/tag/28-days-of-black-cosplay/- Extras not discussed but something to browsehttps://www.vice.com/en_us/article/panvnm/meet-the-black-anime-cosplayers-blowing-up-on-instagram-1About The NYC Village Halloween Parade (which is TOMORROW!)http://halloween-nyc.com/Support Stitch Please and the Black Women Stitch ProjectPatreonPaypalKo-FiCash App

Makeup Tutorial for hubby's Maleficent costume:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIvuMUDpieMThe only candy corn we recognize is Brach's.[https://amzn.to/35sfLH7][https://amzn.to/31dTXeR][https://amzn.to/2IQ6u1Q]You can also try making your own with this recipe! https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/candy-corn-recipe2-2120004Support Stitch Please and the Black Women Stitch ProjectPatreonPaypalKo-FiCash App

Find Bonita on IG @babycakesbagsandragshttps://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Clothing--Brand-/BabyCakes-Bags-Rags-978444388846659/www.babycakesfashion.comBonita met legendary fashion icon Dapper Dan! Check out his book, Made in Harlem https://amzn.to/2nnJRtOAnd she connected with Derek Warburton, @derekwarburton, at a Fashion Week eventSupport Stitch Please and the Black Women Stitch ProjectPatreon https://www.patreon.com/blackwomenstitchPaypal [https://paypal.me/lisalovestosew?locale.x=en\_US]Ko-Fi -- https://ko-fi.com/blackwomenstitchVenmo @Lisa-WoolforkCash App $LisaWoolfork

Multicultural Crayon/Marker Sethttps://amzn.to/2msO6DSRelated article[https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/12/08/white-privilege/]Support Stitch Please and the Black Women Stitch ProjectPatreon [https://www.patreon.com/blackwomenstitch\](https://www.patreon.com/blackwomenstitch)Paypal [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/blackwomenstitch\](https://ko-fi.com/blackwomenstitch)Venmo @Lisa-WoolforkCash App $LisaWoolfork

Visit Finer Fabrics between 9/17 and 10/8 to preorder the African Inspired knit fabric collection: https://queenorascloset.com/collections/finer-fabrics-by-queenoraAdditional References:Queenora was inspired by TipStitched to start sewing https://tipstitched.com/Capitol Chic Designs is an example of black women creatives choosing to center themselves in their own experience rather than center whiteness. https://capitolchicdesigns.com/On the first episode of The Tamron Hall Show, Tamron talked about the challenges she faced as a black woman in daytime TV, specifically the concern that white women would not watch a black woman in the daytime slot. https://www.glamour.com/story/tamron-hall-interviewSuggestions for further inquiry.Why are maternal outcomes are comparatively dire for Black women in the US? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1595019/Juneteenth. https://www.juneteenth.com/index.htmlWhite fragility. --- If you don't know what this is, now is a great time to Google.Support Stitch Please and the Black Women Stitch ProjectPatreon https://www.patreon.com/blackwomenstitchPaypal [email protected] https://ko-fi.com/blackwomenstitchVenmo @Lisa-WoolforkCash App $LisaWoolfork

Visit Finer Fabrics between 9/17 and 10/8 to preorder the African Inspired knit fabric collection: https://queenorascloset.com/collections/finer-fabrics-by-queenora Support Stitch Please and the Black Women Stitch ProjectPatreon https://www.patreon.com/blackwomenstitchPaypal [email protected] https://ko-fi.com/blackwomenstitchVenmo @Lisa-WoolforkCash App $LisaWoolfork

Support Black Women StitchMentioned in Today's episodePattern Weights by Thanks I Made Them: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThanksImadeThemSeams Like Sierra: https://seamslikesierra.com/blog-posts/Cashmerette Lenox Shirtdress: https://www.cashmerette.com/products/lenox-shirtdress-pdf-patternPDF Plotting: https://www.pdfplotting.com/product/bw-pattern-printing/Products available on Amazon (a small percentage goes to Black Women Stitch)Iron Cleaner https://amzn.to/2QhjbZCHeat and Bond Lite [https://amzn.to/2OakvLe](https://amzn.to/2OakvLe) Teflon pressing sheet https://amzn.to/2QkX98pParchment Paper [https://amzn.to/2LZ53ie] (https://amzn.to/2LZ53ie)Steam a Seam https://amzn.to/2M7tgCWSewing Clips https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PNIWT2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001PNIWT2&linkCode=as2&tag=stitchpleasep-20&linkId=d9952da00a2ea93b46d36d5df8414277

Thank you for supporting Black Women Stitch.PatreonPaypalKo-FiCash AppContext for the episode:http://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/gees-bend-quiltmakershttps://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Slave_Clothing_and_Adornment_in_Virginiahttps://www.sewnmag.com/https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/collection/search?edan_fq[]=set_name:%22Textiles-Quilts%22&edan_local=1

First episode of the Black Women Stitch podcast :)Support Stitch Please and the Black Women Stitch ProjectPatreonPaypalKo-FiCash AppGarments madefor this year's Back to School Sewing:Three shirts using Simplicity 8753 https://www.simplicity.com/simplicity-storefront-catalog/patterns/men/simplicity-sewing-pattern-8753-mens-classic-modern-and-slim-fit-shirt/One dress using Simplicity 8732 https://www.simplicity.com/simplicity-storefront-catalog/patterns/women/dresses/simplicity-sewing-pattern-8732-misses-vintage-dress/

Stitch Please podcast drops Wednesday, September 4th. Join us for an IG Live chat on Thursday September 5th at 3pm EST on Black Women Stitch IG page.

On radical self love: https://www.sonyareneetaylor.com/the-body-is-not-an-apology Lisa's writing about resisting white supremacy in her backyard: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/opinion-charlottesville-arrests-white-supremacy_n_5bbcaf13e4b028e1fe41b345 Our Possibility Models: Teaching what is possible when you embrace your authentic whole self. Tea with Queen and J. http://www.teawithqueenandj.com/ Toni Morrison Who never wrote for the white gaze, irrevocably changed the course of literary history by writing for, to, about black people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kgq3F8wbYA The Movement for Black Lives https://policy.m4bl.org/