Listen up! You need these podcasts in your life. From dressmaking tips to all the latest chat from the creative community, here are a few of our favourite sewing podcasts.
Love to Sew
The weekly podcast from Helen Wilkinson and Caroline Somos offers a mix of sewing skills, community chat and interviews with inspiring makers. The duo talk about their passion for sewing a handmade wardrobe and their daily lives as creative entrepreneurs. Aspecial shout goes to their Sewing Skills series, including pattern hacking, sewing coats and making swimwear. And check out their chat to Tilly Walnes about the early days of the online community and what it was like to be on the Great British Sewing Bee!
Image © Love to Sew
While She Naps
Pattern designer, blogger, teacher and maker Abby Glassenberg is a busy gal. Her must-hear podcast is a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the sewing industry.
She chats to designers and makers about what it's like to run a creative business, with big name guests from Jen Hewett to Merchant & Mills, Mr X Stitch and Michael Miller Fabrics-founders.
We love her State of the Quilting Community episodes (recorded at the annual Quilt Market show) and her community specials, where listeners call in and recommend the things that they're loving in their sewing lives.
Image © While She Naps
Dressed: A History of Fashion
Hold on to your hats! If you love a bit of fashion heritage, you're in for a treat. Fashion historians April Calahan and Cassidy Zachary explore the who, what and when of why we wear what we do.
Each week the duo reveal a fresh glimpse into the stories, people and cultural movements behind what we wear in this fashion history treasure trove. Want to find out more about the history of men's suits and the tuxedo? Interested in fashions through the years (from Black Dandyism to 1920s flappers, punk culture or the history of leopard print)? They've got you covered. www.dressedpodcast.com
Image © Dressed Podcast: confirming it is indeed possible to be addicted to a podcast.
Very Serious Crafts Podcast
No, YOU take sewing too seriously! Oh ok, we're all guilty of this from time to time, which is why we need hosts Haley Pierson-Cox, Heidi Gustad and Mollie Johanson in our lives.
Listening to the trio talk and laugh is like hanging out with your stitchy buddies. Their chats about the very real daily struggles and triumphs of living a crafty life could not be more relatable.
Image © Very Serious Crafts Podcast: let's go hang out with our friends and make things.
Find your next sewing project:
Stitcher's Brew
We've featured some great podcasts from the States in this round-up but this home-grown podcast from 'sewing wives' Gabby Young and Megan Valero here in the UK is a complete treat.
It's basically a cup of tea and a chat with two friends – joyful, relatable and a celebration of living creative lives (and talking about them with our besties).
The pair met at a sewing meetup and now get together for regular sewing days (watch them over on Gabby's Gabberdashery Vlog). They talk all things sewing alongside a dose of knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery plus general chit chat about life and what they're binge-watching on TV.
They also invite inspiring guests from the creative world to join them and share a behind-the-scenes look at turning their hobby into their businesses, blogs and vlogs.
Image above © Stitcher's Brew.
CRAFT-ish
Join Vicky Howell as she interviews some of the biggest names in the creative world, from Pussyhat Designer Kat Cole to one of our quilting heroes: digital quilt designer Libs Elliot and fabric designer Tula Pink.
Her series doesn't stick to just sewing but explores the wider world of creative industries, from poets to authors and film directors as well as makers who have spread the word about crafting. We cannot recommend enough the episode where Vicky talks to the Godmother of Craftivism, Betsy Greer, in which Betsy talks about using needlework to protest war and promote positivity. vickiehowell.com/craftish
Image © CRAFT-ish. Your main challenge will be choosing which episode to listen to first.
Sewing with Threads
The popular podcast from the staff of US sewing and dressmaking magazine Threads invites a range of special guests from the sewing world to talk about making clothes and the sewing industry.
Since they launched last year they've covered topics from the lasting appeal of vintage patterns to overcoming sewing challenges and the importance of getting the right fit when making clothes.
Image © Threads Magazine: the team share their insider knowledge of dressmaking along with inspiring guests.
Thread Cult
Journalist and sewing blogger Christine Cyr Clisset's ran this monthly podcast up until March 2017 and thankfully her archive of podcasts for the sewing, fashion and textile obsessed are still available to listen to!
Chrstine's monthly interviews with crafters and creators from the sewing and fashion communities feel just as relevant today. She chats to everyone from pattern and textile designers to couture experts and curators. Guests included Rosie Martin of DIY Couture, Liesl Gibson of Oliver S and Spoonflower co-founder Stephen Fraser.
threadcult.com – Each episode gives you something to listen to while you stitch, weave, dye, or work.
Mel Giedroyc is Quilting
Looking for a relaxing listen? Our favourite comedian Mel Giedroyc and her presenter friend Andy Bush have teamed up to make podcast all about quilting. Be warned: this isn't a podcast for quilting purists because Mel tries to sew together fabrics of different weights on a couple of occasions. If you can forgive Mel for that, this is a fun podcast for crafters to enjoy.
Listen to Mel Giedroyc is Quilting on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the podcast on Instagram too @melgquilting – follow for calm crafting chat.
Image © Mel Giedroyc is Quilting podcast.
Stitch Please podcast
Stitch Please is a fabulous US podcast hosted by Lisa Woolfork (@blackwomenstitch on Instagram), which highlights the sewing skills and creative projects of black women, girls and femmes. Lisa comes from a family of crafters and her passion for sewing and quilting really shines through.
This podcast has a variety of inspiring guests covering everything from sewing to felting and embroidery.
Image © Stitch Please podcast.
