Happy Halloween! Let's talk about brooms (the vehicle of witches). We do a deep dive into broom making in New England, where broom making shifted from a locally made handcraft, especially by Native Americans, to a white commercial venture. Listen in to learn why broom making underwent this shift and how New England indigenous makers and farmers made brooms in late 1700s and early 1800s. Bonus: the Shakers make a cameo.

Find extensive shownotes with sources at https://tinyurl.com/ycyya2a9. Email us at [email protected] and follow us on Instagram @handmadehistorypodcast.

Have you heard of nalbinding, the "ancestor to knitting?" Surprise--it's not! Listen in to learn about this ancient AND ongoing craft, how it was forgotten and relearned in the US (and other countries), and how it is related to knitting. Find extensive shownotes with sources at https://tinyurl.com/kbdanvd8 . Email us at [email protected] and follow us on Instagram @handmadehistorypodcast

If you buy a cross stitch kit today, you will get the same five things: a pattern with tiny squares and symbols, a piece of aida or even weave cloth, DMC colors (or a color guide), a needle, and a hoop. Leaving off the ancient origins of a needle and hoop, this episode covers the history of everything else. Surprise, we're all Victorians! Listen in to learn about the woman who invented (or perfected) aida cloth, why aida cloth has the same name as an opera, and how DMC created their uberpopular Mouline Special thread.

Download thorough show notes with sources here: https://tinyurl.com/4umhx4fz.

Want to get in touch? Send ideas, feedback, and historical tidbits to [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

Follow us on Instagram @handmadehistorypodcast

Thanks for listening!

Listen in to learn how the very first Pride flag was made (spoiler alert: on a rooftop in San Francisco!). Find out all about the history of various Pride flags, and see how flags have shifted from giant fabric objects to tiny emoji rectangles.

Download our thourough show notes with resources here: https://tinyurl.com/4xw7kvrf

Want to get in touch? Email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you! Follow us on Instagram @handmadehistorypodcast.

Join Sonia and Alicia for the very first episode of Handmade History, all about the Radio Homemakers! Jessie Young and several others became immensely popular hosting shows from 1926-1980. They shared recipes, tips, and stories with women in rural America. They were incredibly popular and beloved. Did you know Betty Crocker was a radio homemaker fabricated by General Mills?

Find our super thorough show notes here, with all of our sources: https://tinyurl.com/2px5n2j3

Have an idea or some feedback? We want to hear it! Email us at [email protected] and find us on Instagram @handmadehistorypodcast.