Stitch Please

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.

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Dr. 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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

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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!

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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!

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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 & Training
• Born in Clayton, AL in 1898
• Learned sewing from her mother and grandmother
• Moved to NYC in 1917 to formally train at S.T. Taylor Design School
• Segregated at school but still excelled and finished early
• Building Her Brand
• Opened successful dress salon in Tampa, FL from 1919-1928
• Saved $20,000 to move to Harlem, NYC during the Renaissance
• Quickly built clientele among NYC elites and socialites
• Designed Olivia de Havilland's Oscars dress in 1947
• Peak Years
• Client list included Rockefellers, Roosevelts, duPonts and more
• Hired to design 1953 wedding dress for Jacqueline Kennedy
• Water pipe disaster destroyed original dress 10 days before wedding
• Remade it in 5 days with help of employees and community
• Late Career Struggles
• Focused more on artistry than business side, fell into debt
• Wealthy clients anonymously paid off $13k in back taxes she owed
• Died in 1981 at age 82 after inspiring new generation of designers

Key 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 Lowe

Impact: 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 & learn more at www.blackisamericapodcast.com

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Ayeshia Smith

@ayeshia.apparel on Instagram

Ayeshia 's Website

Ayeshia 's Facebook page

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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!

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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.

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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!

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Dr. 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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

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Stay Connected:

YouTube: Black Women Stitch

Instagram: Black Women Stitch

Facebook: Stitch Please Podcast

--

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter

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Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.

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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.

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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

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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!

=======

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Dr. 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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

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Stay Connected:

YouTube: Black Women Stitch

Instagram: Black Women Stitch

Facebook: Stitch Please Podcast

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Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter

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Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.

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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.

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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

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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!

=======

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Dr. 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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

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Stay Connected:

YouTube: Black Women Stitch

Instagram: Black Women Stitch

Facebook: Stitch Please Podcast

--

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter

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Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.

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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 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

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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.

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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!

=======

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Dr. 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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

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Stay Connected:

YouTube: Black Women Stitch

Instagram: Black Women Stitch

Facebook: Stitch Please Podcast

--

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 Patreon

Check out our Amazon Store

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.

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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!

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Dr. Joy Harden Bradford

Dr. 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 Heals

Instagram: @therapyforblackgirls

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Dr. 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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

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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!

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Stay Connected:

YouTube: Black Women Stitch

Instagram: Black Women Stitch

Facebook: Stitch Please Podcast

--

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter

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Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon

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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.

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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!

=======

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Dr. 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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

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Stay Connected:

YouTube: Black Women Stitch

Instagram: Black Women Stitch

Facebook: Stitch Please Podcast

--

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 Patreon

Check out our Amazon Store

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 NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

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Dr. 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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

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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

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Stay Connected:

YouTube: Black Women Stitch

Instagram: Black Women Stitch

Facebook: Stitch Please Podcast

--

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 Patreon

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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!

Takeaways

• Don'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 NOW! Do not miss out on your chance to and get your stitch together with a year of artistic inspiration!

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Dr. 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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

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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.

@dianeroneycreates on Instagram

Diane's Website

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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 Patreon

Check out our Amazon Store

Stay Connected:

YouTube: Black Women Stitch

Instagram: Black Women Stitch

Facebook: Stitch Please Podcast