The Straight Stitch: A Podcast About Sewing and Other Fiber Arts

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A big part of successful sewing, especially when making garments, is making good fabric choices. In this and upcoming "Fabrication" episodes, Janet will discuss different kinds of fabrics, how they are constructed, their characteristics, and techniques for sewing with them. This episode continues the discussion of knit fabrics started in Episode 21, focusing on sweater knits, sweatshirt fabrics, athletic knits, fleece/minky, and a few others. 

Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  [email protected]

Send us feedback about this episode!

Enjoy an entertaining visit with Kira Hartley, author of the book Fabric Wars: The Hunt for Vintage Fabric with Etsy's DodOddity. Kira is a battle-scarred veteran of auction and estate sales in the midwest, where she competes to acquire vintage fabrics and notions to sell to her devoted customers. She details her adventures —along with colorful caricatures of her competitors—in her book, with a second volume soon to follow. Hear from Kira as she talks about how she got started and and turned a fun activity into a thriving business. 

Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  [email protected]

Send us feedback about this episode!

A big part of successful sewing, especially when making garments, is making good fabric choices. In this and upcoming "Fabrication" episodes, Janet will discuss different kinds of fabrics, how they are constructed, their characteristics, and techniques for sewing with them. This episode focuses on knits, specifically jersey, rib knits, and interlock or doubleknits. (The world of knits is too big to cover in a single episode!) Learn why knits are different from wovens and when you would want to choose a ponte instead of a jersey. Become an educated consumer and make your fabric choices with confidence!

Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  [email protected]

Send us feedback about this episode!

This episode was inspired by an article by Jenni Grover entitled “3 Steps to Let Go of Guilt About Quilting.” Has guilt about your hobbies ever robbed you of the joy of creating? Let’s talk about why that happens and what we can do about it. 

Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  [email protected]

Send us feedback about this episode!

Today’s podcast guest is John Willis of Special Operations Equipment in Camden, TN. Some of you may remember that I went to Tennessee twice in 2023: in April, to attend Nicole Sauce’s Living Free in Tennessee Spring Workshop, and again in October, to attend and present at the Self-Reliance Festival. SRF is held at Special Operations Equipment. When not being used to host events, SOE is a sewing factory making high-end tactical gear. 

John and Amanda Willis are amazing people, and John graciously spent two hours last week visiting with me. The story of Special Operations Equipment is fascinating and one that I thought podcast listeners would enjoy hearing. And John is a great storyteller. 

Because our Zoom visit lasted longer than usual, I’ve posted two versions of this week’s episode. The “short” version is about the length of a regular podcast episode and covers the sewing part of our conversation. The “extended play” version includes the entire discussion and gets into more of John’s personal experiences and observations about life. There was so much wisdom in that part of the conversation that I felt it needed to be shared even if it veered off the topic of sewing a bit. Note that the EP version is marked “explicit” for some language, but we’re all adults and I expect people to make the appropriate choice for themselves. 

The two episodes are identical save for the length, so if you choose the EP version, you'll also hear what is in the shorter version. 

Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  [email protected]

Send us feedback about this episode!

Today’s podcast guest is John Willis of Special Operations Equipment in Camden, TN. Some of you may remember that I went to Tennessee twice in 2023: in April, to attend Nicole Sauce’s Living Free in Tennessee Spring Workshop, and again in October, to attend and present at the Self-Reliance Festival. SRF is held at Special Operations Equipment. When not being used to host events, SOE is a sewing factory making high-end tactical gear. 

John and Amanda Willis are amazing people, and John graciously spent two hours last week visiting with me. The story of Special Operations Equipment is fascinating and one that I thought podcast listeners would enjoy hearing. And John is a great storyteller. 

Because our Zoom visit lasted longer than usual, I’ve posted two versions of this week’s episode. The “short” version is about the length of a regular podcast episode and covers the sewing part of our conversation. The “extended play” version includes the entire discussion and gets into more of John’s personal experiences and observations about life. There was so much wisdom in that part of the conversation that I felt it needed to be shared even if it veered off the topic of sewing a bit. Note that the EP version is marked “explicit” for some language, but we’re all adults and I expect people to make the appropriate choice for themselves. 

The two episodes are identical save for the length, so if you choose the EP version, you'll also hear what is in the shorter version. 

Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  [email protected]

Send us feedback about this episode!

Join me for a conversation with Melanie Knight, owner of Starry Knight Design in Corvallis, MT. Melanie talks about how a simple pair of baby shoes inspired her to start a business using with just a small sewing machine and some leather scraps. That kitchen-table business grew to one that now employs several women and helps  support Melanie's family.  

Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  [email protected]

Send us feedback about this episode!

The Stitchery and Sewing Expo—fondly known as Sew Expo—is celebrating 40 years this year! This annual event is produced by Washington State University and held at the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup, WA, near Tacoma. This year’s event is scheduled for February 29th to March 3rd. 

My guests today are Jenn Geise, Education Manager, and Brittany Labbe, Show Manager. We’ll talk about the history of the show, the classes—class offerings are changing a bit this year in response to attendee feedback—and other fun events that are offered as part of Expo. This event draws attendees from all over the country and is a great way to expand your sewing skills in a dynamic setting. My friend Tera and I attended Sew Expo for the first time last year and had a blast! We indulged ourselves in four days of learning, shopping, and socializing. This year, I’ll be back as a teacher. 

Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  [email protected]

Send us feedback about this episode!

The humble sewing machine needle—such a small part of the process and yet, such a huge part of the process. Gone are the days when the choices were red band needles for wovens and yellow band needles for knits. Today's sewists have a plethora of choices, from needles for quilting to those best for cosplay and embroidery. We'll explore all there is to know about sewing machine needles. Learn about shanks, eyes, and scarfs (scarves?). Find out how often you should change your needle. Become confident in your needle choices and set your next sewing project up for success!

Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  [email protected]

Send us feedback about this episode!

The start of a new year is a great time to set some goals and review planning and organizational systems. We’ll talk about what goals Janet sets and why—it’s not as many as you might think—and ways to keep track of all those WIPs and UFOs. Janet also talks about making the Nathalie cowl neck sweatshirt by Jalie Patterns and sewing up a generator cover for her husband’s construction equipment.  

Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  [email protected]