In 1895, to save her kingdom from being torn apart, Queen Lili’uokalani signed over her authority to the US government.  Subsequent to that event, she was imprisoned in her own bedroom in her palace–‘Iolani Palace–for ten months.  Her closest companion stayed with her, voluntarily, throughout her confinement, leaving only on Sundays to see her family.  During the time that she was under house arrest, Queen Lili’uokalani worked in crazy quilt style–the most popular quilting style of the day–and created much of the 97″ x 95″ Queen’s Quilt that is now on display in ‘Iolani Palace.

Join host Deborah Moebes for a peek into how the Queen's Quilt serves as a symbol reflecting the way sewing has impacted Hawiian culture, and continues to demonstrate how sewing can be an act of revolutionary identity.

Read more here: 

https://whip-stitch.com/the-queens-quilt-podcast

Deborah Moebes shares three questions we can ask ourselves about our sewing that will challenge us, direct our focus, and help us celebrate our wins at the sewing machine.

Vintage thread spools are THE most darling, those tiny wooden hearts with lovely colors wound around them--BUT! That thread may not be stable or strong enough for your modern-day sewing projects.  Learn why in this episode where we explore how to test your thread's strength, and what to do with thread rather than throw it away.

Read a transcript of this episode here:

https://whip-stitch.com/your-thread-has-a-shelf-life/

Hear Deborah Moebes tell the story of how she learned to view her children's "art"--and her own--not as "art" but as Art by sharing it at the Atlanta Craft Swap.  What we make with our hands is valuable, but it can take an unexpected event to make that idea feel real.

Read a transcript of this episode's audio here:

https://whip-stitch.com/adventures-at-the-atlanta-food-and-craft-swap/

The story of Ann Lowe, whose designs are housed in the Smithsonian Museum of American History and created the wedding gown in which Jackie Kennedy was married, and who died nearly destitute and largely forgotten.  She's fascinated and our sewing will be better when we know more about her.

Read a transcript of this post on the Whipstitch blog:

https://whip-stitch.com/ann-lowe-a-great-woman-of-sewing/

Ever had a giant bird's nest of thread under your sewing with no idea how it got there?  How about a weird noise coming from the machine with every stitch?  Deborah reviews the top three most common sewing machine errors and how to fix them, based on questions asked by thousands of students over the years.  You can read a truncated transcript of this post here:

https://whip-stitch.com/answers-to-the-three-most-frequent-sewing-machine-questions/

Host Deborah Moebes shares the story of Sandra, whose sewing machines and legacy inspired Whipstitch from the beginning.  One of the most popular posts on the Whipstitch blog, this story reminds us all that the legacy we leave with our sewing can reach far beyond what we imagine.  Fair warning: bring tissues, this one's a honey of a tale!

You can read a transcript of this episode on the Whipstitch blog:

https://whip-stitch.com/the-story-of-sandra-2/

One of my very favorite series on the Whipstitch blog is the Great Women In Sewing series, where we highlight the work and influence of a woman who changed the world with her needle, or simply changed the world with a needle in her hand.  In this episode, we focus on Rosa Parks, Civil Rights icon and community activist--and professional seamstress.

Read a transcript of this episode and get links to the sites and resources mentioned here:

https://whip-stitch.com/rosa-parks-a-great-woman-in-sewing/

I've discovered some simple ways of making dramatic improvement in your sewing.  This twenty-minute episode shares those, along with some stories that follow my path to uncovering these techniques. 

You can download a copy of this list as a printable PDF from the League of Dressmakers, our episode sponsor!