Stitching Tales

Johanna is about to lose it if she has to sew one more striped garment in 2026. Luckily, Malena talks her off the ledge. Instead, they get into the weeds of sewing striped fabrics: Cutting as a single layer, deciding whether to follow the grainline or the stripes, figuring out where a hem stitchline should land, and discovering that sleeve caps have absolutely no interest in cooperating with stripes.

They also compare their different approaches to stripe matching, from meticulous planning to knowing when to say, “Good enough.”

There are tricks involving pins, basting, glue pens, wash-away tape and walking feet, but the bigger lesson is learning which battles are worth fighting. Because sometimes the perfect stripe match is possible. Sometimes the garment shape wins. And sometimes you just have to stop looking at it and move on with your life!

Then Johanna makes a bold statement: the best way to prevent modern-day brain rot is to sew more stripes!

Johanna's cutting and sewing stripes tutorial

Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.com
Stitching Tales on Instagram
Stitching Tales on YouTube
About Malena Hjerpe:
Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
Hazelhen Patterns Instagram
hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström:
Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
thelaststitch.com
The Last Stitch Instagram
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Johanna and Malena open up the mailbox and answer some great listeners' questions, which takes the conversation into Swedish sewing culture, personal style and why making your own clothes can be about much more than filling a gap in the wardrobe.

They compare Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and Japanese style, talk about how sewing can become several hobbies at once, and share their thoughts on adjustable waistbands and the challenges of a truly unisex pattern block. Plus Johanna goes on a long rant against Swedish mainstream fashion!

Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.com

Stitching Tales on Instagram
Stitching Tales on YouTube

About Malena Hjerpe:
Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
Hazelhen Patterns Instagram
hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)

About Johanna Lundström:
Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
thelaststitch.com
The Last Stitch Instagram
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fancy elastic sounds like something that should come with a tiny handbag and an attitude problem, but it’s actually surprisingly useful. In this episode, Johanna and Malena look at fold-over elastic, stretch lace, picot and plush elastic, and where each works best.

They talk about stretch and recovery, choosing the right width, testing before committing, and different ways to attach elastic with a regular machine, serger or coverstitch. Because apparently, even elastic has a dress code.

From necklines to leg openings, there are plenty of ideas to try, and a good excuse to get a bit fancy with your next project.

Johanna's fancy elastic resources
⁠⁠Master The Coverstitch Machine Book⁠
⁠Sewing Activewear Book
3 ways to sew stretch lace
Fold over elastic video tutorial

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stitchingtalespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Or contact us at our socials:
Stitching Tales on Instagram
Stitching Tales on YouTube
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
Hazelhen Patterns Instagram
hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
thelaststitch.com
The Last Stitch Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s catch-up time! Malena has some cool news about her work, including a brief moment of proximity to a famous couturier. Plus a new part-time job at a bridal shop. We talk high-fashion pattern making, brides and the surprising joy of having a job where you interact with others.

Meanwhile, Johanna has been wrestling with podcast hosting, monetising the podcast and the small matter of recutting more than 100 episodes. Meaning she wants to throw her computer out the window. They also get into their upcoming t-shirt book, where minuscule details can turn into a molehill. Plus the perennial question: must stripes align?

There is also a dental correction and a discussion of whether buying another overlocker is a completely reasonable expense. We’ll let you decide!

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stitchingtalespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or contact us on our socials:
Stitching Tales on Instagram
Stitching Tales on YouTube

About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
Hazelhen Patterns Instagram
hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)

About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
thelaststitch.com
The Last Stitch Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the sewing habits, tools and construction choices that have made the biggest difference to our sewing?

In this episode, Johanna and Malena share their personal sewing game changers, including pressing throughout construction, pre-pressing hems, inserting trouser zippers on the flat, making toiles, and cutting tricky fabrics in a single layer.

They also discuss what home sewists can learn from ready-to-wear construction, using press templates for pockets, adjusting presser foot pressure, heavy thread for topstitching, rotary cutters, overlockers and magnifying lamps.
Some are simple workflow changes. Others are tools worth investing in. And one involves a cereal box.

Tutorials mentioned:
⁠Johanna's dress pants zipper tutorial⁠
⁠Jeans' zipper tutorial⁠ (video)
⁠Sewing Jeans Book⁠
⁠Jeans pocket with press template⁠
⁠Magnifying lamp⁠ (Amazon affiliate link)

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stitchingtalespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or contact us at our socials:
Stitching Tales on Instagram
Stitching Tales on YouTube

About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
Hazelhen Patterns Instagram
hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)

About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
thelaststitch.com
The Last Stitch Instagram
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.