Stitching Tales

Happy Sew New Year: Why fall starts the sewing year #123

Why wait until January to start fresh? Fall has all the ingredients for a new beginning, right? That's when we crave routines and want to reset, reorganise and make new p

Fall fashion 2026: What to sew, shop and skip #122

What does fall 2026 actually look like when you stop scrolling past the runway photos and start thinking about what you'd actually wear? Johanna and Malena compare fashio

Sewing revelations, business woes and a health scare #121

Summer is almost over, routines are returning, and Johanna and Malena are back with a catch-up. They talk about trying to take time off, getting back into work mode, Swed

Getting darts right: Everything you need to know #120

Darts. Tiny folds of fabric that somehow manage to cause a surprising amount of confusion. In this episode, Johanna and Malena unravel one of sewing's most fundamental t

To A Tee update: The book is taking shape #119

It's time for another To A Tee update, and this time Johanna and Malena have plenty to share. After months of writing, drafting, testing and revising, the book is finally

Beyond the sketch: The hidden jobs in clothing #118

Most people picture one job when they think about fashion: designer. Or perhaps a pattern maker if you are deeply into sewing (like us!). But the clothing industry is a w

Summer updates, rabbit holes & reality checks #117

It's time for another catch-up episode, which means Johanna and Malena are chatting about everything from summer sewing projects to the not-so-glamorous realities of runn

How sewing pattern grading works #116

Sizing a sewing pattern is rarely as simple as making everything bigger or smaller. In this episode, Malena unpacks what pattern grading actually involves, from choosing

The messy reality of pivoting #115

Sometimes a business pivot starts with a carefully planned strategy. Other times it starts with panic, burnout, a global crisis… or just the growing feeling that somethin

Getting elastic right: Why not all elastic is created equal #114

Johanna and Malena unravel the surprisingly complicated world of elastic, and hopefully they didn't stretch this topic too far! This elastic deep dive covers everything

Make it last: Caring for your handmade wardrobe #113

You spend days making a precious garment. And then, with wash and wear, it starts to break down. In this episode, Malena and Johanna talk about what affects how long han

Where do sewists hang out now? #112

The sewing world has never been more connected, or more fragmented. 15 years ago, most online sewists gathered in a handful of forums and blogs. Today, conversations are

Sew better with the right thread #111

Sewing thread seems simple, until you realise that there is a thread jungle out there, and that choosing the right thread can affect everything from seam durability and s

Creative burnout, exhaustion & pressure to always create #110

What happens when the thing you used to enjoy doing starts feeling like dread? Because burnout and exhaustion often creep up on us, and can be hard to nip in the bud.In t

Summer sewing: Linen struggles, hacking shorts and bold stripes #109

Summer has (almost) arrived in Sweden, and Malena and Johanna are ready to talk about warm-weather sewing. It starts with a linen pants therapy session where Johanna has

Coverstitch secrets: Beyond basic hems #108

The coverstitch machine can easily become an expensive hemming machine. So in this episode, Johanna and Malena talk about why it can do so much more than just finish the

Lack of confidence, purging patterns & creative differences : Q&A #107

Malena and Johanna open the mailbag again and answer your pressing sewing questions! Should you purge patterns that no longer fit? Who gets the final word when Malena and

From Sweden to Hawaii: How Sanna Myers built a pattern brand #106

What does it actually take to launch a sewing pattern brand and find an audience for your creations? In this episode, Johanna and Malena sit down with Sanna Myers from P

8 ways to sew knit necklines (none of them a neckband) #105

Everyone knows the neckband. It’s the default option for finishing knit tops. But surely there must be more ways? Perhaps even better ones? In this episode, Malena and

Pre-launch spiral & trusting the (bridal) fabric flow #104

Johanna is launching a new sewing pattern after an 18-month hiatus and is a bundle of nerves. Has all the hard work of the past few months been for nothing?Malena steps i