The inside scoop on sewing your own clothes and running a sewing business. By the authors of Fit for Knits, Malena Hjerpe and Johanna Lundström.
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Johanna Lundström:
Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
About Malena Hjerpe:
Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://hazelhenpatterns.com
The podcast Stitching Tales is created by The Last Stitch Media. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Too busy sewing to read the sewing machine manual? No worries; we have all been there! In this episode, Malena and Johanna confess their own sewing machine mistakes and share tips on how to avoid making them.
Plus Malena has been making patterns for a very cool design collab, and Johanna is feeling thorn that her day job leave is coming to an end.
Have questions? Email us at [email protected]
Or contact us at our socials:
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
Magda Butrym x HM
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Interfacing can make (or break) a garment. So how do we pick the right type? And should we interface stretchy knit garments? Malena and Johanna do a deep dive into the world of interfacing and share some valuable tips you might not have heard before!
Interfacing stretchy knits
https://www.thelaststitch.com/using-fusible-interfacing-knits/
Stabilising shoulder seams on knit tops
https://www.thelaststitch.com/how-to-stabilise-shoulder-seams-on-knit-tops/
Interfacing tailored garments (video)
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Johanna is back from an amazing mini-holiday in Lisbon and is ready to tackle the next project – hers and Malena's new sewing book. She also had some shipping drama that made her want to run and hide and almost quit her business.
Malena has been home alone and spent her "free" time sewing the photo samples for her upcoming pattern Yes, Malena will release a second pattern this year!
Johanna's new jeans sewing course
https://courses.thelaststitch.com
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Is rayon a natural fibre and are synthetic materials always bad? Plus, why are some fabrics rubbish while others hold up for decades, even though the fibre content is the same?
Our resident fiber expert Malena goes deep into this important, and underrated, topic for us sewists. Johanna is in awe and has several new revelations in this episode. Enjoy!
Have more questions? Email us at [email protected]
Or contact us at our socials:
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Are sewing sweaterknits doomed to fail and are fine wool knits worth going broke for? Plus: Where are all the good menswear patterns? Johanna and Malena open their mailbox and answer more questions from our lovely listeners and viewers.
Have more questions? Email us at [email protected]
Or contact us at our socials:
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
Lyrical fabrics
https://lyricalfabrics.com
Johanna's favourite wool knit supplier:
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Johanna has secretly launched her jeans sewing course, and you are among the first to find out! As a loyal podcast listener, get 20% off Denim Mastery before it officially launches on February 20.
Grab your offer: https://courses.thelaststitch.com/denim-mastery?coupon=DENIMTALES
(or use codeDENIMTALES at checkout). The sale ends February 20 11.30 PM (Central European Time)
Meanwhile, Malena is ready to start sewing the photo samples of her next pattern release. Yes, she too is on a roll!
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe:Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström:Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Will AI be able to construct a sewing pattern using just an image, a prompt and your measurements? And will sewists jump on the latest trend; hot pants as the new mini skirt? Johanna and Malena bring out the crystal ball and make some bold predictions.
This somehow brings us into a heated discussion about unethical, unsustainable and downright dangerous practices that some clothes companies use. We are truly on fire in this episode! Tauko Magazine https://www.taukomagazine.com/shop/issue-14 Subscribe to Johanna's newsletter
https://www.thelaststitch.com/newsletter
Have questions for our Q&A episodes? Email us at [email protected]
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Malena can finally reveal her secret project! Plus she has big plans for 2025 (hint: two new sewing patterns).
Meanwhile, Johanna is burning the midnight oil trying to finish her jeans video course. And she is waiting for a very exciting delivery that gives her clout among the young people in her life.
Looks like we are off to a strong start!
Pre-order Tauko Magazine
https://www.taukomagazine.com/shop/issue-14
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Malena and Johanna had some grand plans for 2024. So how did it all go? Plus Malena reveals a professional pivot that she has never talked publicly about before! And a huge thank you to all of you that tuned in this year to listen to our podcast! Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
Looking for the ultimate gift to give your sewing friend (or yourself)? Then look no further. We share our best picks for sewing holiday gifts, from essential sewing tools to inspiring books, something for every budget level.
Stitching Tales Gift Guide
https://www.thelaststitch.com/giftguide
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Did Johanna really end up joining a weekly dance thing because of Tinder? And why did Malena's sister ban her from caring for her plants? In this episode, we lift the lid on our personal life and share some things you probably didn't know about us!
Plus we answer the question we all want to know...how big is really our (fabric) stash?
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
Johanna's business inspiration
Matt Giovanisci, Swim-U, Money Lab https://open.spotify.com/show/61TkgjNR13AqGKKrONZdQp?si=06bcedbebe844470
Malena's business mentor
Sara Bäckmo
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
Sewing buttonholes is not Johanna and Malena's favourite thing to do. However, they have many tips on making them great, including some garment industry insider tips.
Listen to get lots of great insight on the best placement, getting the size right, stitch settings, tools and of course, how to open the buttonholes without ruining everything.
Easy bound buttonhole tutorial
https://www.thelaststitch.com/how-to-sew-bound-buttonholes/
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Johanna set her newly purchased fabric on fire, but why? And which mega-hyped Swedish brand is Malena's new client? Plus did Johanna finally crack the code for successful time management? Listen to find out!
In this episode, we talk about what's been happening in our sewing and business life lately.
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
You asked and we answered! Malena and Johanna share their favourite upcycling projects and give tips on the best seam allowances for tricky areas, plus how to use interfacing on knit fabrics. Enjoy!
Johanna's mittens and beanie hat patterns
(for upcycling old sweaters)
https://shop.thelaststitch.com/collections/accessories
Have questions for another Q&A episode? Email us at [email protected]
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Fusible stretch interfacing (blog tutorial and video)
https://www.thelaststitch.com/using-fusible-interfacing-knits
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
Feeling intimidated by sewing a zipper on pants? And what's the secret to a making waistband that looks as nice on the inside as the outside? Plus the secret to a truly invisible machine hem. Malena and Johanna share their best pant sewing tips in this info-packed episode. Enjoy!
Johanna's Pants Tutorial Series
https://www.thelaststitch.com/category/tutorials/sewing-pants/
Machine Blind-hem Tutorial
https://www.thelaststitch.com/invisible-blind-hem-stitch-with-a-sewing-machine/
Jeans Zipper Video Tutorial
The inspiration behind Johanna's new jeans
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
Johanna can't even pay one month's rent with her latest pattern release, despite it being one of her best-performing patterns yet.
And Malena argues that you do need experience and the proper tools to create great sewing patterns. If you lack some skills, enlist help from those who have the knowledge. DIY doesn't mean we have to do EVERYTHING ourselves.
In this very candid conversation, we are busting plenty of myths about selling sewing patterns and running a business in general.
This episode was inspired by blog posts from Delphine of Just Patterns:
https://just-patterns.com/blogs/blog/busting-some-myths-about-selling-pdf-sewing-patterns
https://just-patterns.com/blogs/blog/should-you-use-adobe-illustrator-for-digital-patternmaking
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
Sew welt pockets, darts, and other dress pants details like a pro. Malena and Johanna go deep into common techniques for dress trousers and share their best tips, including some clever RTW techniques.
Johanna's Pants Tutorial Series
https://www.thelaststitch.com/category/tutorials/sewing-pants/
Dart Sewing Tutorial https://www.thelaststitch.com/vide-sew-along-back-darts/
Easy bound buttonhole tutorial (works for welt pockets too)
https://www.thelaststitch.com/how-to-sew-bound-buttonholes/
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Sewing pants can be intimidating. Getting the fit right, zippers, welt pockets, the list goes on. Johanna and Malena discuss the challenges with sewing pants and share some very helpful tips too.
Plus did Johanna manage to release her new sewing pattern, the Vide Pants, despite not being done 48 hours before the launch? Listen to find out!
Resources mentioned:
Vide knit pants
https://shop.thelaststitch.com/collections/clothes/products/vide-knit-pants-pdf-sewing-pattern
Fold Line's Trouser Sewing Pattern Guide
https://thefoldline.com/blogs/top-10-sewing-patterns/the-shortlist-trousers
Johanna's Pants Tutorial Series
https://www.thelaststitch.com/category/tutorials/sewing-pants/
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
Johanna has finally launched a new sewing pattern, the Vide knit pants. Will it fly or flop? Johanna is a bit nervous about the outcome but excited to have a new pattern to share, after over two years of no releases.
Shop Vide knit pants
https://shop.thelaststitch.com/collections/clothes/products/vide-knit-pants-pdf-sewing-pattern Johanna is also on a break from her day job and has some ideas on how to make her sewing biz a full-time income gig eventually.
Join us for a very candid episode on the realities of running a one-person sewing business!
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
Is a straight stitch sometimes a good idea when sewing knits? And do you need a serger to sew joggers?
In this second part of the knit pants series, they nerd out on seams, machines and assembly methods. It turns out that Johanna and Malena use totally opposite methods when sewing knit pants. So which one is the best? Or are both excellent? Listen to find out!
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
Patterns mentioned in this episode:
Vide knit pants
https://shop.thelaststitch.com/collections/clothes/products/vide-knit-pants-pdf-sewing-pattern
Fieldfare joggers
https://www.etsy.com/se-en/listing/795861037/fieldfare-womens-joggers-english-svenska
Aila leggings
https://shop.thelaststitch.com/collections/all-products/products/aila-leggings
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Who doesn't like comfortable pants? Johanna and Malena certainly do. This is why they love to wear and sew pants made with knitted fabrics so much that they have also released sewing patterns with this style.
In this first episode, they dive deep into all the nerdy stuff that will make a huge difference when sewing knit pants, such as picking the right fabric, best cutting layout and elastic.
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
Patterns mentioned in this episode:
Vide knit pants
https://shop.thelaststitch.com/collections/clothes/products/vide-knit-pants-pdf-sewing-pattern
Fieldfare joggers
https://www.etsy.com/se-en/listing/795861037/fieldfare-womens-joggers-english-svenska
Aila leggings
https://shop.thelaststitch.com/collections/all-products/products/aila-leggings
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Johanna and Malena are writing another sewing book! And they can finally share what it is about!
Plus we get into a heated debate about which seam allowance is best for knit sewing patterns!
Email us at [email protected]
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Malena is participating in the #sewsmallseptember24 initiative. So we discuss ways to support smaller sewing businesses that might not have big-name recognition but provide awesome products.
If you want to know more about the challenge and how to participate, check out @neighborhoodpatterns and @madswick_studio on Instagram who launched this initiative to highlight small sewing businesses.
And regarding sewing products, Johanna has pinpointed two massive fashion trends based on her commute. She thinks these trends are ripe to pick for any fast-moving pattern designer.
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
We asked for your questions and here are our answers. In this episode we talk about presser feet for knits, how to best fit jeans and other pants, tips for grading patterns, our favourite makes, how to be smart about time when running a business and more!
Have questions for another Q&A episode? Email us at [email protected]
Sewing Jeans Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/sewing-jeans-book
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Book tip:
Grading For The Pattern Industry
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
Johanna and Malena are back from a summer podcast hiatus. But it's been a busy summer for both of them.
Malena has created several new patterns and samples for a new project that will be announced soon. And Johanna has (finally!) filmed her new jeans sewing course. Plus a new sewing pattern is in the works.
It will be a busy fall, so Johanna has decided to take (yet another) break from her day job.
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Sewing is tricky sometimes and we can all use a little help. Johanna and Malena talk about the tools that make tricky things easier, and save time too!
Plus Johanna has finally listened to Malena and purchased a life-saving "sewing" tool. But it took almost setting the sewing studio on fire before she came to her senses.
That said, Johanna does set something on fire during the episode, but it's all in the name of providing helpful sewing content!
Have questions for our Q&A episode? Email us at [email protected]
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Johanna's Top 10 Tools for Less than $10
https://www.thelaststitch.com/top-10-cheap-sewing-tools
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
Malena and Johanna go outside their Scandinavian comfort zone to allow themselves to dream big, about sewing and the future of their businesses.
We share some lofty goals, plus we tease our next projects!
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Do you have to prewash every fabric and is overcasting the edges always necessary? And do we really have to cut all pattern pieces in the same direction?
Johanna and Malena talk about their biggest sewing dos and don'ts. Some they agree on, and some...well...you have to listen and find out!
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
Malena has added projector files to her latest pattern (The Malva Tee) and we think projectors might be the future for us homesewists. Plus she is featured on the biggest sewing podcast (not us, hehe).
Johanna is almost done with the instructions for her latest sewing pattern, the Vide knit pants. But will it sell?
This question leads to a discussion about sewing pattern companies going through periods of change or even folding.
Malena's letter on Love To Sew Podcast (Episode 263)
https://lovetosewpodcast.com/episodes/episode-263-love-to-brag
Johanna's interview on Love To Sew Podcast (Episode 28)
https://lovetosewpodcast.com/episodes/episode-28-sewing-activewear-with-johanna-lu
Deer and Doe founders on exiting the company and the challenges they faced
https://blog.deer-and-doe.com/17703-almost-10-years-an-honest-look-back
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
Learn our top tips for making your own activewear. We talk fabrics, construction methods, patterns, fit – and how to add those special seams and finishes using regular, domestic, sewing machines.
Use code SAPOD20 to get 20% off:
Johanna's discount link
https://shop.thelaststitch.com/discount/SAPOD20
Malena's discount link https://hazelhenpatterns.etsy.com?coupon=SAPOD20
Johanna talks about how she started making her own activewear, which eventually led to her publishing the book Sewing Activewear.
Johanna's sewing activewear tutorials
https://www.thelaststitch.com/category/sewing-activewear-tutorials
Malena has drafted patterns for several activewear companies and share some fascinating insider facts on that process.
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
We share our top picks of must-have sewing helpers. Tools that are also budget-friendly, with one tiny exception.
Malena and Johanna also get into a discussion about which country produces the best scissors. Then Malena reveals a tool that makes Johanna explode with laughter!
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Johanna's Top 10 Tools for Less than $10
https://www.thelaststitch.com/top-10-cheap-sewing-tools
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Do you want to duplicate a store-bought garment? In this episode, we talk about how to make a pattern from a piece of clothing. There are several ways to do this and we cover them all.
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Johanna's Pattern Transfer Tutorial
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Malena is working on a secret pattern project but worries that the pattern's name might turn her into a crazy cat lady.
Johanna is burning the midnight oil cranking out weekly YouTube videos, but fears her schedule is not sustainable.
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Johanna's YouTube-channel
https://www.youtube.com/@Thelaststitch
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
What's the secret to sewing awesome knit tops? In this episode, Malena and Johanna share their best tips for fitting and sewing a t-shirt rivalling high-end RTW.
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Free FBA and SBA guide
https://www.thelaststitch.com/bustguide
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
T-shirt video sewing tutorial
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Malena's day job is making patterns for one of the largest fashion companies in the world. Can you guess which one?
In this episode, she shares what it's like to develop patterns in the professional world, and takes us through the process from a design sketch to the finished garment in stores.
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
Can you sew stretchy knits without a serger? Absolutely! If you use the right stitches, tools and techniques. In this episode, we share our best tips for sewing knit fabrics on a regular sewing machine.
Video: Sew Stretchy Knits on a Sewing Machine: 5 Game-Changing Tips
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
Malena's free pattern launch has been a huge success. But now she is swamped with freelance work, with little time to develop new products and content.
Johanna is back on YouTube and is blown away by the response. But can she produce weekly videos while also filming a sewing course, creating a new sewing pattern, plus working a part-time job?
The struggle is real!
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Do we really need a coverstitch machine? And why are they so fickle? Johanna and Malena cover (hah) everything you need to know about using a coverstitch machine and share their best tips.
Get 20% off Coverstitch Success
Use code POD20 or this link:
https://courses.thelaststitch.com/?coupon=POD20
Free coverstitch troubleshooting guide
https://www.thelaststitch.com/coverstitch-troubleshooting-guide/
Johanna's coverstitch resources
https://www.thelaststitch.com/coverstitching
https://www.thelaststitch.com/master-the-coverstitch-machine-book
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Do we have to be on every single platform? And how do we create great content on every social media without burning ourselves to ashes? The answer is that we can't!
But if we want our business to succeed, we must keep churning out new content. So how can we do that without losing our minds?
Johanna and Malena brainstorm some ideas for more effective content marketing.
Fit for Knits
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
What are the secrets to sewing a really awesome pair of jeans? Johanna and Malena dive deep into this fascinating topic and offer tips and hacks you might not have heard before.
Plus a few tales of jeans sewing disasters, because yes, they happen to all of us!
Johanna's book Sewing Jeans
https://www.thelaststitch.com/sewing-jeans-book
Sewing jeans resources
https://www.thelaststitch.com/sewingjeans
Fit for Knits
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
Malena is blown away by the response to her new free pattern. And Johanna is losing subscribers on YouTube because of the podcast! In this catch-up, we share some exciting and not-so-exciting things that have happened lately in our sewing businesses.
Fit for Knits
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
Ploen Patterns
Tauko Magazine
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
Marketing is the thing that both Malena and Johanna struggle with the most when it comes to running a business.
Malena wants to rely less on Instagram and is currently trying out new platforms.
Johanna is only comfortable with time-consuming, high-quality, content marketing, which incidentally is what stops her from doing any marketing at all.
We also address some legal and taxation complications regarding marketing. Things that not everyone in the sewing community might be aware of.
Fit for Knits
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
Jaykaiy Patterns
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Curious about the process of developing sewing patterns? What tools do we use? How much is digital vs pen and paper? And are pattern testers required to ensure a good fit in all sizes?
These and a lot more questions are answered in this episode where Malena and Johanna talk candidly about the process of creating sewing patterns as a small company.
Fit for Knits
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
Malena has released the Malva tee, which you'll get for free if you sign up for her newsletter. Malva is guaranteed to become a wardrobe staple, and Johanna can't rave enough about the balanced and clever silhouette.
Johanna hasn't released a new pattern (yet!) but Malena has some strong opinions on what type of sewing pattern Johanna should create next. This is where Johanna lets her guard down and admits she is terrified of that idea. Listen to find out!
Fit for Knits
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Malena's free pattern
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com
Johanna's pants tutorial series
https://www.thelaststitch.com/category/tutorials/sewing-pants
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns
https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Do we really need newsletters? Do readers find them useful? Or are they simply a waste of both inbox space and precious time for us business owners?
Malena wants to start a monthly sewing newsletter. But her concept flies in the face of all conventional sewing newsletter wisdom.
Johanna is both impressed and a bit sceptical. Will Malena be a newsletter disrupter or stick to a more conventional approach? Listen to find out!
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
Johanna and Malena have made a book together. It's about how to fit and sew beautiful knit clothes. Listen to this episode to learn a ton of tips that could blow your mind.
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
Malena and Johanna get candid about their own struggles when it comes to sewing clothes made with knit fabrics. We talk about fabrics that can't handle sewing, disappointing necklines and having the serger knife slice up your garment (again!).
Luckily they have figured out some great tips along the way, so listen carefully to save you from making the same mistakes. Some of Malena's and Johanna's tips involve using a glue stick and a timer. But not together!
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
Malena and Johanna talk about the realities of running a sewing business. Can you quit your day job, or even make money at all? And does creating content take the fun out of sewing?
Johanna likes to pretend she is running a big sewing media house with a staff of highly skilled professionals. But in reality, she is mostly a one-person show.
Malena is more down-to-earth and likes to apply the "good enough" philosophy to save her sanity. Plus she is a big fan of delegating.
Fit for Knits Book
https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-book
Stitching Tales on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod
Stitching Tales on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPod
About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.
https://www.thelaststitch.com
https://www.instagram.com/laststitch
About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.