Make and Decorate with Stephanie: Sew, Quilt, Knit & Home Decor

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S8 Ep 130
Stephanie shares practical sewing tips, project organization strategies, and updates on her personal projects, including her experience with foundation paper piecing, hemming, and outdoor decor. Plus, insights into her upcoming plans and the FIFA World Cup excitement.

Key  topics:
Hemming techniques and tips
Foundation paper piecing process and tools
Organizing a sewing room efficiently
Choosing outdoor fabrics and decor ideas
Updates on sewing machine models and features
Personal projects: quilts, needlepoint, outdoor cushions
FIFA World Cup insights and fan experiences
Upcoming episodes on fabric marking pens and sewing machines

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and episode overview
01:10 Hemming pants: tips and techniques
04:04 Using blind hem stitch and pressing tips
07:47 Foundation paper piecing: tools and system
13:45 Organizing the sewing room efficiently
23:59 Outdoor fabric selection and project ideas
34:01 Garden updates: dahlias, vegetables, and water features
46:57 Upcoming episodes: fabric marking pens and sewing machines
50:49 FIFA World Cup highlights and personal favorites
56:04 Personal update: knee surgery and future plans

Resources

Make and Decorate with Stephanie Podcast on YouTube https://youtube.com/@makeanddecorate
J Stern Designs Blind Hem Tutorial - https://youtu.be/PkOotHtiW_k?is=ky02W82TJSqijcFm
Tommy Bahama Outdoor Fabric at Michaels - https://www.michaels.com/product/10736404
Add-a-quarter rulers - https://amzn.to/4fp8X1K
Bernina Sewing Machines - https://www.bernina.com/en-US/Machines-US/Series-Overview/BERNINA-4-Series/BERNINA-495-Liberty-Edition
https://www.bernina.com/en-US/Machines-US/Series-Overview/NEW-BERNINA-5-Series/BERNINA-580-Liberty-Edition

Support the show
Connect with Stephanie:
YOUTUBE: Make and Decorate YouTube Channel
EMAIL: info@makeanddecorate.com
INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design
WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

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S8 Ep 129
In this episode, I chat with Melodie Harding who shares her journey from traditional quilting to designing innovative stencil tools for machine quilting.
Our conversation covers practical tips for quilting, the benefits of using stencils, and how to overcome challenges in free motion quilting. Melodie shares her insights on combining different techniques and encourages quilters to experiment and find their unique style.

For 20% off one order of Sew Harmony stencils, enter Promo Code "MakeDecorate20" at checkout.  https://sewharmony.com/collections/all

Links: Some of the links in this video are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the channel!
https://www.havelssewing.com/snip-eze-embroid-snips-carded
https://primitivegatherings.us/primitive-gatherings-binding-needles-12-ct/
https://a.co/d/06Ze39et
Subscribe to Melody's newsletter for product updates - the mini stencils are coming out very soon in June 2026! https://sewharmony.com

Come join me in my Patreon group free or paid. I post quips in free content and ad free episodes as well as behind the scenes posts in paid tiers.  https://patreon.com/makeanddecorate
Support the show
Connect with Stephanie:
YOUTUBE: Make and Decorate YouTube Channel
EMAIL: info@makeanddecorate.com
INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design
WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message!
In this episode:
Chit chat: life update, H+H this week, and birthday party decor projects.
 Mini Topics
 Pattern Matching fabrics for quilt backings (or for any project)
 My process for Foundation Paper Piecing the Fairytale Forest BOM by Duckadilly
Audiobook Reviews
 AudiobookBook reviews on "Local Woman Missing" by Mary Kubica, "The Diamond Eye" by Kate Quinn, and "She's Not Sorry" by Mary Kubica, covering themes, character analysis, and author backgrounds.
 Movie commentary comparing the "The Housemaid" series book and film, exploring differences and storytelling nuances.

Resources & Links:
Frieda McFadden Books
Mary Kubica Books
Kate Quinn Books
Sew Harmony - Quilting Stencils
Smithsonian Article on Mila Pavlichenko
Reliable Sewing Machines
Liberty Fabrics at Duckadilly

Support the show
Connect with Stephanie:
YOUTUBE: Make and Decorate YouTube Channel
EMAIL: info@makeanddecorate.com
INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design
WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message!
Returning guest, Christa Watson is back to talk about her new partnership with Riley Blake Designs.  Christa's is now a fabric designer with Riley Blake and her first collection with them will be available in Nov 2026.
We also chat about practice quilt sandwiches you can make and use with what you have on hand.  I am super excited about Christa's  practice quilt panels that will be available in Nov 2026!
Links:
christaquilts.com
Riley Blake Designs - Quilt in Color by Christa Watson
YouTube: Christa Quilts
99 Machine-Quilting Designs PDF Book by Christa Watson
Support the show
Connect with Stephanie:
YOUTUBE: Make and Decorate YouTube Channel
EMAIL: info@makeanddecorate.com
INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design
WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

Click Here to Send me a Fan Mail Message!
In this episode of Make and Decorate, host Stephanie reflects on her unplanned break from podcasting and shares her excitement about returning. She discusses her creative projects over the past year, including a cathedral window quilt for her parents' anniversary and a commissioned king-sized quilt. Stephanie also shares her experiences at a quilting retreat, innovative tools she discovered, and cozy holiday projects. She highlights new patterns and classes she's excited about, and outlines her plans for the future of the podcast, including a shift to monthly episodes and potential video content.
Chapters
00:00
Welcome Back to Make and Decorate
03:43
Reflections on the Past Year
06:05
Creative Projects and Commissions
Missouri Star Cathedral quilt tutorial. 
Kraeo Handyed yarn shop
Sparklesax Designs Longarm Services
12:03
Retreat Experiences and New Techniques
Center Street Quilts Hemmingway zipper pouch pattern
**Free Pattern** Sweetwater Patchwork Tree Mini Quit excerpt by Moda Mail
Out of Print Elenor Burns Trip Around the World Pattern Book - 1988 available on Thriftbooks
2021 Elenor Burns Trip Around the World - Accu Quilt YouTube Video
2019 Donna Jordan Quick and Easy Trip Around the World You Tube Video
22:08
Innovative Quilting Tools and Techniques
Modern Quilting Stencils by Sew Harmony
27:57
Cozy Holiday Projects
31:15
Exciting New Patterns and Classes
Katia Ferris New Book - Make Your Own Animal Friends
Katia Ferris New Sew a Mouse Class on Creativebug - available now
Katia Ferris' New 14" Rag Doll Class on Creativebug - available on 2/10/26
Jayne Stitches - Meredith doll workshop
37:46
Looking Ahead: Future Plans
Support the show
Connect with Stephanie:
YOUTUBE: Make and Decorate YouTube Channel
EMAIL: info@makeanddecorate.com
INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design
WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate