The Straight Stitch: A Podcast About Sewing and Other Fiber Arts

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Have you ever sewn the size the chart recommended and still ended up with something that didn’t fit? Many designers draft their size ranges from different blocks, so moving from one range to the next can change far more than the measurements. Join Janet for some real-world pattern adjustments, a look at what changes between size ranges, and grading a pattern when your size isn’t on the envelope.
Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  janet@janetszabo.com

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What happens to the fabric, notions, and patterns we never get around to using? In this episode, Emily Yost and Ariel Riccardi of Creative Reuse Montana share about this innovative, volunteer-run nonprofit in Livingston, Montana. The organization collects unused creative supplies and puts them back into the hands of makers, teachers, and community groups instead of landfills. Emily and Ariel share how the organization grew from a single craft supply swap into a downtown shop that runs free community swaps, workshops, and wishlists for classrooms, youth programs, and senior centers. We talk about how reuse centers around the country are helping sewists find affordable materials and community after Joann Fabrics closed. Learn how you can find or start a creative reuse effort wherever you live. 
Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  janet@janetszabo.com

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This week I’m turning the mic on myself. I spent most of this past summer planning for a new business. A few weeks ago, I launched Sew Something Studio, a new in-person sewing school in Kalispell, Montana.
In this episode I walk through what it actually took to get it off the ground: why I decided now was the time; building the website; finding a location (and what makes a space work for sewing classes); getting machines and tables in place; and getting the word out locally. Whether you’ve dreamed of teaching sewing yourself or you’re just curious what goes on behind the scenes of a new sewing business, pull up a chair and listen while you sew.
Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  janet@janetszabo.com

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Every T-shirt quilt you've ever seen owes something to this week's guest. Andrea Funk invented the puzzle-style T-shirt quilt back in 1992 — ditching the uniform square block in favor of variable-sized pieces that let every graphic, logo, and collar print stay whole and uncropped. In this conversation, Andrea walks through how she landed on the puzzle-piece layout, the practical realities of working with knits, stretch, and graphics, and the details involved in running a business. If you’ve ever been curious about making a T-shirt quilt, you won’t want to miss this episode.
Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  janet@janetszabo.com

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T Carter's quilts don't just tell stories—they tell the stories history books leave out. As a trained historian and a national award-winning fiber artist, T pairs research with quilting to spotlight voices of women, people of color, and indigenous communities, from forgotten tribes to a small-town gas station's bootlegger legend. Join Janet as T shares how quilts bring those stories to life through fabric. 
Show notes for each episode: www.thestraightstitchpodcast.com
My website: www.janetszabo.com
See my sewing projects at: www.janetszabo.com/blog
E-mail me!  janet@janetszabo.com