Stitching Tales

The digital ebook version of To a Tee is now available for preorder! And there’s a sweet bonus for all you early birds. You’ll get our T-shirt fitting class for free, exclusively with ebook preorders.👉🏼 thelaststitch.com/toateeTwo and a half years apart, two days in front of the camera, five T-shirt styles, and enough sample garments to keep a small clothing shop stocked.Yes, Johanna and Malena finally meet up in person for the To a Tee book photo shoot, and they're here to tell the tale.They talk favourite patterns, rib knits, lettuce hems and the strange things that happen when you put two sewing nerds in a room with a deadline. There's also the less glamorous side of making a book: tweaking patterns, sorting measurement tables, laying out pages and getting everything ready for the printer. The finish line is in sight, even if the to-do list hasn't quite got the memo.Plus, there's a podcast glow-up on the horizon, future book ideas, and Johanna's plan for a sewing tutorial app. Apparently, finishing one enormous project is an excellent time to start imagining three more.Email us at [email protected] Tales on InstagramStitching Tales on YouTubeAbout Malena Hjerpe:Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.Hazelhen Patterns Instagramhazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)About Johanna Lundström:Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.thelaststitch.comThe Last Stitch Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zippers can feel either completely manageable or like a trip straight down to anxiety land. So Johanna and Malena take a deep dive into the surprisingly broad world of zippers, looking at coil, metal, plastic and invisible zippers, and how to choose the right one for different garments.They share practical tips for getting zippers to behave, including choosing the right length, stabilising fabric, accurate placement, shortening and even how to make new stoppers (that involves fire!). Then Malena takes on her bridalwear hat and gives some great tips on how to succeed with invisible zippers.There’s also a little zipper history detour that reveals something embarrassing about the Swedes, and Johanna realises she is part of the problem!Johanna's zipper tutorialsPants zipper tutorial (with pattern pieces)Jeans zipper tutorial (video tutorial, with pattern pieces)Zip-up runner belt tutorialEmail us at [email protected] Tales on InstagramStitching Tales on YouTubeAbout Malena Hjerpe:Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.Hazelhen Patterns Instagramhazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)About Johanna Lundström:Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.thelaststitch.comThe Last Stitch Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The T-shirt might be one of the most ordinary things in your wardrobe, but it has a surprisingly eventful past. Johanna and Malena trace its history from men’s underwear, athletic wear and workwear to James Dean, band tees, slogans and the everyday fashion staple we know today.Along the way, they talk about the rise of jersey, Coco Chanel, and the practical origins of the white T-shirt. They also nerd out on construction, seamless knitting, and why getting a simple T-shirt to fit well is not nearly as simple as it looks.Email us at [email protected] Tales on InstagramStitching Tales on YouTubeAbout Malena Hjerpe:Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.Hazelhen Patterns Instagramhazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)About Johanna Lundström:Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.thelaststitch.comThe Last Stitch Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 tutorialEmail us at [email protected] Tales on InstagramStitching Tales on YouTubeAbout Malena Hjerpe:Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.Hazelhen Patterns Instagramhazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)About Johanna Lundström:Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.thelaststitch.comThe 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 [email protected] Tales on InstagramStitching Tales on YouTubeAbout Malena Hjerpe:Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.Hazelhen Patterns Instagramhazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)About Johanna Lundström:Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.thelaststitch.comThe 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 resources⁠⁠Master The Coverstitch Machine Book⁠⁠Sewing Activewear Book3 ways to sew stretch lace Fold over elastic video tutorialEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Or contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on InstagramStitching Tales on YouTubeAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.Hazelhen Patterns Instagramhazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.thelaststitch.comThe 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Or contact us on our socials:Stitching Tales on InstagramStitching Tales on YouTubeAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.Hazelhen Patterns Instagramhazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.thelaststitch.comThe 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 tutorial⁠⁠Jeans' zipper tutorial⁠ (video)⁠Sewing Jeans Book⁠⁠Jeans pocket with press template⁠⁠Magnifying lamp⁠ (Amazon affiliate link)Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Or contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on InstagramStitching Tales on YouTubeAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.Hazelhen Patterns Instagramhazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.thelaststitch.comThe Last Stitch Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knit bindings are one of those sewing techniques that might seem simple. Just wrap some fabric around an edge, right? Well, not quite that easy, unfortunately. Plus, there are plenty of ways to do it, so how do we know which one is the best?Essentially, a perfect topic for Johanna and Malena to dive deep into. Malena even confesses that she has never sewn a binding before. So Johanna breaks down the different approaches. They talk about choosing fabrics, calculating width and stretch, and working with a coverstitch binder or a regular sewing machine.French binding, zigzag stitching, basting and stitch-in-the-ditch techniques also make an appearance in this meaty episode. If you've ever been intimidated by bindings, this episode has you covered!Johanna's binding resources⁠⁠Coverstitch Success Video Course⁠⁠⁠⁠Master The Coverstitch Machine Book⁠⁠Sewing Activewear Book⁠⁠Erikas Syskrin⁠ (for all your binding needs)Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Or contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on InstagramStitching Tales on YouTubeAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.Hazelhen Patterns Instagramhazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.thelaststitch.comThe Last Stitch Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 plans. This is why Johanna and Malena make a case for September being the start of a Sew New Year.To kick off this new concept, they discuss habit stacking, journaling and mood boards, along with some very practical sewing tips. Plus a few lifestyle tips (nurture your reward system, as Johanna likes to say). So let go of ambitious resolutions and an endless sewing bucket list. Instead, we should ask ourselves: What do you want more of in your sewing life? A new skill? A wardrobe rethink? Or simply more time at the sewing machine?Consider this your September permission slip to start fresh, with fewer expectations and hopefully some fun fall sewing. Happy Sew New Year!SpotifyEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Or contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on InstagramStitching Tales on YouTubeAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.Hazelhen Patterns Instagramhazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.thelaststitch.comThe Last Stitch Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.