Stitching Tales
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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
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
92 Episodes
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Johanna and Malena do something slightly uncomfortable in this episode – they talk about themselves. With a growing number of new listeners (hi everyone!) it seemed like a good idea to explain who they are and how they ended up talking about sewing into microphones.Johanna unpacks her rather non-linear path, from teaching herself to sew, to working as a librarian, then a journalist, then a communications officer. Somewhere along the way, sewing refused to stay a hobby and in 2015, The Last Stitch was born.Malena's origin story begins in Finland and a childhood full of sewing. Fashion school confirmed that pattern making was the real interest, which eventually led to nearly a decade at H&M, including several years in Shanghai. After that came freelancing and the discovery of PDF patterns and the online sewing community. They finish off with some rapid-fire questions that reveal a fact about Malena that Johanna had no idea about, and the conversation takes an unexpected turn. Listen to find out!Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Press as you go, sew like a pro! Johanna and Malena dive straight into one of sewing’s most underrated skills, pressing. Malena (aka Sweden's biggest pressing ambassador) insists it's the unsung hero behind every great sewing project. While Johanna admits she once skimped on this crucial step, she then had to pay for it later. Between technique tips and favourite tools, they make a good case for how a quick press after each sewing step keeps the seams crisp and makes sewing easier. Johanna's pressing tutorialOur guide to essential pressing toolsEmail us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
Want to make your perfect t-shirt? Then Johanna's and Malena's next book could be the answer to your quest. Yes, they are working on a sewing book with patterns for five different t-shirt styles, because let's be honest, no one agrees on what “perfect” is anyway.In this episode, they share all the inside information, including styles, sizing, content and the decision to make their first paper pattern book. And most importantly, they need your help to figure out the best approach, from converting sizes to whether or not to include seam lines. Plus, Malena is wearing a sample of the straight t-shirt pattern, so watch the video version if you can! Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
Johanna and Malena have both moved sewing spaces recently. And now they feel overwhelmed—by all the sewing stuff they have accumulated over the years. What should they keep and what should they toss (or recycle)? They both feel kinda bad about getting rid of old fabric scraps. Should they be better at scrap busting? Or are the zero-waste messages not really realistic for home sewists? Then they turn their attention to the clear-out movement that was spearheaded by Mari Kondo, and see some possible pitfalls of too much focus on having a pristine home. Plus, they admit to some irrational shopping addictions of their own (for Malena, it's seeds, while Johanna can't resist pretty printed fabrics)Elsa, the sofa blogger :) https://elsa.elle.seUnderbara Clara, vintage-style bloggerhttps://underbaraclaras.seEmail us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Welcome to the very last Stitching Tales episode of 2025. Johanna and Malena are in a reflective mood, mostly because they just realised that episode 100 is creeping up fast. Malena shares her new work schedule with more room for personal projects. While Johanna reflects on the mind games that come with suddenly having more time on your hands. Of course, this leads to their big upcoming project, a sewing book they’ve been quietly plotting for a while. It’s a fun, slightly chaotic, and also optimistic way to wrap up the year and look forward to what’s next. And yes, they also want your help deciding how to celebrate that 100th episode!Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodPrint desinger mentioned https://www.instagram.com/isolettodesignAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
Johanna and Malena look back at their 2025 business year, a year packed with changes, and most of them felt good. Johanna made the big jump into working full-time on The Last Stitch, which gave her a boost of creativity, focus, and energy that she hasn't felt in ages.Malena finally launched the Bilberry top, scored her first pattern magazine feature, and even moved her sewing studio into a bridal shop, which has turned into some unexpected sewing adventures.Together, they agree that 2025 felt calmer and less stressful than the years before. And the best part, they already have some very fun plans lined up for 2026.Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Johanna and Malena play fantasy sewing and dream up five key garments that they love to wear over and over. For Johanna it's a retro-style windbreaker and of course the optimal pleated skirt (with pockets, of course). Malena ponders the perfect dress, and then she has a t-shirt revelation that makes them want to rethink everything. They also read another listener's email for the new Stitch and Tell segment, asking about the best places for fabric shopping and fashion inspiration in Sweden.Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)Places to visit in SwedenGöteborgRöhsska MuseumGårda TextilKnapp-CarlssonItalienska ModetygerTygaffär'nBorås Textil MuseumStockholmNordiska MuseetTygverketSiden-CarlssonFabric chain-storesOhlsons TygerSelfmade
They shimmer, they float, they slide right off your cutting table… Malena and Johanna dive into the world of slippery yet stunning fabrics. From satin to chiffon to charmeuse, they are talking about the types of materials that can drive sewists up the wall. A very timely episode as Malena has been dipping her toe into bridal wear (!). Malena also explains the technical side of how these fabrics are made. And then they dive into a tip-packed session on how to cut and sew these glowing beasts without the pain. So if you’ve ever fallen for a slippery fabric but felt too intimidated to sew it, this episode is for you!Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Malena and Johanna take a deep dive into the art of sewing smart on a budget, from fabric choices to smart tools. Malena also shares one of her favourite cost-saving tricks, based on how things are done in the garment industry. This impresses Johanna, because it's not just a budget trick; it's also a design feature!Johanna even claims that listening to this episode could make you rich, at least if you are using sewist math! But please don't fact-check this statement; instead, listen to this info-packed episode about how to sew on a budget.Also check out episodes 79, 23 and 18 to learn more about the sewing tools we think are valuable, and those you could skip. Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
Malena has been on a super inspiring networking trip to Copenhagen, and now she wants to switch careers and pivot into custom designs for theatre and ballet. Johanna has been working abroad as well, which, among other things, led her to start a sewing TikTok account after enjoying a glass of Spanish cerveza at the airport!In this fun update, they talk about everything from how to crack the sizing dilemma (Malena has some shocking stats on how few people actually fit into standard RTW-sizing) to Johanna (finally) getting brave with marketing, and the results are promising. Plus a new segment: Stitch and Tell, email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.com if you have something you want to share! Ithaca Maven Substack about pattern fittinghttps://ithacamaven.substack.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)
Think you have nailed wovens? Then think again. Malena is on a roll and delivers some fascinating factoids about woven fabrics, but please don't call the tweed police! Then Johanna wants to quit the podcast mid-through and run out and buy some chambray fabric. Luckily, she stays the entire recording and instead invents a groundbreaking new material for duvets–flatine.Check out the previous episode on woven fabrics: New sewing spaces & decoding woven fabrics #77Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Johanna and Malena chat about one of the simplest but most powerful fitting tweaks you can make, adding or removing length in just the right places.Whether you’re tall, petite, or just a unique human being (like all of us! ), you’ll learn how to adjust your patterns so your clothes sit exactly where they should.Malena explains why length adjustments should always come first in your fitting order and shares the best ways to adjust the length of your patterns. And Johanna talks about how understanding her height (or lack thereof) made her more accepting of her body and why RTW clothes seldom fit her. Fit for Knitshttps://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-bookAlvanon Size Chartshttps://www.scribd.com/search?query=The%20Alvanon%20Standard%20Have more questions? Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
The worst part about sewing knit tops? The neckline, no doubt! To ease the pain and help you sew better neckline finishings, Johanna and Malena dive into one of the most common trouble spots when sewing knit tops, with a focus on the classic neckband. Malena explains why your neckband should always be shorter than the neckline, and how to calculate the best ratio for every type of knit.And should the neckband seam be at the shoulder seam, mid-back, or just behind the shoulder seam? This is a hot topic, and Johanna has some strong views, which Malena backs up with sensible facts. Then they talk about how to actually sew the dang thing (i.e the neckband) and share some great tips that you might never have heard before. Our book Fit for Knitshttps://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-bookHave more questions? Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Johanna and Malena dive into your pressing sewing questions, and they’re not holding back! What sewing tools do they think are totally overrated? And have they done projects that went completely off the rails? (Oh yes, and Johanna blames the fabric).They also advise on when quilting cotton is suitable for garments and when it isn’t. Plus, Johanna and Malena share their best tips on how to construct and attach a perfect collarJohanna's undercollar tutorialEmail us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
What would happen if Johanna and Malena joined the chaos of Project Runway? In this episode, they discuss how to deal with impossible challenges, fabric-shopping drama, and hard-hitting criticism from the judges. Would they accept feedback with grace, get defensive or even start crying? Johanna would definitely shed some tears, that's for sure. And would Malena’s wearable designs gain the approval from the judges—or be sent off with an Auf Wiederschein? Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Malena’s taking her sewing to new heights—literally—by moving onto a stage as her new sewing space! Johanna’s first reaction? Total shock… quickly followed by excitement. Luckily, Johanna is also getting a studio update, albeit not quite as glamorous. After their catch-up, the conversation shifts to woven fabrics. Malena provides the ultimate guide to the three main categories of woven fabrics. Then Johanna tries to make Malena pick a favourite, but she ends up picking one for herself instead (hint, it starts with a T and ends with Will.)Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
What if your favourite pair of jeans wasn’t something you bought, but something you made yourself? In this episode, Johanna and Malena explore why sewing your own denim is not only empowering but also incredibly fun.Johanna, who’s never found a perfectly fitting pair of jeans in stores, shares her latest denim project and how she’s adapted industrial techniques for home sewing. Plus, she gives a sneak peek at the exciting updates to her jeans sewing course, Denim Mastery.Johanna's jeans sewing coursehttps://courses.thelaststitch.com/denim-masteryJohanna's book Sewing Jeanshttps://www.thelaststitch.com/sewing-jeans-bookStitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns. https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://www.hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free t-shirt pattern)About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.https://www.thelaststitch.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Johanna and Malena have noticed a recent decline in body diversity, both on the runway and among celebrities (hello, Ozempic). Was body inclusivity just a passing trend? And how does this shift make us feel about our own bodies?Navigating society’s beauty standards is definitely complicated. And as sewing influencers, Malena and Johanna also want to present themselves, and in particular their creations, in the best light– quite literally. So being non-judgmental toward ourselves is often easier said than done. On the flip side, sewing can actually help ease some of these pressures and Malena shares her best fitting tips for all of us with three-dimensional bodies.Fit for Knits Book https://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-bookEmail us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Malena enjoys cutting out the pattern pieces. Johanna does not. But they agree on one thing: how you cut can really make or break a sewing project. So, they dig into practical strategies for cutting pattern pieces, including how to prep, align, mark, and cut. Plus some great advice on how to deal with those tricky fabrics (Johanna has three words for you: single-layer cutting).P.S. Malena had some light sound issues in this episode.Fit for Knits Bookhttps://www.thelaststitch.com/fit-for-knits-bookEpisodes mentioned:Trace, cut or chalk? Ways to mark your fabric #67Understanding seam allowances #62Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
Is your sewing table buried under mountains of fabric? Do seam rippers actually have legs? And why can't we ever find the right sewing machine needle? Keeping organised during sewing is hard, and we have all been there.Malena and Johanna share their messy sewing space confessions and give some simple tips on how to improve your sewing space. Or as the French chefs say it – mise en place. Mais oui.Email us at stitchingtalespod@gmail.comOr contact us at our socials:Stitching Tales on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespodStitching Tales on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@StitchingTalesPodAbout Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatternshttps://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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/laststitch
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