Stitch Please

On this episode of Stitch Please, Lisa sits down with couture designer and sewing educator Garland Hayes-Soto a man who went from singing in church plays and serving prom looks to sewing custom wedding gowns and teaching the next generation how to stitch with confidence.Garland shares how one hand sewn prom vest changed his whole career path, what it was like learning fashion in Hollywood while working at Universal Studios, and why sewing students need to stop showing up to class empty handed and TAKE NOTES, BOO.From quick change costume chaos to couture gowns that almost didn’t happen, this episode is funny, inspiring, and full of real talk about creativity, confidence, and finding your lane in a space that wasn’t always welcoming.=====Hosted By: Dr. Lisa WoolforkSenior Producer: Krystal HillProducer: Mike Bryant=====Where You Can Find Garland!============Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store

On this episode of Stitch Please, Lisa tackles the sewing struggle nobody talks about enough: being stuck in the “intermediate” stage. You’re past beginner mistakes, but not quite sewing couture gowns in your sleep either.From confusing pattern labels to Reddit fueled sewing anxiety, Lisa breaks down why intermediate is less of a skill level and more of a messy, creative in between space. The takeaway? Keep practicing, trust your progress, and maybe… read the pattern instructions before complaining.=====Hosted By: Dr. Lisa WoolforkSenior Producer: Krystal HillProducer: Mike Bryant===============Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa calls out every sewer who’s ever said, “Eh… I’ll skip that step.” Yes, she’s talking about under stitching, stay stitching, basting and even hand stitching (deep sigh).With humor, honesty, and a little self dragging, Lisa breaks down why those “annoying extra steps” are actually the reason some garments look fine… and others look flawless. From facings that refuse to behave to necklines that stretch into chaos, she explains exactly what goes wrong when you rush and how doing it right the first time saves you from rage sewing later.Those invisible stitches are doing very visible work. Skip them if you want… just don’t be surprised when your outfit starts acting up.=====Hosted By: Dr. Lisa WoolforkSenior Producer: Krystal HillProducer: Mike Bryant========Sign Up For Lisa's Class at The Fiber and Fabric Craft Festival In Chicago===============Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreMentioned in this episode:2026_FFCFestival Promo Midroll 2026_FFCFestival Promo Preroll

On this episode of Stitch Please, Lisa comes with a loving reality check: your sewing machine has BEEN doing the most… you just haven’t been using it.From budget machines to fancy ones with more stitches than you’ll ever admit to using, Lisa dives into the hidden features sitting right under your presser foot. She breaks down everything from the underrated zigzag (aka the Beyoncé of stitches) to decorative stitches that can level up your projects without spending a dime.Along the way, she shares practical tips, a little sewing history, and just enough playful side eye to call us out for ignoring half our machine’s potential. Because your next sewing glow up is literally built in. =====Hosted By: Dr. Lisa WoolforkSenior Producer: Krystal HillProducer: Mike Bryant========Sign Up For Lisa's Class at The Fiber and Fabric Craft Festival In Chicago===============Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreMentioned in this episode:2026_FFCFestival Promo Preroll 2026_FFCFestival Promo Midroll

This week on Stitch Please, is on a mission: stop losing track of your own genius. Ever pulled something out of your closet and thought, “I made this… but when???” Lisa gets it and she’s here to fix it. From custom labels and tagless tricks to sewing journals and photo archives, she breaks down fun, creative ways to mark your makes so future you isn’t spiraling through pattern drawers at midnight.Because your handmade pieces aren’t just clothes—they’re memories, milestones, and receipts. So go ahead: sign your work, claim your craft, and give your wardrobe the credit it deserves.Hosted By: Dr. Lisa WoolforkSenior Producer: Krystal HillProducer: Mike Bryant========Sign Up For Lisa's Class at The Fiber and Fabric Craft Festival In Chicago===============Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.Instagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreMentioned in this episode:2026_FFCFestival Promo Preroll 2026_FFCFestival Promo Midroll