Ever tried gathering fabric and wondered why it sometimes works… and sometimes it's a real struggle?

In this episode, Johanna and Malena dig into gatherings, and not the social kind. They share their favourite methods, how to distribute gathers evenly without guesswork, and what to adjust when things start going wrong.

Plus, how fabric type affects the final result, because gathering a crisp cotton is not the same as gathering a drapey knit (and definitely not the same as heavy denim).

Then Johanna goes deep into the intricacies of sewing gathers on knits, because that is the only thing she can think about right now, with the pattern launch looming and all that!

Johanna's knit gathers tutorial

Guril knit top pattern with gathered sleeves

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Or contact us at our socials:

Stitching Tales on Instagram

Stitching Tales on YouTube

About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.

Hazelhen Patterns Instagram

hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)

About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.

thelaststitch.com

The Last Stitch Instagram

100 episodes (!!) and still talking sewing every week . In this celebratory episode, Johanna and Malena share how Stitching Tales started (mostly as a way to keep talking after finishing Fit for Knits).

They also talk about choosing a very casual and candid format, plus the decision to do a video podcast from the start, and how that completely messed up Johanna's YouTube channel!

They also answer listener questions, like how to deal with skipped stitches, gaping armholes and sewing buttonholes on knits!

Thank you for being part of the journey, on to the next 100!

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Or contact us at our socials:

Stitching Tales on Instagram

Stitching Tales on YouTube

About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.

Hazelhen Patterns Instagram

hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)

About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.

thelaststitch.com

The Last Stitch Instagram

Johanna and Malena share what’s currently been happening behind the scenes. Johanna is launching a new sewing pattern soon (hopefully), and let's just say, it's a lot!

From sewing photo samples under pressure to navigating real-life setbacks and experimenting with new instruction formats. Not to mention the constant worry that the pattern will launch to crickets.

Malena has also been busy in the pattern studio and has added projector files to her sewing patterns. She also had to make some tough decisions on where her energy and time are best spent, and Johanna thinks that maybe she scared Malena straight.

Then Johanna shares some upsetting book drama with a big vendor that starts with an A and ends with an M. But the good news is that if you are in the US, there is currently a spring sale on Amazon for Fit for Knits and Sewing Jeans (25% off!) So grab a print copy while there is stock left!

SHOP BOOK SPRING SALE ON AMAZON US

Fit for Knits (Amazon affiliate link)

Sewing Jeans (Amazon affiliate link)

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Or contact us at our socials:

Stitching Tales on Instagram

Stitching Tales on YouTube

About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.

Hazelhen Patterns Instagram

hazelhenpatterns.com (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)

About Johanna Lundström: Sewing book author, pattern designer and sewing content creator.

thelaststitch.com

Johanna and Malena hand over their creative control to the spinning wheel and play Fabric Roulette. A game where fabrics are chosen at random, and then Malena and Johanna have to figure out what to sew.

Unfortunately, some fabrics are on their no-no list, but somehow they still manage to come up with some pretty cool designs. Especially since they don't actually have to sew them! Between the wild spins, there are some actual sewing tips; neckline techniques for sheer fabrics, why you should never work against the fabric and ways to hem tricky materials without losing your mind.

Neckline tutorial

https://www.thelaststitch.com/how-to-create-really-neat-neckline/

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Stitching Tales on YouTube

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About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)

If you think your serger can do better, then this episode is for you! Johanna and Malena talk about their (arguable) favourite sewing machine and give tips on how to use the underutilised features of an overlocker. Including some unknown gems, which they are pretty shocked by themselves!

They also get into the unglamorous but essential topic of learning your machine. Manuals are defended, rolled hems are praised, and thread tension is treated with the respect it deserves. Johanna even makes a case for reading the sewing machine manual rather than doomscrolling when you can't get up from the sofa.

Book recommendations (Amazon affiliate links)

Serger Secrets

Serger Essentials

Johanna's serger tutorials

Gathers on a serger

Clear elastic tutorial

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Or contact us at our socials:

Stitching Tales on Instagram

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Stitching Tales on YouTube

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About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://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.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Malena and Johanna brave the chilly Swedish winter to discuss a decidedly warmer topic, spring fashion! They talk about elevated athleisure, utility wear, the comeback of bold colours, sheer fabrics, camisoles and perhaps the most pressing question of all: will the Wuthering Heights movie craze have us all dress as goths?

Then Johanna declares that the most important fashion trend in 2026 is…pockets!

They also take a detour to discuss a specific Swedish phenomenon, the mama sausage. Johanna is not a fan and has some choice words for this practical but uninspired garment. Then Malena drops a possible knowledge bomb: have we worn fur-lined hoodies wrong all this time?

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Or contact us at our socials:

Stitching Tales on Instagram

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Stitching Tales on YouTube

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About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)

Moving from wovens to knits can feel like stepping into a parallel universe, similar tools, but completely different rules. In this episode, Malena and Johanna demystify knit fabric sewing and explain what actually matters when you're ready to make the leap.

They break down the fundamental differences between knit and woven fabrics, why some knits are beginner-friendly while others will test your patience, how choosing the wrong fabric can mess up your project and why the sewing order changes with knits. They also discuss which starter project could set you up for success (hint: it might surprise you). Then Malena drops a cutting bomb that has Johanna in stitches!

Helpful resources

Fit for Knits Book

Sewing with knits tutorials

Guide to sewing machine knit stitches (free download)

Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠stitchingtalespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or contact us at our socials:

Stitching Tales on Instagram

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Stitching Tales on YouTube

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About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)

Johanna and Malena welcome their very first guest, Emily Hundt, founder of In The Folds, for an honest conversation about running a sewing business and making pivots when things are no longer working for the season you are in.

They talk about finding your place in the sewing industry, what sustainability actually looks like when you’re self-employed, and how plans tend to change once life gets involved. Not to mention, having to figure out stuff you dread (taxes, tech, Reels!).

Emily is sharing her journey on her ⁠Beyond the Folds⁠ Substack, and he has also begun a new exciting project that is very aligned with the times:

Check out ⁠Making, Again (⁠Emily's new venture)

⁠In the Folds⁠

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Stitching Tales on Instagram

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stitchingtalespod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stitching Tales on YouTube

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About Malena Hjerpe: Professional pattern maker, sewing book author and owner of Hazelhen Patterns.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hazelhenpatterns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.hazelhenpatterns.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (get your free Malva t-shirt pattern)