Handicraft and Stitch - The Podcast!

The Story Behind Nikki's Handmade Wedding Dress : S-1/EP-11

Season 1 / Episode 11: The Story Behind Nikki's Handmade Wedding Dress
 
In this heartfelt episode of Handicraft and Stitch, Nikki shares all about designing and sewing her very own wedding dress—from the first sketch to the final stitch. Both Nikki and Rachael share about their time working in the alterations room at David’s Bridal. Yes, they have another previous employer in common. This experience shaped how Nikki approached creating a gown that honored tradition while embracing her modern, DIY spirit.
We dive into the highs and hiccups along the way—like choosing the perfect fabric (and a few not-so-perfect ones), balancing creativity with practicality, and what it’s really like to walk down the aisle in something made by your own hands. Plus, congratulations to Nikki and Sage on their one-year anniversary on October 6th!
This episode's special spotlight interview is with Nikki’s maid of honor, who gives us an inside look at what it’s like to stand by a DIY bride through all the threads, fittings, and joyful chaos. This episode is a love letter to handmade artistry, meaningful traditions, and the beauty of making something truly your own.
 
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Do you have ideas for future episodes, or would you like to send us a note? Contact us at handicraftandstitch@gmail.com

Mending and Making Do : S-1/EP-9

Season 1 / Episode 9: Mending and Making Do
In this episode of Handicraft and Stitch, we dive into the roots of the “Mend and Make Do” movement that began in Britain during wartime—when creativity, thrift, and necessity came together in powerful ways. We’ll connect those historic lessons to today’s growing movement of mending as an act of rebellion against fast fashion and throwaway culture.
Rachael and Nikki also share a peek into their own mending piles (yes, those baskets overflowing with projects we keep putting off!)—what they’re stitching, patching, and breathing new life into right now.
Tune in for a conversation that blends history, sustainability, and the simple joy of making the most of what we have.
 
Episode Resources: 
https://celiapym.com/
10 Top Tips For Winning At World War 2 'Make Do And Mend'
8 Facts about Clothes Rationing in Britain During the Second World War
 
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Do you have ideas for future episodes, or would you like to send us a note? Contact us at handicraftandstitch@gmail.com

Fabric Care for All! : S-1/EP-8

Season 1 / Episode 8: Fabric Care for All!
Confession time: we’ve all let fabric sit a little too long in a bin or wondered if we can really throw that delicate textile in the wash. In this episode, we’re tackling the mysteries of fabric care with easy, down-to-earth tips. Because when you care for your fabric, your fabric takes care of your making. Nikki, our fabric care expert, discusses the journey of fabric care- where to start, how to identify fabric, and what to avoid along the way. 
 
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Do you have ideas for future episodes, or would you like to send us a note? Contact us at handicraftandstitch@gmail.com

Her Story - Ancient Egypt: : S-1/EP-7

Season 1 / Episode 7: Her Story - Ancient Egypt
Linen & Knitted Socks of Ancient Egypt
We’re kicking off our brand-new Her Story mini-series, where we explore the women, hands, and histories behind the textiles throughout time. In this first installment, we travel back thousands of years to Ancient Egypt to uncover how linen was grown, spun, and woven into the fabric of daily life — and how a pair of surprisingly stylish knitted socks tells us more than you’d expect about craft, culture, and connection.
Join Nikki and Rachael for a journey through time, stitches, and stories that remind us why handmade matters.
Nal Binding Socks
Linen
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Do you have ideas for future episodes, or would you like to send us a note? Contact us at handicraftandstitch@gmail.com

Where the F*ck Did Home Economics Go?!? : S-1/EP-6

Season 1 / Episode 6: “Where the F*ck Did Home Economics Go?!?”
Home Ec isn’t just about sewing aprons and baking casseroles—and it never was. In this fiery episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the real roots of Home Economics and asking why it disappeared from classrooms (and our lives). Spoiler: it has everything to do with power, gender, and who gets to decide what's considered "serious education."
We spotlight the story of Ellen Swallow Richards, the unsung science badass and first female student at MIT who practically invented the field of Home Economics. She believed women deserved access to science and viewed the home as a site of innovation and empowerment, rather than drudgery.
We’re talking kitchen chemistry, class dynamics, and the slow erasure of skills that should’ve never gone out of style. So grab your embroidery, your grocery list, or just your curiosity, and let’s reclaim the radical roots of “women’s work.”
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Do you have ideas for future episodes, or would you like to send us a note? Contact us at handicraftandstitch@gmail.com

Curating Your Sewing Toolkit - Hand Sewing Edition: S-1/EP-5

Season 1 / Episode 5: Curating Your Sewing Toolkit – Hand Sewing Edition
Ready to thread the needle on your sewing journey? In this episode, we’re going back to basics—and making them beautiful. Rachael and Nikki break down the essential tools every hand-sewist should have in their starter kit (spoiler alert: it’s less than you think!), plus a few fun extras if you’re ready to level up.
We’re also spilling the tea on the biggest beginner mistakes we’ve seen (and made!) and sharing our favorite dos and don’ts to keep your stitches strong and your spirits high. Whether you’re mending jeans, sewing a patch, or just starting from scratch, this episode is your warm, no-judgment invitation to start building a toolkit that works for you.
Let’s stitch slow, stitch proud, and stitch together. 💛✂️
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Do you have ideas for future episodes, or would you like to send us a note? Contact us at handicraftandstitch@gmail.com

Bonus Episode 1: Buzz Buzz...The Sewing Hive

🧵Bonus Episode 1: Buzz Buzz...The Sewing Hive 🐝In this sweet-as-honey episode, we sit down with Jamie, co-founder and owner of The Sewing Hive—a vibrant sewing school right here in Columbus, Ohio! 🧷✂️
Jamie (Nikki’s fabulous friend and fellow stitch sorceress) shares her sewing story, the spark that started The Sewing Hive, and how this buzzing community hub is helping people of all ages and skill levels fall in love with the art of making. From teaching techniques to building confidence behind the machine, The Sewing Hive is more than a school—it’s a place where creativity swarms.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned sewist, you’ll leave this convo inspired to stitch your heart out.
🎧 Tune in, thread up, and get ready to meet your new favorite sewing spot.
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Support our season one podcast sponsor - The Sewing Hive.
 
Do you have ideas for future episodes, or would you like to send us a note? Contact us at handicraftandstitch@gmail.com
 

You're Sew Gay - Happy Pride 2025! : S-1/EP-4

Season 1 / Episode 4: You're Sew Gay - Happy Pride 2025!
 
The Rainbow Was a Revolution: Gilbert Baker & the Original Pride Flag 🌈✂️
Pull up a chair and grab your favorite sparkly thread — this week, we're stitching a story that changed the world. In this special Pride episode, Rachael dives into the vibrant legacy of Gilbert Baker, the artist and activist behind the original rainbow flag. 💖🧵
After reading Baker’s unapologetically fabulous memoir Rainbow Warrior, we’re bringing you the radical, colorful, queer-as-heck history of how one sewing machine, a whole lot hand dyed fabric, and a dream of liberation created an icon of love and protest. 🌈✊
We talk drag nuns, sewing as resistance, why hot pink matters, and how Baker’s flag became the banner of a movement. This episode is a love letter to creativity, community, and the power of making something beautiful in the face of injustice.
✨ Whether you’re waving your rainbow flag high or just learning where it came from, you’re welcome in our stitch & bitch circle. Let’s honor the thread that binds us all.
 
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Do you have ideas for future episodes, or would you like to send us a note? Contact us at handicraftandstitch@gmail.com

Welcome to Block Printing! : S-1/EP-3

Season 1 / Episode 3: 
In this delightfully inky episode, Rachael and Nikki roll up their sleeves and dive into the wonderfully textured world of block printing. Whether you’re curious about carving your first lino block or you’ve admired the crisp charm of hand-pressed woodblock prints from afar, this is your cozy beginner’s guide.
The duo chats through the basics—what makes wood and linoleum blocks different, the tools you’ll need to get started (hint: don’t skimp on the carving tools!), and their own trial-and-error stories from their earliest prints. Expect plenty of practical tips, a few chuckles over inky mishaps, and their favorite ways to use block prints in everyday crafting—from greeting cards to tea towels.
Pull up a seat in the studio, pour yourself a cup of something yummy, and get ready to fall in love with the tactile magic of printmaking. 🎨✨
 
Links for the episode: 
The Invention of Woodblock Printing in the Tang (618–906) and Song (960–1279) Dynasties - Education
Woodblock Prints in the Ukiyo-e Style - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Woodcut | The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Woodblock Printing | Brian P Coppola
https://www.britannica.com/art/printmaking
The History of Printmaking from Wood Blocks to the Digital Age : SNAP
HIstory of Lino Printing
The History of Lino Printing and its Artists
The Evolution of Linoleum
Linoleum cut | MoMA
Woodcut Printmaking For Beginners – What You Need to Get Started - Jackson's Art Blog
A Guide to Linocut Printmaking - Jackson's Art Blog
#MetKids—How to Make a Potato Print
 
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Support our season one podcast sponsor - The Sewing Hive.
 
Do you have ideas for future episodes, or would you like to send us a note? Contact us at handicraftandstitch@gmail.com

The Magic of Thrifting Your Supplies! : S-1/EP-2

Season 1 / Episode 2: The Magic of Thrifting Your Supplies!
Welcome back to Handicraft and Stitch! In this episode, we dive into the creative joy (and sweet surprises) of thrifting your sewing supplies. From unexpected fabric finds to secondhand scores that spark inspiration, we're sharing our favorite thrift shopping stories and tried-and-true tips for sourcing fabric and tools on a budget. Whether you're brand new to sewing or ready to shift into a more sustainable, wallet-friendly approach, this episode will help you build your stash without breaking the bank. Let’s make magic out of what others left behind.
 
This episode features a chat with Nikki's Dad about his sewing journey :)
 
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Support our season one podcast sponsor - The Sewing Hive.
 
Do you have ideas for future episodes, or would you like to send us a note? Contact us at handicraftandstitch@gmail.com