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.

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Hosted By: Dr. Lisa Woolfork

Senior Producer: Krystal Hill

Producer: Mike Bryant

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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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

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Stay Connected:

YouTube: Black Women Stitch

Instagram: Black Women Stitch

Facebook: Stitch Please Podcast

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Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter

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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.

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Hosted By: Dr. Lisa Woolfork

Senior Producer: Krystal Hill

Producer: Mike Bryant

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Sign Up For Lisa's Class at The Fiber and Fabric Craft Festival In Chicago

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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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

======

Stay Connected:

YouTube: Black Women Stitch

Instagram: Black Women Stitch

Facebook: Stitch Please Podcast

--

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter

Check out our merch here

Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon

Check out our Amazon Store

Mentioned 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.

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Hosted By: Dr. Lisa Woolfork

Senior Producer: Krystal Hill

Producer: 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 Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

======

Stay Connected:

YouTube: Black Women Stitch

Instagram: Black Women Stitch

Facebook: Stitch Please Podcast

--

Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletter

Check out our merch here

Leave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.

Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon

Check out our Amazon Store

Mentioned in this episode:

2026_FFCFestival Promo Preroll

2026_FFCFestival Promo Midroll