Episode 43: The Economics of Handmade

Episode 49: When Creativity Feels Heavy | with Lina Owens of Quilting with Latinas

Episode 49: When Creativity Feels Heavy | with Lina Owens of Quilting with Latinas Creativity isn't always joyful. Sometimes life changes everything, and the things that once brought us comfort become the hardest to return to. In this deeply personal episode of The Sewcial Hour, Bethany is joined by guest co-host Lina Owens of Quilting with Latinas for an honest conversation about what happens when creativity feels heavy. Together, they share their lived experiences navigating job loss, burnout, identity shifts, and the emotional weight that can make creating feel impossible. They discuss: * How layoffs and major life changes can impact your identity * Why creativity is often the first thing to disappear during difficult seasons * The pressure to keep creating while silently struggling * Losing confidence and comparing yourself to everyone else online * How work-from-home life can change the way your creative spaces feel * Reclaiming a sewing room, studio, or creative space after painful memories * Finding healing through friendship, community, and small steps forward * Giving yourself permission to rest—and rediscover joy on your own timeline This isn't a conversation about having all the answers. It's about sharing real experiences, offering hope, and reminding you that you're not alone if your creativity feels different than it once did. Whether you're navigating burnout, grief, a career transition, or simply feeling disconnected from the hobby you love, we hope this episode reminds you that healing isn't measured by productivity—and that it's okay to start small. You Love to See It: Bethany and Lina share something that brought them joy this week. Get Lina’s Book: Learn to Quilt - Bilingual Guide [https://amzn.to/4fbC8WU] (https://amzn.to/4fbC8WU [https://amzn.to/4fbC8WU]) Coming Up Next: Bethany welcomes Amy Chappell of Ameroonie Designs for a conversation all about sewing, creativity, and her inspiring journey. If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to follow The Sewcial Hour, leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and share this episode with a friend who might need to hear it. Stay connected with us on Instagram and Facebook at @thesewcialhourpodcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel for video episodes and bonus content, and join our private Facebook community, The Sewcial Sewists, where sewists from around the world come together to inspire, encourage, and create.

Ep 48: Fundamentals of Sewing with Cornelius Quiring

In Episode 48 of The Sewcial Hour Podcast, Bethany sits down with garment sewing educator, pattern drafting teacher, and content creator Cornelius Quiring for a thoughtful conversation about the fundamentals of sewing, garment construction, fit, and finding confidence through creativity. When Cornelius was just three years old, a farm accident left his body asymmetrical. Frustrated by clothing that wasn't designed to fit his unique body, he learned how to draft patterns and sew garments for himself, transforming sewing into a powerful tool for self-expression, problem-solving, and empowerment. Today, he shares those skills with thousands of sewists around the world through his educational content, helping others better understand how clothes actually work and why that knowledge can unlock a whole new level of confidence. Together, Bethany and Cornelius discuss pattern drafting, garment construction, body inclusivity, menswear sewing, personal style, content creation, and why so many sewists are intimidated by the idea of "advanced" sewing. Cornelius also shares his philosophy on making complex concepts approachable, the importance of understanding fit, and how learning to troubleshoot can be more valuable than striving for perfection. We also chat about Cornelius' collaboration with LDH Scissors and his Midnight Edition Gift Set: https://ldhscissors.com/collections/all-products/products/cornelius-quiring-x-ldh-midnight-edition-gift-set [https://ldhscissors.com/collections/all-products/products/cornelius-quiring-x-ldh-midnight-edition-gift-set] Whether you're brand new to garment sewing or looking to deepen your understanding of how clothing is made, this episode is packed with encouragement, practical insights, and a reminder that you don't need permission to make ambitious things. Follow Cornelius: Website: https://cornelius.ooo/ [https://cornelius.ooo/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corneliusquiring/ [https://www.instagram.com/corneliusquiring/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CorneliusQuiring [https://www.youtube.com/@CorneliusQuiring] Follow The Sewcial Hour Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesewcialhourpodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thesewcialhourpodcast/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesewcialhourpodcast/ [https://www.facebook.com/thesewcialhourpodcast/] Sewcial Sewists Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/663087616152256 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/663087616152256] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesewcialhourpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@thesewcialhourpodcast] Join our private Facebook community, The Sewcial Sewists, to continue the conversation, share your projects, and connect with fellow sewing friends. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and share it with a fellow sewist!

Episode 47: The Myth of “Advanced” Sewing

Who Gets to Decide Your Sewing Level? What does “advanced sewing” actually mean? Is it mastering difficult techniques? Sewing with tricky fabrics? Pattern drafting? Perfect topstitching? Or is it simply having the confidence to try something new? In this episode of The Sewcial Hour Podcast, Bethany dives into the complicated world of sewing skill labels — beginner, intermediate, advanced, confident beginner — and unpacks why those labels are far more subjective than most sewists realize. Because the truth is: there’s no universal standard for sewing difficulty. One designer’s “easy weekend project” might leave another sewist crying over a seam ripper at 2am. And sometimes the projects we fear most end up teaching us the most. In this episode, we discuss: * Where sewing skill labels actually come from * Why pattern difficulty is often subjective * What “advanced sewing” really means * Why troubleshooting is one of the most important sewing skills * The forgotten “intermediate beginner” phase * Why sewing skill is NOT linear * Comparison culture and social media perfectionism * Letting go of the idea that you need permission to sew certain projects * Redefining success in sewing beyond perfection Bethany also shares a more realistic sewing skill progression and reminds listeners that you can be advanced in one sewing niche and a total beginner in another — and that’s completely normal. Plus, in this week’s “You Love To See It” segment, we’re celebrating beginner wins, imperfect projects, cutting into “the good fabric,” and sewists realizing they already belong in the creative space exactly as they are. Whether you’re sewing your very first garment or tackling your tenth ambitious project, this episode is a reminder that sewing isn’t about earning a label — it’s about curiosity, creativity, and learning as you go. Listener Question: What sewing level do YOU identify with right now? And what project made you feel more confident as a sewist? Join the conversation in our Facebook group, The Sewcial Sewists! Follow The Sewcial Hour Podcast: * Instagram @thesewcialhourpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thesewcialhourpodcast/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Facebook - The Sewcial Hour Podcast [https://www.facebook.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and share the episode with your sewing friends!

Episode 46: Quilt with Miss Kate

Episode 46 of The Sewcial Hour is all about quilts, community, and building a business that feels like hanging out with your best quilting friends. This week, Bethany and Audra sit down with Kate Hay — the owner of Quilt with Miss Kate [https://www.quiltwithmisskate.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] — to talk about growing up in the quilt world, working behind the scenes in the fabric industry, and creating an online quilt shop that makes quilters feel truly seen. Kate shares what it was like growing up in her mom’s quilt shop, Patchwork Plus, before spending years as a sales rep for Moda Fabrics and eventually taking the leap to launch her own modern online quilt shop in 2024. From curating quilt kits and fabric bundles to documenting the entire journey online, Kate gives us an honest look at what really goes into running a quilt business in today’s sewing world. We also dive into: 🧵 How quilt shops decide what fabric collections to carry 🧵 What quilters never see happening behind the scenes 🧵 Why community matters more than ever in quilting 🧵 The misconceptions people have about owning a quilt shop 🧵 Beginner quilting mistakes and favorite quilting tools 🧵 Trivia championships, escape rooms, and quilt naps Plus, Kate teaches this week’s Spool School segment all about how quilt shops actually buy fabric — and why supporting your favorite small quilt shop matters more than you think. And of course, there’s plenty of laughter along the way, including our “absolutely not” fabrics, rapid-fire favorites, and this week’s “You Love to See It” moments. Follow Kate online: ✨ Quilt with Miss Kate Website [https://www.quiltwithmisskate.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]✨ Instagram @quiltwithmisskate [https://www.instagram.com/quiltwithmisskate/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]✨ TikTok @quiltwithmisskate [https://www.tiktok.com/@quiltwithmisskate?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Be sure to follow The Sewcial Hour Podcast on social media for behind-the-scenes content, episode updates, and more sewing community fun: 🪡 Instagram @thesewcialhourpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thesewcialhourpodcast/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]🪡 Facebook - The Sewcial Hour Podcast [https://www.facebook.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]🪡 Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Join the conversation in our Facebook group, The Sewcial Sewists, and share your FPP wins with us! If you’re loving the podcast, don’t forget to leave a review on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts — reviews help more sewists discover the show and grow our amazing community. New episodes of The Sewcial Hour Podcast drop every Tuesday on all major podcast platforms, with video episodes available on YouTube. Next week: The Myth of “Advanced” Sewing — let’s talk about sewing labels and who gets to decide what makes someone “advanced.”

Episode 45: The Confidence Ladder of Making

Episode 45: The Confidence Ladder of Making This week on The Sewcial Hour Podcast, we’re diving into something every maker experiences, but don’t always have language for: confidence. 🧵✨ When you first start sewing, everything feels intimidating: patterns are confusing, techniques feel overwhelming, and every project feels like a test. But over time, something shifts. You begin to trust your hands, your instincts, and your creative decisions. In this episode, we’re breaking down what we’re calling The Confidence Ladder of Making: the four stages makers move through as they grow: * Imitation – following patterns and learning the basics * Modification – making small changes and creative tweaks * Ownership – trusting your instincts and solving problems * Authorship – creating something entirely your own We’re talking about why imitation is not cheating, why so many makers stay in the modification stage (and why that’s okay), and how confidence is built through repetition, mistakes, and finished projects not talent. If you’ve ever wondered “am I doing this right?” or felt stuck in your sewing journey, this episode will help you understand where you are and what comes next. ✨ Join the conversation: If someone handed you a brand new sewing pattern today… would you follow it exactly, tweak it, or completely wing it? 👀 DM us or share in our Facebook group The Sewcial Sewists and tell us the project that first gave you sewing confidence. 🎧 New episodes of The Sewcial Hour Podcast drop every Tuesday on all major platforms. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a beginner maker who needs a little encouragement. Next week: We’re chatting with Kate Hay of Quilt with Miss Kate, you won’t want to miss it! 🧵