Sew What?
Episodes
99 episodes
Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes: An Interview with Dr Eleanor Houghton
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Eleanor Houghton about her new book Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes, published by Bloomsbury.Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook...
Sew What? Goes to India, Part 2: Shrujan and Shrujan LLDC
In the second part of this two-part episode about needlework in India, Isabella interviews the staff at Shrujan and Shrujan LLDC, based in Bhuj. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook...
Sew What? Goes to India, Part 1: Chanakya International and Chanakya School of Craft
In the first part of this two-part episode about needlework in India, Isabella interviews the staff at Chanakya, based in Mumbai.Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a w...
Art X Fashion: An Interview with Dr Elizabeth Way
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Elizabeth Way about her exhibition Art X Fashion, on display at the Museum at FIT until 19 April 2026.Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Faceboo...
Collecting Samplers: An Interview with Alexandra Peters
In this episode, Isabella interviews Alexandra Peters about her sampler collection and the importance of studying samplers. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a w...
Textile Conservation and Marie Antoinette Style: An Interview with Hannah Sutherland
In this episode, Isabella interviews Hannah Sutherland, ACR, Senior Textile Conservator at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The two discuss what is involved in conservation, knitted masterpieces, and the exhibition Marie Antoinette Style
Chinese Textiles in 18th-Century Britain: An Interview with Shilei Zeng
In this episode, Isabella interviews Shilei Zeng, Assistant Curator of China at the Victoria and Albert Museum and final year PhD student at King's College London. The two discuss Shilei's research into the use of Chinese textiles in 18th-centu...
The History of Punch Needle: An Interview with Micah Clasper-Torch
In this episode, Isabella interviews Micah Clasper-Torch, an artist, designer, and educator whose work is centred around the traditional craft of punch needle rug hooking. The two talk about the history and use of punch needle in all of its for...
The Embroidery of Lorina Bulwer: An Interview with Ruth Battersby
In this episode, Isabella interviews Ruth Battersby, Senior Curator of Costume and Textiles at Norfolk Museums Service. The two talk about the embroidery of Lorina Bulwer, a Victorian woman institutionalised in the Great Yarmouth Workhouse who ...
The Late, Great Major A.T. Casdagli: An Interview with Alexis Penny Casdagli
In this episode, Isabella interviews Alexis Penny Casdagli, the daughter of Major A.T. Casdagli, an Anglo-Greek spy famous for embroidering subversive needlework during his time in German POW camps in WWII. Images and sources are av...
Sew What? Meets Haptic & Hue: An Interview with Jo Andrews
In this episode, Isabella interviews Jo Andrews, host of the wonderful textile podcast Haptic & Hue.Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatp...
Holiday Special!: Gathered at Gressenhall
In this special holiday episode, Isabella interviews a variety of individuals who helped plan and who attended Gathered at Gressenhall, a special textile takeover day at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, which took place on 29 September 2024....
Plantation Goods: An Interview with Dr Seth Rockman
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Seth Rockman, associate professor of history at Brown University, about his new book Plantation Goods: A Material History of American Slavery.Images and sources are available at @seww...
Samplers by Free, Freed, and Enslaved Schoolgirls: An Interview with Sarah Brokenborough
In this episode, Isabella interviews Sarah Brokenborough, a PhD student at Tulane University, about her master's dissertation entitled "What’s the Use?: A Comparison of Needlework Samples Made By Free, Freed, and Enslaved Schoolgirls in the Ear...
Stitching in Prison: An Interview with Fine Cell Work
In this episode, Isabella interviews three people from Fine Cell Work, a British charity that runs rehabilitation projects in prisons by training prisoners in paid, skilled needlework.Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast o...
The History and Power of Mending: An Interview with Kate Sekules
In this episode, Isabella interviews writer, historian, teacher, and lifelong mender Kate Sekules about the history and importance of mending and darning.Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Face...
Cambodian Textiles: An Interview with Dr Magali Berthon
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Magali Berthon about Cambodian silk weaving and how textiles were affected by the Khmer Rouge regime.Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The pod...
The History of Crochet: An Interview with Eleanor Gilchrist
In this episode, Isabella interviews PhD student Eleanor Gilchrist about her fascinating and surprising research into the history of crochet. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. T...
Women in Stitches: An Interview with Marcia Goldenstein
In this episode, Isabella interviews artist Marcia Goldenstein about her series "Women in Stitches," consisting of tiny embroidered portraits of women past and present.Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Insta...
Naval Embroidery: An Interview with Maya Wassell Smith
In this episode, Isabella interviews Maya Wassell Smith, assistant curator of art at the National Maritime Museum and a PhD student at Cardiff University. The two discuss naval embroidery in all of its forms.Images and sources are availa...
Men at (Needle)work: An Interview with Jamie Chalmers
In this episode, Isabella interviews Jamie Chalmers, AKA Mr X Stitch, the Kingpin of Contemporary Embroidery. The two discuss what's happening in the world of contemporary embroidery and what it's like to be a man who embroiders.Images a...
The Modern Venus: An Interview with Dr Lis Gernerd
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Lis Gernerd about her new book, The Modern Venus: Dress, Underwear and Accessories in the late 18th Century Atlantic World. The two talk about all sorts of undergarments, embroidered muffs, netwo...
Fashion City: An Interview with Dr Lucie Whitmore and Dr Bethan Bide
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Lucie Whitmore and Dr Bethan Bide about the Museum of London's exhibition Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners shaped global style and the accompanying Bloomsbury exhibition catalogue.Images...
Elizabeth Hall and Friends: An Interview with Rebecca Scott
In this episode, Isabella interviews English embroidery expert and Witney Antiques director Rebecca Scott. The pair talk about their new exhibition and accompanying catalogue, "Choice and Precious Work": Treasures from the Schoolroom, 1650-...
Stitching, Bright and Bold: An Interview with Danielle Clough
In this episode, Isabella interviews embroidery artist Danielle Clough. The pair talk about Danielle's embroidery practice, the transformation from photo to stitch, and the power of colour.Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodc...