Sew What?
A podcast all about historic needlework and those who stitched it, hosted by your local historic needlework expert, Isabella Rosner.
Episodes
84 episodes since 2020
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...
September 05, 2024
•
Season 4
•
Episode 21
•
48:13
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...
July 18, 2024
•
Season 4
•
Episode 20
•
1:01:15
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...
May 23, 2024
•
Season 4
•
Episode 19
•
48:14
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...
April 18, 2024
•
Season 4
•
Episode 18
•
39:51
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...
March 29, 2024
•
Season 4
•
Episode 17
•
55:21
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...
February 29, 2024
•
Season 4
•
Episode 16
•
47:36
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...
December 21, 2023
•
Season 4
•
Episode 15
•
44:46
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...
December 14, 2023
•
Season 4
•
Episode 14
•
59:28
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-...
October 26, 2023
•
Season 4
•
Episode 13
•
52:43
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...
April 20, 2023
•
Season 4
•
Episode 12
•
51:29
Weaving and Unweaving: An Interview with Raisa Kabir
In this episode, Isabella interviews interdisciplinary artist and weaver Raisa Kabir. The pair talk about Raisa's weaving practice, the tangled relationship between textiles and colonialism, and all sorts of looms.Images and sources are ...
March 30, 2023
•
Season 4
•
Episode 11
•
58:34
Women's Work: An Interview with Ferren Gipson
In this episode, Isabella interviews Ferren Gipson about her new book, Women's Work: From Feminine Arts to Feminist Art. The book tells the story of more than 30 modern and contemporary textile and ceramic artists.Images a...
December 08, 2022
•
Season 4
•
Episode 10
•
38:53
Threads of Power: An Interview with Michele Majer and Emma Cormack
In this episode, Isabella interviews Michele Majer and Emma Cormack, two of the three curators of the exhibition Threads of Power: Lace from the Textilmuseum St. Gallen, which is on display at the Bard Graduate Center until 1 Janu...
December 01, 2022
•
Season 4
•
Episode 9
•
56:46
The Early Years of the RSN: An Interview with Dr Lynn Hulse
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Lynn Hulse about the early years of the Royal School of Needlework (RSN), which was founded in November 1872. This episode is being released the exact month of its 150th anniversary. Images a...
November 24, 2022
•
Season 4
•
Episode 8
•
1:11:08
Hmong Embroidery: Paj Ntaub and Story Cloths
In this episode, Isabella discusses Hmong embroidery. She focuses most on Paj Ntaub ("flower cloth") and Hmong story cloths, discussing their materials, colours, imagery, and uses.Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on T...
October 27, 2022
•
Season 4
•
Episode 7
•
28:20
Mary Linwood's Art of Stitchery: An Interview with Dr Heidi Strobel
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Heidi Strobel about the celebrated 18th-century needlewoman Mary Linwood. The two discuss Mary Linwood's art and that of her contemporaries, as well as the anachronistic divide between art and craft, genr...
September 01, 2022
•
Season 4
•
Episode 6
•
1:04:01
The World of Erica Wilson, Part 2: An Interview with Dr Anne Hilker and Vanessa Diserio
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Anne Hilker and Vanessa Diserio. Anne is the co-author and co-curator of the book and exhibition Erica Wilson: A Life in Stitches. Vanessa is one of Erica Wilson's children and the owner of the E...
June 23, 2022
•
Season 4
•
Episode 5
•
56:44
The World of Erica Wilson, Part 1: An Interview with Edith Bouriez
In this episode, Isabella interviews Edith Bouriez, embroidery entrepreneur Erica Wilson’s right-hand woman. Edith served as master teacher for Erica, as well as her store, seminar, and tour manager. Isabella and Edith discuss Erica's embroider...
June 09, 2022
•
Season 4
•
Episode 4
•
42:40
All About Egyptian Textiles: An Interview with Seif El Rashidi
In this episode, Isabella interviews art historian Seif El Rashidi about Egyptian textiles, spanning from ancient weaving to modern appliqué work.Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Faceb...
May 26, 2022
•
Season 4
•
Episode 3
•
49:18
RSN at the Fashion and Textile Museum: An Interview with Dennis Nothdruft
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dennis Nothdruft, Head of Exhibitions at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. The two discuss the museum's current exhibition, "150 Years of the Royal School of Needlework: Crown to Catwalk."Ima...
May 12, 2022
•
Season 4
•
Episode 2
•
42:50
New London Needlework Reexamined: An Interview with Lynne Zacek Bassett
In this episode, Isabella interviews independent fashion and textile scholar and curator Lynne Zacek Bassett. The two discuss Lynne's current exhibition, "New London County Quilts & Bed Covers, 1750‒1825," and the exciting needlework discov...
March 24, 2022
•
Season 4
•
Episode 1
•
57:54
Stitching A Better World: An Interview with Stephanie Valencia of the Social Justice Sewing Academy
In the final episode of season 3, Isabella chats with Stephanie Valencia, Program Director of the Social Justice Sewing Academy. The Social Justice Sewing Academy, or SJSA, is an organisation that empowers individuals and works to create social...
February 17, 2022
•
Season 3
•
Episode 16
•
55:24
Flax and Finger Weaving: Māori Woven Textiles
In this mini episode, Isabella discusses hand weaving crafted by the Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand), focusing on its history, techniques, and many designs. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Ins...
February 10, 2022
•
Season 3
•
Episode 15
•
17:35
Resilient Stitching, Then and Now: An Interview with Claire Wellesley-Smith
In this episode, Isabella interviews embroidery artist, author, and researcher, Claire Wellesley-Smith. The two discuss everything from Claire's community engagement textile projects and her new book Resilient Stitch to Louisa Pesel an...
February 03, 2022
•
Season 3
•
Episode 14
•
48:25
Battle, Ritual, and Community: Asafo Flags of the Fante People
In this mini episode, Isabella discusses the Asafo flags of the Fante, who live in Ghana's coastal region. Asafo flags are vibrant, appliquéd flags that combine folklore, proverbs, and heraldry.Images and sources are available at @sewwh...
January 27, 2022
•
Season 3
•
Episode 13
•
18:30