Stitch Please

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa chats with designer and certified fashion powerhouse Shanya Lewis an FIT and Parsons grad who can turn fabric, leather, and even your old assumptions about fashion into pure art.Shanya spills the tea on her creative journey from stitching knits to slaying in leatherwork and why sustainability isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a lifestyle (and a mood). They dive into the highs and lows of freelancing in fashion’s competitive jungle, the power of a good education, and the hustle it takes to build a brand that lasts longer than a fast-fashion trend cycle.With wisdom, warmth, and a few laughs, Shanya reminds us that quality over quantity is always in style and sharing what you know is the best accessory you can have.====Where You Can Find Shanya! Shanyalewis.com===========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 WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa and Mind the Force Podcast host Kristine McPartlin geek out over the secret language of Star Wars fashion from Luke’s hopeful robes to Darth Vader’s villain chic. They laugh about the Empire’s tiny hats, dissect Jedi linen minimalism, and revel in Queen Amidala’s 20 yard gowns. It’s a hilarious, insightful dive into how every stitch in a galaxy far, far away tells a story and yes, sometimes that story is simply “Nazis bad.”====Where You Can Find Kristine! MInd The Force Podcast===========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 WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa chats with the brilliant and multi-talented Tian Connaughton designer, writer, strategist, and all around creative powerhouse. Tian spills the tea on how she stitched her way through life’s messier moments, proving that crafting isn’t just a hobby it’s therapy with prettier results.From her rise as a go to voice in the knitting and crochet community to championing visibility for Black creators, Tian shares how she’s built a career that’s equal parts artistry and strategy. She dishes out wisdom on chasing your goals, running your business without burning out, and why you don’t have to “have it all together” to belong in the craft world.With laughs, lessons, and plenty of inspiration, this convo is your reminder to take it one stitch at a time and yes, you absolutely belong here.====Where You Can Find Tian! Instagram-@knitdesignsbytianWebsite-www.tianconnaughton.com===========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 WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa gets real about the politics of pressing yes, we’re talking seams, class, and why your iron might be more revolutionary than you think. From cosplay critiques to sewing history, she unpacks why pressing isn’t elitist it’s care, clarity, and craft all rolled into one. Press play and prepare to rethink your ironing board.===========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 WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store====“Be impeccable with your word.”: The Four Agreements," by Don Miguel Ruiz, outlines four principles for personal freedom and happiness. These agreements, rooted in Toltec wisdom, are: Be Impeccable with Your Word, Don't Take Anything Personally, Don't Make Assumptions, and Always Do Your BestLEAVE US A MESSAGE--https://www.speakpipe.com/BlackWomenStitch====2019 Pressing Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stitch-please/id1477578107?i=10004502131142019 Bonus Episode on Pressing: https://blackwomenstitch.org/captivate-podcast/pressing-matters-a-few-good-irons-and-one-amazing-collectibleSarah Boone, Ironing Board Inventor: https://www.biography.com/inventors/sarah-booneQUOTEDErica Bunker: https://www.threads.com/@ericabunker/post/DMd48PQyw70?xmt=AQF0nLB5RBhnJbOvuK73aVHgXoipt3xN0DaU-huV-1MWuwaaronicabcolestudio: https://www.threads.com/@aaronicabcolestudio/post/DMc8Gd1OKL2?xmt=AQF0wOmaHgrAxwdyrIOLlEb9NEShqSDv8XChtIgwAxuauQAdditional comments of interestterrancewilliams_: https://www.threads.com/@terrancewilliams_/post/DMblEBQsR4E?xmt=AQF0H04zsL35zrpnzBx_JOmBt3z5H_0ksq0GszETLN-s7Qshimere: https://www.threads.com/@shim.sew.creative/post/DMc0ycyMTzP?xmt=AQF0xsJgAmIaWUBExBFhCoE6d_d5hrRSxz1Npb9Q_oSvEwraisincosplay: https://www.threads.com/@raisincosplay/post/DMfhx5BR-dz?xm

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa is joined by the amazing Delita Martin, a printmaker who knows how to stitch, print, and wow you with her art. They chat about Delita's creative journey, which includes growing up surrounded by art, the deep connection between printmaking and quilting, and how she manages to make tea sound like a vital part of the creative process (spoiler: it is).Delita shares her spiritual take on art, her passion for uplifting other artists, and why storytelling and self-affirmation are key to keeping your creative spark alive. If you’ve ever wondered how to make your art both powerful and soothing, this conversation is your new blueprint. And yes, there will be tea—both literal and metaphorical.===========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 WoolforkTwitter: Lisa WoolforkReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa breaks down how we all learn to sew—whether you're a visual learner, a hands-on stitch witch, a bookworm with a thimble, or someone who needs their sewing machine to talk it out. She dives into the four main learning styles and why knowing yours can take your sewing game from “meh” to magnificent. Spoiler: mixing and matching styles is totally allowed. Tune in, learn your way, and stitch smarter—not harder!====Were delighted to share that STITCH PLEASE has been nominated for a Best of Cville Award! https://bestof.c-ville.com/2025/podcast  Please vote and share!===========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 WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon StoreReady to tap in to the visuals of Stitch Please? Then join our Patreon! For only $5 a month you can get all of the video versions of the pod. PLUS more goodies at higher patron levels. We couldn't do any of this without your support. Thank you!

This week on Stitch Please, Lisa is joined (again!) by the fabulous Mahdiyyah Muhammad for a thread-heavy deep dive into sewing that’s sustainable, soulful, and seriously stylish. They chat denim history, fabric vibes (yes, literal vibrations), and why mending isn’t just for grandma—it’s radical, ancestral, and low-key magical. From fast fashion faux pas to fiber alchemy, this convo stitches together culture, community, and circular fashion with plenty of wisdom and a dash of sass. Tune in and get mended, mentally and materially.====Where You Can Find Mahdiyyah! The Black Fiber & Textile NetworkMahdiyyah Muhammad's IG===========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 WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork======Stay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast--Sign up for the Black Women Stitch quarterly newsletterCheck out our merch hereLeave a BACKSTITCH message and tell us about your favorite episode.Join the Black Women Stitch PatreonCheck out our Amazon Store