Outie or Innie: How Do You Notch?

Outie or Innie: How Do You Notch?

From Stitch Please by Lisa Woolfork

January 21, 2026 · 23 min · Episode 293

About this episode

Lisa discusses the controversial topic of notches in sewing, exploring different methods and their emotional implications.

This week on The Stitch Please Podcast , Lisa tackles one of sewing’s most surprisingly controversial topics: notches. That’s right those tiny cuts in your pattern that somehow inspire big feelings. Lisa breaks down the three main camps: outward notches (aka outies), inward notches (ennies), and the bold rebels who say “no notches, no rules.” With help from the sewing community and plenty of real talk wisdom, Lisa explores the pros, cons, and emotional baggage of each method plus how she landed on what works best for her own projects. Whether you’re team snip, team clip, or team absolutely not, this episode proves that good sewing is less about following rules and more about finding what makes your process smoother and your seams happier. ==== ======= 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…

People in this episode

Host: Lisa Woolfork

Topics covered

  • notches
  • sewing techniques
  • pattern making
  • crafting community

Keywords

  • outward notches
  • inward notches
  • sewing rules
  • crafting

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Charlottesville, Virginia

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