Stay Stitching and Other Steps You Want to Skip

Stay Stitching and Other Steps You Want to Skip

From Stitch Please by Lisa Woolfork

April 29, 2026 · 25 min · Episode 300

About this episode

Lisa Woolfork discusses the importance of essential sewing steps that are often skipped and their impact on garment quality.

This week on Stitch Please , Lisa calls out every sewer who’s ever said, “Eh… I’ll skip that step.” Yes, she’s talking about under stitching, stay stitching, basting and even hand stitching (deep sigh). With humor, honesty, and a little self dragging, Lisa breaks down why those “annoying extra steps” are actually the reason some garments look fine … and others look flawless . From facings that refuse to behave to necklines that stretch into chaos, she explains exactly what goes wrong when you rush and how doing it right the first time saves you from rage sewing later. Those invisible stitches are doing very visible work. Skip them if you want… just don’t be surprised when your outfit starts acting up. ===== Hosted By: Dr. Lisa Woolfork Senior Producer: Krystal Hill Producer: Mike Bryant ======== Sign Up For Lisa's Class at The Fiber and Fabric Craft Festival In Chicago ======== ======= 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…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Lisa Woolfork

Topics covered

  • sewing techniques
  • garment construction
  • hand stitching
  • under stitching
  • stay stitching
  • basting

Keywords

  • sewing
  • under stitching
  • stay stitching
  • basting
  • hand stitching
  • garment quality
  • sewing techniques

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