Stitch Please

In this Stitch Please Sankofa episode, host Lisa from Black Women’s Stitch opens 2026 with a reflective 2025 year in review, grounded in the West African principle of Sankofa: learning from the past to build a better future. This episode offers listeners a vivid and personal exploration of the history of Black quilting and sewing, creative traditions, and the lived experiences that shaped the Stitch Please podcast throughout the year.From a six-month appointment at Wellesley College’s Humanities Center to hands on engagement with the Black craft and fiber arts community in Boston, Lisa takes us through a year of learning, stitching, collaborating, and teaching. She deepens ties to Black women quilters in Boston, craft industry professionals, quilt guilds, and local libraries while examining the shifting landscape of independent craft businesses and maker culture.This Sankofa reflection also covers Lisa’s entry into narrative podcasting about Black history, including a storytelling episode on Miss Fine Brown Frame and the award-winning narrative short “Very Fine People”, recognized by Audio Flux. Her travels to Cape Town and Ghana highlight the connection between African diaspora textile traditions, sewing history, and the enduring cultural legacy of handmade work.Finally, Lisa revisits a year marked by creative celebration and industry acknowledgment. Serving as a Golden Scissors judge at H+H Americas, earning an AMBIE nomination, and winning three Black Podcasting Awards all of which further solidified her voice as an award-winning Black podcaster, scholar, and cultural memory keeper. Through the lenses of community, knowledge, storytelling, and recognition, Lisa invites listeners to choose what personal wisdom to carry into 2026 and to embrace the power of Black women in creative leadership, dreaming boldly even in turbulent times.=======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...

In this episode of Stitch Please, guest Martha McIntosh discusses the intersection of sewing and holiday traditions, particularly focusing on the Garifuna culture. Martha is a proud Garifuna-American from the Bronx, NY, with strong roots in Livingston, Guatemala. She is a sewing enthusiast learning to sew for her curvy, plus-size body and others as well. Revisit this episode from 2022 as she shares personal stories about making holiday gifts, what this time of the looks like in the Garifuna culture, and the importance of passing down traditions to future generations. Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Lisa WoolforkLisa 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 convener and 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 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. #Charlottesville. 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. Martha McIntoshMartha is a proud Garifuna-American from the Bronx, NY, with strong roots in Livingston, Guatemala. She is a sewing enthusiast learning to sew for her curvy, plus-size body and others as well. Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa Woolfork Martha McIntoshWebsite: https://marthamcintosh.comInstagram: Martha McIntosh 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 StoreStay Connected:YouTube: Black Women StitchInstagram: Black Women StitchFacebook: Stitch Please Podcast

Lisa Woolfork welcomes Carmen Green, founder of the Black Sewing Network. They discuss the network's recent Day of Service initiative aimed at supporting Black girls' health globally through sewing. Carmen shares the journey from digital sewing tutorials to in-person community events, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and community building at home and within thew greater diaspora. The conversation highlights the power of community in sewing, and how the impact of reusable pads has opened up new ways to use fabric scraps. Plus, Carmen gives her thoughts around the evolving landscape of the fabric industry (RIP Joann) and why now more than ever it's important to support independent designers.=======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 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 chats with costume designer LeVonne Lindsay, who turned a post breakup hobby into a career dressing drama literally. From sewing Barbie outfits to running a college costume shop, LeVonne shares what it really takes to make magic backstage. It’s a fun, insightful dive into the world of stitches, stage lights, and saying no to shortcuts (until you’ve earned them).===========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