Episodes

Monday Apr 03, 2023
Episode #238: Gretchen Hirsch
Monday Apr 03, 2023
Monday Apr 03, 2023
Today on the show we’re talking about sewing glamor with my guest Gretchen Hirsch.
Specializing in vintage glamour, Gretchen “Gertie” Hirsch is a designer who infuses her passion for sewing into glamorous creations that can be customized for anyone. She got her start as a blogger with the popular Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing, and has collaborated with Butterick and Simplicity on the “Patterns by Gertie” line of sewing patterns, and designed fabrics for Joann Fabrics, Spotlight Stores and Michael Miller. A sought-after instructor, Gertie has traveled the world to lead sewing workshops highlighting her techniques.
In 2017, Gertie launched her own independent sewing pattern line called Charm Patterns, focusing on new women's clothing designs inspired by classic looks from the ‘40s and ‘50s. In 2020, she launched her Patreon subscription service, which includes monthly downloadable patterns and accompanying video tutorials, virtual sewing circles, live streams, and more. It has amassed a large community of passionate sewing enthusiasts from around the world.
She is the author of five books published by Abrams, including Gertie Sews Jiffy Dresses, Gertie’s Ultimate Dress Book and Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing, with two new books due to come out in Spring 2024 and Spring 2025.
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This episode is sponsored by Craftsy. Whether you’re new to making, or looking to advance skills in a favorite hobby, Craftsy is the place to learn.
With over 1,500 classes, there’s something for everyone, from knitting and sewing, to baking and cooking, gardening, embroidery, quilting and more!
Visit CraftsyOffers.com today and get a full year of Craftsy Premium Membership for just $3! That’s 97% off the regular price! Start turning ideas into projects you can be proud of.
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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.

Monday Mar 20, 2023
Episode #237: Libs Elliott
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Monday Mar 20, 2023
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about modern quilting with my guest Libs Elliott.
Elizabeth (Libs) Elliott is a textile artist exploring the intersection of technology and traditional craft by using generative code to design and make handmade quilts. A deep appreciation for craftsmanship, design history and future-focused applications are all reflected in her work. She studied Material Art & Design at OCAD University and lives and works in Toronto, Canada. Libs has been making quilts since 2009 and designing fabric collections since 2015. Her commissions include work for individuals and corporate clients such as Absolut Vodka. She has exhibited her work internationally and been covered by press such as Gizmodo.com, Design Milk and Casa Vogue.
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This episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching.
A community of creatives, building proficient, profitable, and professional online teaching businesses.
As a solopreneur you understand that feeling of exhaustion. There are limited hours in the day and only one of YOU to go around.
At the Academy for Virtual Teaching we can help you develop the skills needed to add online education to your business model. We are a FREE private membership community of supportive colleagues, sharing our love of making things with students around the world. We have an entire library full of equipment reviews and technical skill building workshops. We invite you to join the Academy for Virtual Teaching at a4vt.com.
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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.

Monday Mar 13, 2023
Episode #236: Anna Hrachovec of Mochimochi Land
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Monday Mar 13, 2023
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about knitting cute things with my guest Anna Hrachovec.
Anna is a Chicago-based designer and artist who loves to knit little creatures. Just about everything is more fun in tiny knitted form, so she’s inspired by everything! Under her designer brand, Mochimochi Land, Anna has created hundreds (and hundreds!) of knitting patterns that can be found in books and on her website (mochimochiland.com) and Ravelry. When she’s not making cute stuff out of yarn, Anna is busy making stop-motion animations with her woolly friends. Her heart-knitting gnome is one of the most widely shared GIFs in the world. Her first children’s book, Catside Up, Catside Down, is due out in September and is now available for preorder.
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This episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching.
A community of creatives, building proficient, profitable, and professional online teaching businesses.
As a solopreneur you understand that feeling of exhaustion. There are limited hours in the day and only one of YOU to go around.
At the Academy for Virtual Teaching we can help you develop the skills needed to add online education to your business model. We are a FREE private membership community of supportive colleagues, sharing our love of making things with students around the world. We have an entire library full of equipment reviews and technical skill building workshops. We invite you to join the Academy for Virtual Teaching at a4vt.com.
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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.

Monday Mar 06, 2023
Episode #235: Cheryl Ham
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Monday Mar 06, 2023
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about creating a subscription box with Cheryl Ham.
Cheryl Ham is a self-taught knitter who learned the craft with a bit of help from YouTube and a pair of her mother’s long-forgotten and slightly bent, size 9 needles. Cheryl is also the owner of Hypnotic Yarn, which came to life in 2017 after discovering the existence of hand-dyed yarn while watching knitting podcasts. Later, Cheryl founded Yarnable, a monthly hand-dyed yarn subscription that encourages self-care through the joy of knitting. When she's not playing with color in her Southern New Hampshire studio, Cheryl can be found snuggling with her two Chihuahuas.
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This episode is sponsored by Search Press.
For over 50 years, Search Press has delighted crafters with books on knitting, crochet, sewing, quilting, fiber crafts, painting, and drawing. If you want to try a new craft or improve your skills, Search Press has detailed instruction books for you. If you would like to learn more about selling Search Press books in your store or on your website, check out our website searchpressusa.com.
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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.

Monday Jan 30, 2023
Episode #234: Jenn McMillan of Sew Fine Thread Gloss
Monday Jan 30, 2023
Monday Jan 30, 2023
In today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re discussing developing a specialty notion with my guest Jenn McMillan of Sew Fine Thread Gloss.
Sewing since she can remember, Jenn was taught to sew on an old Singer Featherweight and has dabbled in various forms of textile arts her entire life. Growing up around family members who sewed, Jenn was always curious about the various trinkets and notions that were used and collected. She remembers digging through her grandmother’s sewing kit and pulling out a gnarled chunk of beeswax, later finding out what she used it for – taming her threads. She’s also excited that Sew Fine Thread Gloss is celebrating its 5-year anniversary this year!
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This episode is sponsored by Craftsy. Whether you’re new to making, or looking to advance skills in a favorite hobby, Craftsy is the place to learn. With over 1,500 classes, there’s something for everyone, from knitting and sewing, to baking and cooking, gardening, embroidery, quilting and more!
Visit CraftsyOffers.com today and get a full year of Craftsy Premium Membership for just $3! That’s 97% off the regular price! Start turning ideas into projects you can be proud of.
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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.

Monday Jan 16, 2023
Episode #233: Porfiria Gomez
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Today on the show we’re talking about modern quilting with my guest Porfiria Gomez.
Porfiria is a sewing enthusiast, self-proclaimed designer, and blogger. A native New Yorker, Porfiria learned to sew from her mother and how is a modern quilter, teacher, and author.
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This episode is sponsored by Sublime Grafx.
Sublime Grafx is the printer of choice for your pdf sewing patterns, digital artwork, personalized mugs and graphic tees. We offer a variety of paper choices and fast turnaround. Check us out at www.sublimegrafx.com/CIA. Podcast listeners get a $5 off coupon.
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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.

Monday Jan 02, 2023
Episode #232: Meghan Fernandes of Pom Pom Quarterly
Monday Jan 02, 2023
Monday Jan 02, 2023
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about creating a craft magazine with my guest Meghan Fernandes, a co-founder of the independent knitting magazine Pom Pom.
Meghan Fernandes is a knitting designer and instructor, as well as creative director at Pom Pom. After 10 years in London, she is now based in Austin, Texas, where she lives with her husband and young daughters. She revels in the challenge of making and enjoying knitwear for a hot climate.
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Today's episode is sponsored by Craftsy.
Whether you’re new to making, or looking to advance skills in a favorite hobby, Craftsy is the place to learn.
With over 1,500 classes, there’s something for everyone, from knitting and sewing, to baking and cooking, gardening, embroidery, quilting and more!
Visit CraftsyOffers.com today and get a full year of Craftsy Premium Membership for just $3! That’s 97% off the regular price! Start turning ideas into projects you can be proud of.
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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.

Monday Dec 19, 2022
Episode #231: Samantha Hoyt of A Gathering of Stitches
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about slow stitching with my guest Samantha Hoyt.
Samantha Hoyt is the owner and creative director of A Gathering of Stitches, a series of small-scale immersive retreats in Maine for quilters and garment sewists. She has been running the Slow Stitching and Slow Fashion retreats since 2015. The business began as a Maker Space in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood in 2013. Before A Gathering of Stitches, Samantha was a partner with her ex-husband in Rabelais, Fine Books on Food & Wine, a culinary book store also in Portland from 2008 to today.
She was raised in New York City and had a number of careers before landing her craft role. She started with modern dance in her 20s, photography in her 20s and ’30s (including a 7-year stint as a photo editor at People magazine), and arriving in the world of food as a pastry cook before moving to Maine in 2005.
She has been sewing and knitting since childhood and has always liked to throw a good party, so the retreats make her very happy.
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This episode is sponsored by Craftsy.
Whether you’re new to making, or looking to advance skills in a favorite hobby, Craftsy is the place to learn.
With over 1,500 classes, there’s something for everyone, from knitting and sewing, to baking and cooking, gardening, embroidery, quilting and more!
Visit CraftsyOffers.com today to get a special holiday deal! Get a full year of Craftsy Premium Membership for just $3! That’s 97% off the regular price! Start turning ideas into projects you can be proud of.
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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.

Monday Dec 05, 2022
Episode #230: Jonathan Lincoln from Goimagine
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about handmade marketplaces with my guest Jon Lincoln.
Jon is the founder of Goimagine. He earned many accolades with his prior technology venture within InsurTech including “Insurance Innovation of the Year” and “Top 10 InsurTech Leaders of 2017” which led to a company exit valued at over $44 Million.
Never a stranger to new ventures in 2020 Jon entered the world of ecommerce with the launch of goimagine.com; a new online marketplace that is the world’s first to donate 100% profits to charity.
As a handmade marketplace with a philanthropic mission goimagine has grown to over 3,000 makers and artists working to grow their handmade businesses while also helping children in need. As corporate marketplaces continue to grow and dominate the ecommerce landscape Jon believes it’s time there was a marketplace dedicated to providing social good.
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This episode is sponsored by h+h americas.
Join us! June 21 - 23, 2023 for h+h americas at the Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont, IL.
h+h americas is the premier trade show for today’s business environment. It’s the place where creativity meets business. h+h americas is a Business-to-business trade show with an extended digital marketplace accessible before and after the event.
Open to everyone who makes a living in crafts, h+h americas serves a community without membership requirements. For the first time the h+h americas in 2023 will include all craft sectors extending the event to the entire, creative community. For more information visit hh-americas.com
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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.

Monday Nov 21, 2022
Episode #229: Brittany Jepsen of The House that Lars Built
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about creating a lifestyle blog and brand with my guest Brittany Watson Jepsen.
Brittany is the founder and creative director of The House That Lars Built, an award-winning website focused on artful living and making. She is the author of Craft the Rainbow and her work has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, Vogue, Martha Stewart and more! She is the mother of Jasper and Felix and lives with her family in Provo, Utah.
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This episode is sponsored by June Cashmere.
It’s more than yarn. June Cashmere works directly with shepherd families in Kyrgyzstan to produce highest quality cashmere yarn. Manufactured with the maker in mind, theirs is a cashmere milled to last. Receive a free pattern when you join their community of makers at junecashmere.com.
As a special offer to podcast listeners, enjoy $5 off any $75 or more purchase through the end of December 2022 with code CIA. Purchases of $75 or more ship for free within the US.
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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.