LeisureCraftsHistory

Handmade History

Sonia & Alicia

Two crafty sisters dig up stories and bust myths about people, materials, and practices related to all your favorite handcrafts. Listen to us while you craft! Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com and or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com. New episodes every other week!

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S3 · E4
Monday · 38 min
Bonus Episode 4: Frocktails Recap!
Alicia went with our Other Sister, Monica, to Frocktails Boston this October. Tune in as Alicia and Monica recap their experience, from bingo boards to raffle prizes, the fantastic theme (Enchanted Forest), favorite frocks, and more! Did you go to Frocktails? We would love to connect with you on Instagram--tag us @handmadehistorypodcast and tell us about your frock! This free-form-ish chat was full of sewing-related people, products, patterns, and more. Here are all of the things we mentioned: Frocktails was organized by Renee & Florence Cashmerette was the lead sponsor, along with Boston Fiber Company, Pintuck Press, and The Linen Lab Alicia wore a modified McCalls M7493 Monica's dress was the very lovely ME2016 from Know Me Patterns by MimiG We met Heather from The Very Serious Crafts Podcast Alicia picked up a shirt in the clothing exchange and it was @stitchedbyannie The most coveted prize was definitely the Sew Tites magnetic cutting system However Alicia was really hoping to win a year's membership to Seamwork pattern company Monica loved seeing Friday Pattern Company's Saguaro Set IRL We saw a bunch of very pretty Japanese knot-style bags like this one The graphic designer for the event was Monique Aimee -- she also had an amazing outfit and a hand-knit knot-style bag There were a few Ashton Tops by Helen's Closet Patterns Our mutual favorite outfit was a white iridescent dress made by a super amazing sewing enthusiast who also crocheted the Daisy Chain Top to wear on top of it and left trailing unwoven ends--fantastic style Monica also loved Julie Eilber's giant flower scarf/poncho Finally, we met someone who was on Threadloop. She gave us delicious caramels even though we aren't on Threadloop. We hope you enjoyed our conversation. We had a total blast at Frocktails Boston and can't wait to go next year!
S3 · E40
October 26 · 22 min
Episode 40: Felt in All Forms
This episode is brought to you by Felted Sky, a needlefelting kit company. If you're looking to refresh your fiber stash or grab a mini-kit, check out feltedsky.com today. And as a special treat to our Handmade History Podcast listeners, they're offering 20% off of their entire Winter Collection now through December 14, 2026. Just go to feltedsky.com and use code Handmade20 at checkout. The short story: Wool. Is. Magic! Thanks to some special (slightly magical) properties, wool fibers love to snuggle up and shrink, making it possible to make fabric from throwing wool around. Or perhaps putting it in your shoes and going on a pilgrimage, as Saint Clement is said to have done. Join us this week to talk about felt, from needlefelting miniature owls to creating walls for a yurt. You'll learn: 🇲🇳 How people in Central Asia and Mongolia have made felt for hundreds of years using wool, leather, and rope 🦉How a small group of people in New England repurposed industrial felting machines to invent needlefelting--and spawned an adorable trend of tiny animal creation 🇹🇷 How one of the oldest human archaeological sites shows us that felting is (probably) ten thousand years old! 📖 Join us for a readalong of What You Are Looking for Is in the Library by Michiko Ayoyama. Grab a copy at your library or use our affiliate link and join us on Patreon, Instagram, or Facebook. We start reading October 28, 2026 (and of course you can join in anytime!). 🪡 Join us for a craftalong using Felted Sky's Christmas Gnome Kit at the end of December. You can use any kit you like! Get 20% off of their entire Winter Collection now through December 14, 2026. Just go to feltedsky.com and use code Handmade20 at checkout. Show notes here: https://tinyurl.com/hhepisode40 Visit patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast to learn more and sign up to get our posts in your inbox. Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information. Thanks for listening! Bye!
S3 · E39
October 12 · 21 min
Episode 39: Witch CRAFTS and Amulets
It's officially spooky season, and this week we're talking about crafts that people have used for thousands of years to protect themselves from witches and the evil eye. Whether or not you believe in supernatural phenomena, these forces have driven people to carve, burn, stitch, and create amulets and other protections since the time of the Neanderthals. Did you know... 🧹The largest collection of witches marks in England was found carved into a cave wall...by two people on a cave tour? 👻At least one soldier made a witch bottle for protection...during the Civil War? 🧿The nazar is one of the oldest amulets used to protect against the evil eye in the world...and it was made into an emoji in 2018? Join us for a tour through the millenia, with, as always, fun rabbit holes and sidequests (spoiler alert: there a cryptid in this episode 😈). Show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/hhepisode39 Sponsored by our Patreon Patrons. Thank you for your support! Visit patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast to learn more and sign up to get our posts in your inbox. Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.
S3 · E19
September 28 · 20 min
Episode 38: Mae Reeves & JB Stetson, Two Epic American Hatmakers
A milliner of fabulous hats & pillar of the Black community and the creator of the iconic cowboy hat both started their companies in Philadelphia, PA. Mae Reeves and JB Stetson's iconic work could not look less alike, but both of these epic American hatmakers shared a love for their local communities and left their mark on the trade. In this episode, you'll learn... 👒About the hat shop you can visit in the Smithsonian 🎩The truth behind the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland--and its connection to hatmaking in real life 🤠 Where the first cowboys & cowgirls came from -- spoiler alert, it's not the American West! Show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/HHepisode38 Sponsored by our Patreon Patrons. Thank you for your support! Visit patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast to learn more and sign up to get our posts in your inbox. Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.
S3 · E37
September 14 · 26 min
Episode 37: Needlepoint!
What do Mary Martin, Rosey Grier, and Loreta Swit have in common? They all wrote needlepoint books! We're kicking off Season 3 with a deep dive into needlepoint. With stops at King Tut's tomb in 1922, Edo-period Japan, and Renaissance Italy, we take you on a tour of the stitches, materials, and makers that made needlepoint into the wildly popular craft it is today. Highlights include A unique counted running stitch called Kogin Where Berlin woolwork sits on the embroidery evolutionary tree Perhaps the priciest needlepoint kit on the market today, courtesy of Fendi We also answer the big question: What's the difference between needlepoint and cross-stitch? Find out if you agree with us! Listen in and share with a needlepoint-obsessed friend. Show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/HHepisode37 Sponsored by our Patreon Patrons--shout out to Maggie! Thank you for your support. Visit patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast to learn more and sign up to get our posts in your inbox. Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.
S2 · E3
May 27 · 20 min
Bonus Episode 3: A Chat with Jane Healey, author of The Saturday Evening Girls Club, a novel
Join us for a very special bonus episode! Alicia sat down to chat with Jane Healey, the author of The Saturday Evening Girls Club, a novel set in the early 1900s. The SEGC was a real club that launched a pottery venture, Paul Revere Pottery. Bowls, plates, tiles, and vases from this small shop are held in museums today, and sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most of the girls in the SEG were first-generation Americans in Jewish and Italian families in Boston's North End. The Saturday Evening Girls Club follows an imaginary SEG, Caprice who wishes to open her own hat shop, and three of her friends, who face struggles in their families, work, and social lives. The intertwined stories of these four girls are inspiring and relatable. Alicia and Jane talk about: Why Jane decided to combine Edith Gurrier, the founder of the SEGC, and her partner, Edith Brown, the co-founder of Paul Revere Pottery, and what she would do differently today The annual SEG tradition that she wishes she could have put into the story Why we still to relate to the struggles of turn-of-the-century girls and women today The special emails she's gotten from descendants This episode also caps off our readalong of Jane's book. You can find all of the posts for this readalong (and join in anytime!) at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Grab your favorite handcraft and listen in for fun facts to text to your crafting bestie! Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.
S2 · E36
May 25 · 20 min
Episode 36: Laura Ashley, Iconic Designer & Company
If you were a 90s kid (like Alicia was) or the little sister of a 90s kid (like Sonia was), chances are Laura Ashley influenced your bedroom design. Laura Ashley, born Laura Mountney in Wales in 1925, started her iconic, eponymous company by screenprinting in her Pimlico apartment with her husband, Bernard. Inspired by a Women's Institute exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Laura wanted to make a patchwork quilt--but she couldn't find any fabric that she liked. So, she designed her own. This episode is sponsored by Quiltfolk. Travel stitch by stitch with Quiltfolk — wherever you like to read… or sew. Use coupon code HandmadeHistory for 20% off your order on Quiltfolk.com. Soon, the Ashleys were selling scarves (a la Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday) and tea towels in shops in London--and just a few years later, they opened their own London showroom. Listen in to learn: How the Ashleys went from two shops and a showroom in the UK to 450 shops around the world The interesting lifestyle choice that Laura made in order to escape a cramped cottage in Kent The Laura Ashley brand today (it's still classy!) What exactly the Women's Institute is A pretty sidetrack about smocking Grab your work-in-progress and your crafting bestie and listen in for more fun facts and trips down rabbit holes. (And deep apologies for Alicia's butchering of Welsh place names!) This is our last regular episode of Season 2 - stay tuned for one more bonus episode, and then we will take a break and be back in September! Show notes and sources here. Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information. Also, in May 2026 we are doing a readalong of Jane Healey's The Saturday Evening Girls Club (this is an affiliate link--your purchase will support Handmade History at no cost to you). Grab a copy of this fantastic historical fiction novel and join us on Instagram, Facebook, or Patreon.
S2 · E35
May 11 · 22 min
Episode 35: A Sampler of Samplers from Around the World
Close your eyes and picture a sampler. We bet you are picturing a cross-stitched design with an alphabet on it. This type of sampler is quite common in England and North America, but there are many other types of samplers. In fact, samplers have been made in almost every culture around the world for several thousand years. This episode is sponsored by Embroydica. Visit Embroydica.com and become part of a growing global archive of embroidery and creative expression. Also check out Alicia's blog post about samplers on Embroydica! Listen in to learn about: The oldest preserved sampler, from the same Peruvian culture that created the mysterious Nazca lines. The oldest synthetic dye, Egyptian Blue, plus how to make it yourself (with a thousand-degree kiln) The oldest British sampler, which is also the oldest signed sampler, the Jane Bostocke sampler 3-D globe samplers (!!!) And so much more! Grab your favorite handcraft and listen in for fun facts to text to your crafting bestie! Show notes and sources: https://tinyurl.com/HHepisode35 Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information. Also, in May 2026 we are doing a readalong of Jane Healey's The Saturday Evening Girls Club (this is an affiliate link--your purchase will support Handmade History at no cost to you). Grab a copy of this fantastic historical fiction novel and join us on Instagram, Facebook, or Patreon.
S2 · E34
April 27 · 23 min
Episode 34: The Saturday Evening Girls and Paul Revere Pottery, Icons of the Arts & Crafts Movement
The Saturday Evening Girls began as a story hour in Boston's North End at a trade school for young people--and quickly grew into something more. This episode is sponsored by our Patreon Patrons. Thank you! We invite you to sign up to our Patreon at any level. Free members get a blog post with links and photos from each episode. Paid members get special discounts to crafty businesses as well as access to our Discord. The Saturday Evening Girls Club included 250 girls at its peak--and launched pottery business that made these girls and women into "icons of the Arts & Crafts movement," according to the Met. Join us for a deep dive into Paul Revere Pottery and the SEG, where we talk about: Edith Gurrier, the unique woman who started the SEG and PRP, including her connections to Louisa May Alcott and Harriet Tubman. Helen Osbourne Storrow, the benefactor of the club, who knew the value of a good vacation. Sara Galner, the most collected pottery artist today--whose tile recently sold for almost $300,000 Fanny Goldstein, who created Jewish Book Month and became curator of Judaica at the Boston Public Library--the SEG was her higher education Numerous other girls and women who made beautiful pottery that remains collectible today--and graduated college at a rate three times that of their peers Plus, with this episode we kick off a read-a-long of Jane Healey's The Saturday Evening Girls Club (this is an affiliate link--your purchase will support Handmade History at no cost to you). Grab a copy of this fantastic historical fiction novel and join us on May 6 on Instagram, Facebook, or Patreon. Grab your favorite handcraft and listen in for fun facts to text to your crafting bestie! Show notes and sources: https://tinyurl.com/HHepisode34 Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.
April 13 · 21 min
Episode 33: Sports Gear, from Baseball Caps to the Sports Bra Seen Round the World
When you think of sports gear, what do you imagine? Stretchy synthetic fabric, baseball caps with stiff brims, huarache sandals... ...yes! Join us as we talk sports gear from head to toe, and share deep dives into questions you didn't know you had, like Who invented the sports bra, and when? (Spoiler alert: two women, less than fifty years ago!) Why is the baseball cap round, instead of shaped like a "tiny layer cake"? What does synthetic fabric have to do with explosives? Who won the Guachochi Ultramarathon when she was 22 while wearing sandals, beating out 500 competitors? What is the Ravens' secret weapon against other football teams? Grab your favorite handcraft and listen in for fun facts to text to your crafty pals. Show notes and sources: https://tinyurl.com/HHepisode33 Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information. Check out the Sports Bra Project: https://www.thesportsbraproject.world/
S2 · E2
April 6 · 28 min
Bonus Episode 2: A Conversation with Author Anne H. Putnam about Breakups & Mending
In this bonus episode, Alicia chats with author Anne H. Putnam about her newest book, Make Do and Mend, a breakup memoir. Grab your favorite handcraft and listen in to learn about kintsugi, the Japanese art of filling cracks with gold and silver; why Anne decided to self-publish this memoir; and how embroidery and mending helped guide her through a difficult time. Scroll to the end for a giveaway! More about Make Do and Mend: Radically vulnerable and illuminating, Make Do and Mend is perfect for anyone who's ever played one of Taylor Swift's heartrending breakup songs on repeat or talked a little too much about her ex on a first date. Anne Putnam has a doting British boyfriend, a job in book publishing, an East London flat with a water view—even a published book of her own. But, having never expected the fairytale, 28-year-old Anne has no reason to anticipate its abrupt ending. When her fiancé cheats and their wedding is canceled, she's knocked into a tailspin that takes out nearly everything that held her life together. She flees London for her hometown of San Francisco, which becomes the unstable base camp for the steepest uphill climb she's ever faced: a torturous game of will-they-or-won't-they with her ex. Slowly, painfully, and with a lot of snark and bravado, she claws her way back from depression, with the help of an assembly line of bad dates, her cohort of brilliant friends, and a lot of guidance from her annoyingly astute therapist. Ultimately, she faces one major decision: take back the one person who loves her most, or burn it all down and start over. A touching, and sometimes funny, tale of one millennial's journey through the ugly parts of heartbreak, Make Do and Mend examines the decidedly unsexy process of healing and post-traumatic growth. To celebrate the publication of Anne's book, we're doing a giveaway of both of her memoirs! Enter to win a copy of Make Do and Mend and Navel Gazing in three ways: Sign up at any level, free or paid, on Patreon! All of our members are automatically entered to win. Find us on Instagram--we are @handmadehistorypodcast! The giveaway post will be pinned at the top--just follow us and comment to win. Send us an email! Don't do social media? No worries! Just email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com and mention that you'd like to win Anne's books. Check out Anne's website, where you can find all of her books and writing. And for more information, please visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com.
S2 · E32
March 30 · 21 min
Episode 32: A Select History of Early Knitting Machines
This episode is sponsored by our Patreon Patrons. Thank you! And a special thank you to Emily for supporting the show! We invite you to sign up to our Patreon at any level. Free members get a blog post with links and photos from each episode. Paid members get special discounts to crafty businesses as well as access to our Discord. You probably have heard of sewing machines...but did you know that there are also knitting machines? Knitting machines are used to make accessories and garments at home and in factories. They can be very simple--a cardboard tube and some popiscle sticks--or extremely complex. In this episode, we share the early history of knitting looms, including... A simple knitting machine you can make at home The earliest knitting machine, which peacefully coexisted with handknitters The true story of the Luddites (they actually used knitting machines!) The connection between knitting machines and the first computers, as well as Ada Lovelace, Charles Babbage, and Joseph-Marie Jacquard, early computer/knitting programmers The story of knitting machine inventor Masahiro Shima, who invented the first glove knitting machine after a week of no sleep! Grab your favorite handcraft and listen in for fun facts to text to your crafting bestie. Show notes and sources: https://tinyurl.com/y8hwefyp Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.
S2 · E31
March 16 · 29 min
Episode 31: Brown Lung and Blow Outs: The First Mills and Millworkers in New England
Thank you to our sponsor, Quiltfolk! Visit Quiltfolk.com and use code HandmadeHistory for 20% off your first order. When Francis Cabot Lowell built the first end-to-end cotton mill in Waltham, MA, he needed workers. Instead of hiring children, like many other factory workers (horrifying), he hired women. The farmers' daughters of New England flocked to mill towns and for the first time ever, made their own money. A decade or so later, many of the New England natives worked alongside Irish immigrants--the first immigrant labor force to work in sizeable numbers in the mills. As you gear up to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year, listen in to learn about: What it was really like to work in a mill: Poetry pasted on windows--nailed shut What the women who worked in the mills had to say about their days in letters home and poetry of their own Libraries and Lyceum halls: How mill workers spent their free time (reading!!!) The first mill worker-edited and owned magazine The Great Famine in Ireland and the harrowing journey many Irish emigrants took to New England towns The origin of the word "blow out" to mean a really big party--and what it was celebrating We think we've uncovered our funnest facts yet in this one, so grab your handcraft of choice and tune in! Show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/4wy52zze Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.
S2 · E30
March 2 · 21 min
Episode 30: Stumpwork
Have you listened to our latest episode yet? Here's the description: Stumpwork Embroidery from West to East: Birds, Bees, and Byzantine Icons! Ever seen a piece of embroidery where the petals literally popped off the fabric? Welcome to the decadent, dimensional world of stumpwork embroidery. Today, stumpwork artists love to stitch flowers, bees, berries, and birds. But stumpwork has a long history, stretching all the way back to the Byzantine Empire. If you love a craft that combines high-level skill with a bit of historical drama, this episode is for you. This episode also marks the start of our first ever stitch along! Grab our collaboration kit or PDF pattern from MCreativeJ and join us as we bring Handmade History to life with the Wild Pansy Stumpwork Stitch Along! Share your progress with #stumpworkstitchalong on social media! Here's a look at what we're unravelling: 👑 The Stuart Obsession: In 17th-century England, noblewomen weren't just stitching flat patterns. They were building entire 3-D worlds on mirrors and jewelry boxes. We're talking about tiny doors that actually open and curtains you could push aside to peek into castles. 🌸 The First "Pansy": Did you know the very first time the word "pansy" appeared in the English language (way back in 1450!), it was being used to describe an embroidered flower on a cloak? 🌍 A Global Journey: Stumpwork's history crisscrosses Europe, the Americas, and the eastern Roman Empire. We explore: Byzantine Icons: Where gold thread and pearls made religious figures glow. Spanish & Mexican Traditions: The beautiful "alto relieve" elements found in colonial-era clothing. The Brazilian Revolution: How "Madame Maia" changed the game in the 1960s with high-shine rayon thread and bold, variegated colors. 🛠️ The Original "Craft Kit": Think embroidery kits are a new invention? Think again! 17th-century crafters could buy pre-drawn kits for mirrors and boxes that came with all the silks, beads, and mica they needed. The struggle to find the perfect supplies is truly timeless. Whether you're a master of the bullion knot or you've never picked up a needle in your life, the history of how humans have used thread to create 3-D art is absolutely fascinating. Show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/mx5czk9c Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.
S2 · E29
February 16 · 26 min
Episode 29: The Wild World of Millinery: Hatmaking Across the Ages
Sponsored by Folkwear Patterns! Visit Folkwear.com to explore our collection and join a community that's been stitching history for half a century. What do a 27,000-year-old figurine, a Bronze Age coil of horsehair, and King Henry VIII's "minions" have in common? They are all part of the wild, tangled, and surprisingly complex world of millinery. This week, we're diving into the history of how we cover our heads. While we think of "millinery" today as the art of the women's hat, it was once the "department store of the past," selling everything from jewelry and gloves to clocks and "certain stuff." We'll trace the evolution of the craft from ancient woven fragments found in the Czech Republic to the high-fashion millinery shops of Revolutionary Williamsburg. Along the way, we explore the incredible 40-hour reconstruction of a 3,000-year-old Scottish hat, the cultural significance of the Native American warbonnet, and the business savvy of Victorian women who dominated the trade long before they had the right to vote. In this episode, you'll learn about: The "Venus" Mystery: Why archaeologists now believe those ancient braided hairstyles might actually be the world's oldest hats. The 40-Hour Hat: A deep dive into the "wrapped twining" technique used to recreate a Bronze Age horsehair masterpiece. The King's Shopping List: How much Henry VIII paid for his "bonnetts" (and who his minions were). The Shopping Experience: What it was like to shop in an 18th-century millinery shop (spoiler alert: there were pastries!) The Millinery Class Boom: Why classes in millinery exploded in the late 1800s and early 1900s–and why they fell short in creating a career pathway for most women Whether you're a fiber artist curious about the special technique used to make a Bronze-age hat or a history buff interested in the economics of fashion, this episode is for you. Show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/2wrb74bb We shared the story of our family's immigration to the US and our views on ICE at the top of the episode. If you feel moved to call your representatives, you can find who to contact at this website: house.gov Know your rights if ICE agents confront you or your neighbors: https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/services/immigration-know-your-rights Support people who are in danger of detention and who have been detained in Minnesota: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.
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February 9 · 32 min
Bonus Episode 1: Secret Societies and Silk Collars: A chat about heritage crafts and conservation with Willow Polson
What does it mean to be a "custodian of craft"? 🧵✨ In our latest episode, Alicia sits down with the heritage crafter, conservationist, podcast host, and Odd Fellow Willow Polson for a journey through the hidden corners of history. From the secret symbolism of the Odd Fellows to the year-long process of weaving baskets, Willow shares what it's like to hold traditions in your hands. We're talking: The delicate art of restoring 100-year-old silk collars. The ethics and honor of holding traditions for other cultures. The essential Victorian tool modern sewists overlook Grab your knitting bag, embroidery hoop, or spindle, and settle in for a relaxing conversation about crafts, history, and heritage. Would you like to be interviewed on Handmade History? Know someone we should talk to? Send us an email at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com Sign up for our free blog posts at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast Visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com
S2 · E28
February 2 · 22 min
Episode 28: Rhino Armor and Dog-Tooth Purses: Leather's Long History
Did you know the world's oldest leather shoe is a right-footed size 7? In this episode, we talk all things leather. From the science of tanning (using everything from tree bark to animal brains) to the world's oldest right-footed shoe, we explore how humans have used animal skins for over 70,000 years. Join us and travel from an ancient cave in Armenia to the snowy Schniedejoch Pass in the Alps to see how our ancestors stayed warm, protected, and stylish. Highlights include: 🦴A 4,000-year-old purse flap made of 100 dog teeth. 🦏 Chinese warriors wearing 7 layers of rhinoceros skin. 🧵 The difference between Saddle and Saddler's Stitch.🎥 A shoutout to the impeccable style in Netflix's The Dig (Sutton Hoo fans, unite!). Whether you're a seasoned leatherworker or just love that "new leather" smell, this episode is for you. Sponsored by Folkwear Patterns. Visit Folkwear.com to explore our collection and join a community that's been stitching history for half a century. Shownotes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/t9xz8ubj Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.
S2 · E27
January 19 · 25 min
Episode 27: Harriet Powers and Her Quilts
This episode is brought to you by Quiltfolk, an ad-free magazine made for quilters like you! Visit quiltfolk.com and use code HandmadeHistory for 20% off your first order. Thank you, Quiltfolk! We are running a stumpwork stitch along this March and we would love to have you join us. Starting March 3, we are going to stitch a design created by Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ–a 3-dimensional wild pansy. We will post our progress each week on social media and on our Patreon page. If you would like to join us, you can pre-order the wild pansy stumpwork stitch along kit or PDF pattern here. Harriet Powers was a quilter and artist. She was born into slavery on a plantation in Athens, GA, and was emancipated after the Civil War. She created at least five quilts using applique and piecing techniques. Two of them are in museums, the Pictorial Quilt and the Bible Quilt. Join us and learn about the unique qualities of Powers' quilts; the connections between Powers' quilts and West African art traditions; Powers' life and the life of her quilts; and her legacy today. You'll also learn about the Dahomey Kingdom and Fon artists, who still make applique textiles in Benin. Shownotes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/fzs3ts2c Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information. Visit quiltfolk.com and use code HandmadeHistory for 20% off your first order.
S2 · E26
Dec 15, 2025 · 25 min
Episode 26: Papercutting Around the World
A quick reminder: if you'd like to join us for the Wild Pansy Stumpwork Stitch Along with MCreativeJ in March, please pre-order your kit or pattern today! You'll get everything you need (pattern, supplies, and a great Handmade History article) to make a beautiful hand-embroidered 3-D pansy & learn to do stumpwork! Get 15% off the kit or PDF pattern before 12/31/25. Want to share the Stitch Along as a gift? Just put a note in your order and we will send a cute e-card to your giftee to let them know they are in, and their kit/pattern is on the way! Visit https://www.patreon.com/posts/142281475 for more details. The art and craft of papercutting is as old as paper-- and in this episode, we cover both! Listen in to learn about the history of paper and paper-like materials such as papyrus and tapa. Then, follow us around the globe as we explore traditions of papercutting in several countries. We cover Chinese papercutting, Mexican papel picado, Indonesian shadow puppets, the tradition of Jewish papercutting, and scherenschnitte in Switzerland and the US--among others! We also talk about the variety of tools and supplies used by papercutters in different traditions, and the wide range of motifs that papercutters create. Finally, we profile two papercut artists from the early 1800s, Adele Schopenhauer and Martha Ann Honeywell. This is by no means a comprehensive survey of papercutting--but it's a great start! We will take a break for the holidays and be back in January with more Handmade History. Happy holidays, everyone! Shownotes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/4jf5xncd Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Sign up for our free posts on our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information. Listen in your favorite player, or in your browser at https://handmadehistorypodcast.com/#listen Quick note: If you'd like to join us for the Wild Pansy Stumpwork Stitch Along, grab your kit or pattern here! Pre-order before December 31 and get 15% off!
S2 · E25
Dec 1, 2025 · 21 min
Episode 25: Polymer Clay & Artists
This episode is brought to you by Sculpey. Are you curious to try out polymer clay? Are you a polymer clay artist or enthusiast? We have a special offer for you from Sculpey, the original polymer clay company. Use code HANDMADE25 to get 25% off your entire purchase on Sculpey.com. If you aren't sure where to begin, Sculpey III clay is the perfect polymer clay for beginners. It comes in almost fifty colors and is easy to mold and shape into fun creations. You can also buy a multipack of Sculpey III clay, including sets of the Classic colors, Brights, Pastels, and Naturals. These sets are an easy way to get all the colors you need to get started. If you are an experienced polymer clay maker, then you know the variety of products Sculpey has to offer, from Liquid Sculpey to Sculpey Souffle, to all the tools you need to make beads, jewelry, sculptures, frames, dishes, and more. Visit Sculpey.com use code HANDMADE25 for 25% off your entire order. Sculpey – Where creativity takes shape. Thank you, Sculpey! If you were a child of the nineties (like one of us was!), you probably came across polymer clay. This brightly colored clay that bakes in the oven can be made into beads, miniatures, and so much more. In this episode, we share the story of the invention of polymer clay from an oil-production by-product (in Germany) and a failed attempt to make a material for electrical transformers (in the US). We tell the story of Sophie Rehbinder-Kruse, who eventually made the first successful polymer clay in the 1940s called FIMOIK. We also tell the story of how Sculpey started in the US in the 60s with white clay and demonstrations at art shops and craft fairs. We share some of the wide range of techniques that people use to create with polymer clay, from caning to conditioning with a pasta machine (thank you, Marie Segal!). And we finish by profiling two very different but very cool polymer clay artists, Ford/Forlano and Yuka Morii. Join us and relive your time at the kitchen table making beads, buttons, and miniature versions of food for your dolls! Show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/373kwc5u Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. Sign up for our free posts on our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast. Visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.

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