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Sew What?

Isabella Rosner

A podcast all about historic needlework and those who stitched it, hosted by your local historic needlework expert, Isabella Rosner.

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22 episodes
Avg 54 min
English

Episodes 22

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S3 · E39
August 21 · 1 hr 1 min
Dress, Textiles, and Needlework of the Irish Poor: An Interview with Dr Eliza McKee
In this episode Isabella interviews Dr Eliza McKee, Irish dress and social historian. The two talk about the dress, textiles, and needlework of the Irish poor. You can find Eliza on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/irishdresshistorian/. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com.
S4 · E38
August 7 · 54 min
John Craske, Fisherman Turned Embroiderer: An Interview with Lisa Little and Lesley Lougher
In this episode Isabella interviews Lisa Little, curator of Sheringham Museum at the Mo, and Lesley Lougher, volunteer and former trustee of Sheringham Museum at the Mo, about John Craske (1881-1943). John Craske was a Norfolk fisherman who took to painting and embroidery after falling ill. The trio talk about how Craske came to embroider, the style and content of his stitching, and how a group of women put his work on the map. You can learn more about the museum here: https://www.sheringhammuseum.co.uk/. You can buy Lesley Lougher and Jan Hillier's book about John Craske here: https://www.sheringhammuseum.co.uk/product/john-craske-fisherman-painter-in-wools/. You can learn more about the Murmuration Tapestry here: https://nearlywildweaving.wordpress.com/the-murmuration-collaboration/. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com.
S4 · E37
June 26 · 44 min
The History and Use of Tatting: An Interview with Dr Brenda Rewhorn
In this episode Isabella interviews Dr Brenda Rewhorn, the chairman of the Ring of Tatters and a maker of all sorts of textiles who did her PhD on the history of tatting. The two talk about the development of tatting, the different types of tatting that are practiced, the tools involved in tatting production, and modern day uses of it. You can join the Ring of Tatters here: https://www.ringoftatters.org.uk/. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com.
S4 · E36
April 1 · 46 min
Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes: An Interview with Dr Eleanor Houghton
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Eleanor Houghton about her new book Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes, published by Bloomsbury. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can buy Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/charlotte-bront%C3%ABs-life-through-clothes-9781350514089/. You can find Eleanor on her website here: https://www.eleanorhoughton.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/eleanorhoughtonhistorian/.
S4 · E34
March 27 · 44 min
Sew What? Goes to India, Part 1: Chanakya International and Chanakya School of Craft
In the first part of this two-part episode about needlework in India, Isabella interviews the staff at Chanakya, based in Mumbai. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find out more about Chanakya International here: https://chanakya.in/ and the Chanakya School of Craft here: https://chanakya.school/index.php. You can also find them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/chanakya.in/ and https://www.instagram.com/chanakya.school/.
S4 · E35
March 27 · 1 hr 10 min
Sew What? Goes to India, Part 2: Shrujan and Shrujan LLDC
In the second part of this two-part episode about needlework in India, Isabella interviews the staff at Shrujan and Shrujan LLDC, based in Bhuj. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find out more about Shrujan here: https://shrujan.com/ and Shrujan LLDC here: https://shrujanlldc.org/. You can also find them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/shrujanindia/ and https://www.instagram.com/lldcshrujan/.
S4 · E33
March 23 · 42 min
Art X Fashion: An Interview with Dr Elizabeth Way
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Elizabeth Way about her exhibition Art X Fashion, on display at the Museum at FIT until 19 April 2026. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find out more about Art X Fashion at https://www.fitnyc.edu/museum/exhibitions/art-fashion/index.php and more about the Museum at FIT at https://www.fitnyc.edu/museum/.
S4 · E32
February 27 · 55 min
Collecting Samplers: An Interview with Alexandra Peters
In this episode, Isabella interviews Alexandra Peters about her sampler collection and the importance of studying samplers. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. Alexandra's website is https://www.alexandralallypeters.com/. You can learn about her upcoming talks at Norwalk Historical Society and Suffield Historical Society here: https://www.alexandralallypeters.com/talks. Alexandra also mentions https://www.thesamplerguild.co.uk/, http://www.samplerconsortiuminternational.org, and antiquesamplers.com.
S4 · E31
Dec 11, 2025 · 57 min
Textile Conservation and Marie Antoinette Style: An Interview with Hannah Sutherland
In this episode, Isabella interviews Hannah Sutherland, ACR, Senior Textile Conservator at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The two discuss what is involved in conservation, knitted masterpieces, and the exhibition Marie Antoinette Style. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find Hannah on Instagram at Instagram.com/hannahjoycetextiles. You can find her Textile History article at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00404969.2025.2505489.
S4 · E30
Nov 29, 2025 · 47 min
Chinese Textiles in 18th-Century Britain: An Interview with Shilei Zeng
In this episode, Isabella interviews Shilei Zeng, Assistant Curator of China at the Victoria and Albert Museum and final year PhD student at King's College London. The two discuss Shilei's research into the use of Chinese textiles in 18th-century Britain and beyond. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find Shilei on Instagram at Instagram.com/fashioneastandwest.
S4 · E29
Oct 23, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
The History of Punch Needle: An Interview with Micah Clasper-Torch
In this episode, Isabella interviews Micah Clasper-Torch, an artist, designer, and educator whose work is centred around the traditional craft of punch needle rug hooking. The two talk about the history and use of punch needle in all of its forms. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find Micah on Instagram @claspertorch and @punchneedle.world. Her websites are https://www.punchneedleworld.com/ and https://www.micahclasper-torch.com/. Her book, Punch Needle Fashion, is out now.
S4 · E28
Apr 17, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
The Embroidery of Lorina Bulwer: An Interview with Ruth Battersby
In this episode, Isabella interviews Ruth Battersby, Senior Curator of Costume and Textiles at Norfolk Museums Service. The two talk about the embroidery of Lorina Bulwer, a Victorian woman institutionalised in the Great Yarmouth Workhouse who spent her days embroidering vibrant, angry, and extremely long biographical scrolls. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com.
S4 · E27
Mar 27, 2025 · 56 min
The Late, Great Major A.T. Casdagli: An Interview with Alexis Penny Casdagli
In this episode, Isabella interviews Alexis Penny Casdagli, the daughter of Major A.T. Casdagli, an Anglo-Greek spy famous for embroidering subversive needlework during his time in German POW camps in WWII. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can read Major A.T. Casdagli's wartime diary, Prouder Than Ever, through Cylix Press here: https://www.cylixpress.co.uk/. Also be sure to check out Alexis Penny's blog here: https://www.cylixpress.co.uk/alexis-pennys-blog/. As a note, the Greek Civil War is mentioned in this episode as being in 1948. The Greek Civil War took place from 1946 to 1949.
S4 · E26
Feb 27, 2025 · 43 min
Sew What? Meets Haptic & Hue: An Interview with Jo Andrews
In this episode, Isabella interviews Jo Andrews, host of the wonderful textile podcast Haptic & Hue. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can listen to Haptic & Hue and learn more here: https://hapticandhue.com/listen/. And be sure to check out the Textile Travels guides here: https://www.textiletoursofparis.com/textile-travels.
S4 · E25
Dec 19, 2024 · 59 min
Holiday Special!: Gathered at Gressenhall
In this special holiday episode, Isabella interviews a variety of individuals who helped plan and who attended Gathered at Gressenhall, a special textile takeover day at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, which took place on 29 September 2024. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. Show notes: Fiona Ashley mentions that Gressenhall's flax growing project began in 2023 -- it actually began in 2022 You can find out more about Common Threads Press here: https://www.commonthreadspress.co.uk/ You can find out more about GroundWork Gallery here: https://www.groundworkgallery.com/
S4 · E24
Nov 21, 2024 · 1 hr 6 min
Plantation Goods: An Interview with Dr Seth Rockman
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Seth Rockman, associate professor of history at Brown University, about his new book Plantation Goods: A Material History of American Slavery. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com.
S4 · E23
Oct 24, 2024 · 52 min
Samplers by Free, Freed, and Enslaved Schoolgirls: An Interview with Sarah Brokenborough
In this episode, Isabella interviews Sarah Brokenborough, a PhD student at Tulane University, about her master's dissertation entitled "What’s the Use?: A Comparison of Needlework Samples Made By Free, Freed, and Enslaved Schoolgirls in the Early Nineteenth-Century Atlantic World." Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com.
S4 · E22
Sep 27, 2024 · 1 hr 2 min
Stitching in Prison: An Interview with Fine Cell Work
In this episode, Isabella interviews three people from Fine Cell Work, a British charity that runs rehabilitation projects in prisons by training prisoners in paid, skilled needlework. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com.
S4 · E21
Sep 5, 2024 · 48 min
The History and Power of Mending: An Interview with Kate Sekules
In this episode, Isabella interviews writer, historian, teacher, and lifelong mender Kate Sekules about the history and importance of mending and darning. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com.
S4 · E20
Jul 18, 2024 · 1 hr 1 min
Cambodian Textiles: An Interview with Dr Magali Berthon
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Magali Berthon about Cambodian silk weaving and how textiles were affected by the Khmer Rouge regime. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com.

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes