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PODCAST

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing Patterns, Sewing with Knits

Lisa Hawkes - Pattern Designer & Sewing Teacher

Do you want to sew clothes but are worried that the clothes will look homemade? Are you afraid of wasting your time, money & fabric? Tired of sewing beautiful clothes that never actually get worn, but just hang in the back of the closet? Do you want to expand your sewing skills but are nervous about trying new techniques? Welcome to Sew with Confidence! This podcast will help expand your sewing skills, provide guidance in choosing the materials for your next project, and help you confidently

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All Episodes

15:34

EP 20: 3 Cozy Knit Fabrics to Sew for Fall From...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/10/06

I know that cooler temperatures are on the way even if the weather hasn’t gotten the message. We want to be prepared when that cooler weather arrives. I also hear from many of you that you are afraid to sew with knit fabrics. Cozy knit fabrics are some of the easiest knits to sew, so into today’s episode I am ranking 3 cozy knit fabrics for you to try from easiest to one that is more of a challenge. If you are a beginner to sewing with knits, the first two are definitely beginner friendly and the

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10:50

EP 19: How to Find Focus and Support for Your Sewing...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/09/29

Do you struggle to find time for your sewing practice or the focus to finish your sewing projects? Have you ever wished that you could finish that project for a beloved child or even yourself? I can’t give you more hours in your day, but in today’s podcast, I have a story about a sewing legacy and a possible solution to help you get the support you need. Enrollment is currently open for the Sewing Circle, our online sewing membership community. If you would like to be part of a supportive sewing

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14:50

EP 18: Successfully Purchase Fabric Online Using This...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/09/22

Help - I want to purchase fabric online but how do I know I will receive something that I love? I understand - we have all been there. We want to feel the fabric, see how it drapes, feel the weight in our hands. But the reality for many of us is that we don’t have a local fabric store, or if we are lucky enough to have one, this time around it doesn’t have what we are looking for. Online may be our only option so how do we make an informed decision so we end up with a fabric that we love? I have

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13:59

EP 17: 4 Go-To Woven Fabrics for Fall that You Will...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/09/15

Have you had your first pumpkin spice latte yet? Are you noticing the cooling temperatures and a few changing leaves? Have you picked up your mums? Here in Connecticut it is still warm but Fall is definitely on the way - the temperatures are cooler and I am not opening the windows when I get up. . But maybe you live in an area where Fall is still a long way off. Well today I am thinking Fall even if the temperatures are not cooperating and I have 4 easy to sew woven fabrics for you that will help

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16:57

EP 16: Finally Getting to a Fabric Store? Make the...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/09/08

Do you have a fabric store near where you live? If you don’t and then you had the opportunity to finally visit a fabric store, were you able to take advantage of the opportunity? Did you have what you needed with you to make decisions in the time you had or did you get 50 miles down the road and remember the 10 things that you should have picked up? Here in the US, most of us don’t have a nearby fabric store so when we can physically get to one, it’s important to make the most of the opportunity

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13:52

EP 15: Assess Your Style so Your Next Sewn Garment is...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/09/01

How do you decide on the next sewing pattern or fabric that you are going to sew for yourself? Do you pick the pretty fabric and then it never gets sewn? Do you just go with the latest pattern that your favorite sewist is showing on instagram? Maybe you love a particular type of garment and you always sew that type? Do you sew for the special occasion, or for your everyday life? Don’t get me wrong, I love sewing for the special occasion, but the goal of this podcast is to help you sew garments that

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15:03

EP 14: Favorite Sewing Machine Feet to Take Your...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/08/25

Did you know that Bernina and Husqvarna manufacture over 100 specialty feet for their sewing machines and that Pfaff, Babylock and Janome make at least 60. Did you know that there is such a thing as a twin welting foot for the sewing machine? Typically only a small number of feet come with your sewing machine so you can spend a small fortune on additional feet. But having the right foot can help you achieve accurate sewing and make your garments look more polished. Now if you are someone who

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14:50

EP 13 Disappointed in a Sewn Garment? Try Saving It...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/08/18

You have worked late into the night to finish that garment that you have been sewing. Maybe you are trying to get it finished for the upcoming trip or special event. You finish up the last details, eagerly go to slip it on and rather than admiring your beautiful self in this new garment - you look in the mirror and its disappointment. The fit is fine - if that were the problem you would dive in and start working to correct that, but that isn’t the problem. It just doesn’t look like you pictured it

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17:22

EP 12: Achieve a Polished (Not Homemade) Sewn Garment...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/08/11

Do your sewn garments look polished? We all have different styles and preferences when it comes to how we dress and what garments we choose to sew, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to look polished, even if that is just a simple jeans and T-shirt. In today’s episode we are going to cover 5 easy tips that you can incorporate in your sewing that will help you achieve that polished look whatever garment you are sewingIn this Episode I Mentioned: The Free Sew With Confidence Facebook Group:

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12:11

EP 11: Sew an Outfit Both Moms & Children Will Love...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/08/04

Do you want to use your sewing talents to sew a garment as a tangible demonstration of your love for those special people in your life? Maybe it’s a dress or shirt for that special child in your life. But the last thing you want to sew up an outfit and then have it just hang in the closet never getting worn by that child. I know personally I would rather they wear it and ruin it than it never gets worn! Modern society has changed. Many of the garments that we used to sew for children don’t fit

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13:50

EP 10: Broadcloth, Poplin, Lawn & Voile, Oh My!...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/07/31

Have you ever ordered cotton fabric online and been surprised when the fabric arrived and by surprised I don’t mean in a good way. Was the feel not what you anticipated? Was it too thick or thin? Maybe it didn’t have the drape you were expecting. If you have, you are not alone and it is no wonder! Cotton fabric labels are confusing! Different terms are used between the US and Europe and terminology has changed over time. Now this wasn’t that much of a problem when we could all go to our local

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15:11

EP 9: 3 Tips to Help Pick Quality Cotton Fabric for...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/07/28

Is cotton fabric the fabric that you sew with most often? Have you been disappointed with the quality of the cotton fabric that you purchased? Have you ever wondered why some cotton fabrics have that wonderfully soft luxurious hand and others are scratchy and stiffChances are that cotton was the first fabric you ever sewed and it is probably the fabric you continue to sew with most often. But the quality of cotton fabric varies tremendously. So in today’s episode, which is the first of at least a

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10:25

EP 8: The 4 Elements Necessary to Sew a Garment You Love

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/07/24

How many sewing fails have you had? I hope they have been few and far between! In today’s episode we are going to dive into the 4 basic elements that are necessary to creating a garment that you love, some strategies for how to achieve those necessary elements, and finally what I believe is the quickest and fastest way to create a garment you loveIn this Episode I Mentioned: Sew with Confidence Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sewwithconfidencepodcast Episode 7: Sewing a Woven Top

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11:12

EP 7: Sewing a Woven Top? 4 Things to Check to Ensure...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/07/21

Do you always make a muslin before you cut your fabric? Do you just live dangerously, cut the fabric and go for it How about if we adopt a third option that hopefully minimizes sewing fails but quickly gets you to the fun part of sewing? While I often skip the muslin, that doesn’t mean that I don’t spend a little time doing some checking. That checking can often clue me in that I do indeed need to make a muslin. Here are 4 things I always check before sewing a woven top that help minimize the

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14:13

EP 6: 4 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/07/17

Do you prefer sewing with knit fabrics or woven fabrics? Does one fill you with joy and the other with dread, or are you comfortable moving back and forth between the two. In this episode we will explore some of the different characteristics of knit and woven fabrics and how understanding those differences as well as approaching them with the correct mindset can lead to a more enjoyable sewing experience and more polished finished garment. In this Episode I Mentioned: The Free Sewing with Confidence

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13:16

EP 5 Understand the 3 Types of Ease to Sew a Garment...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/07/14

Do you know that the exact same style of garment can have dramatically different amounts of ease? Did you know that those differing amounts can be the difference between whether you will love a garment and wear it often or whether it just hangs in the closet? Wondering how understanding ease can help improve your sewing - this podcast episode will give you practical tips on how to use ease to help pick your next sewing project. Ease in a sewing pattern is often just something that is in the

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8:19

EP 4: Understanding Fabric Manufacturing so You can...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/07/10

Have you ever thought about how fabric is manufactured? Did you know that understanding how fabric is made could help you achieve better results in your sewing? Understanding the basics of how fabric is manufactured - whether it is a knit or woven, along with some of the basic properties of each can help you choose the right pattern and avoid a lot of frustration during the sewing process. Let’s get a little nerdy about fabric manufacturing and how that can help you plan your next sewing

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13:19

EP 3: Expand Your Sewing Skills with These 5 Easy &...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/07/07

Do you want to sew something for someone that will actually get used and used often? Would you like to expand your sewing skills at the same time? This episode will help you do just that! Sewing for baby is a wonderful way to bless a new family, sew something that will be used often, and improve your sewing skills at the same time. In this episode I'm sharing 5 free baby patterns, from the easiest to the most challenging so you always know exactly where to start. If you've been wanting to sew

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19:06

EP 2: Pick the Perfect Linen Fabric for Your Next...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/07/07

Have you tried sewing with Linen? Do you think this fabric is difficult to sew and only for advanced Sewists? What if I told you that linen is a great beginner fabric? The benefits of linen are amazing. It is naturally breathable and it doesn’t hold in your body heat. It is a natural fiber made from the flax plant and is entirely biodegradable. Linen is also a very easy fabric to sew and great for a beginner. It works with a huge variety of sewing patterns, it keeps garment details well, and it’s

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11:51

EP 1: Sewing Garments You Love (And How This Podcast...

Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing... ·

2026/07/07

Do you find yourself wanting to sew but are afraid that garment you have sewn won’t be something that you want to wear? Do you sew for others but the things you have sewn are just hanging in the back of the closet and not being worn? Wondering if a podcast could possibly help? In this episode, I'm sharing the one thing that makes the difference between garments that get worn and loved and those that end up hanging in the back of the closet. You'll also learn why I started the Sew with Confidence

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