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Artwork for Sew What?
Textiles
Embroidery
Needlework
Language
Naval Embroidery
Fine Cell Work
Colonialism
Haptic & Hue
Punch Needle
Fashion Design
Rehabilitation
Mental Wellbeing
Cambodian Textiles
Horatio Nelson
Georgian Fashion
Sailor Art
Textile Conservation
New Zealand
Bayeux Tapestry
Elizabeth Hall

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

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes103Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Visual ArtsArtsDesign

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Artwork for Sew What?

Latest Episodes

In this episode Isabella interviews Dr Emelie Gevalt and Dr Caroline Culp, co-curators of the upcoming exhibition Locating Girlhood: Place and Identity in Early American “Schoolgirl” Art at the American Folk Art Museum. The three talk about the exhib... more

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: www.instagram.com/irishdresshistorian/. 

Im... more

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 p... more

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 t... more

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Recent Guests

Caroline Culp
Brock Curator of American Art at the Chrysler Museum of Art
Chrysler Museum of Art
Episode: The American Folk Art Museum's New Schoolgirl Art Exhibition!: An Interview with Dr Emelie Gevalt and Dr Caroline Culp
Emelie Gevalt
Deborah Davenport and Stewart Standard Deputy Director and Chief Curatorial and Program Officer at the American Folk Art Museum
American Folk Art Museum
Episode: The American Folk Art Museum's New Schoolgirl Art Exhibition!: An Interview with Dr Emelie Gevalt and Dr Caroline Culp
Dr. Eliza McKee
Historian of dress, consumption, and material culture in 19th and 20th century Ireland
National Archives UK (London)
Episode: Dress, Textiles, and Needlework of the Irish Poor: An Interview with Dr Eliza McKee
Lisa Little
Curator at Sheringham Museum at the Mo
Sheringham Museum at the Mo
Episode: John Craske, Fisherman Turned Embroiderer: An Interview with Lisa Little and Lesley Lougher
Lesley Lougher
Volunteer at Sheringham Museum at the Mo, former trustee
Sheringham Museum at the Mo
Episode: John Craske, Fisherman Turned Embroiderer: An Interview with Lisa Little and Lesley Lougher
Brenda Rewhorn
Embroidery historian and tatting expert; researcher of the Social History and Technical Development of Tatting
Independent scholar / Ring of Tatters affiliate
Episode: The History and Use of Tatting: An Interview with Dr Brenda Rewhorn
Eleanor Houghton
Fashion historian, writer and illustrator; historical costume consultant for film and TV
Author of Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes, Bloomsbury
Episode: Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes: An Interview with Dr Eleanor Houghton
Sunen Shahani Vaidya
Leads communications, PR, outreach and programming at Chanakya
Chanakya International/Chanakya School of Craft
Episode: Sew What? Goes to India, Part 1: Chanakya International and Chanakya School of Craft
Ragini Vijay
Leads communications at Chanakya
Chanakya International/Chanakya School of Craft
Episode: Sew What? Goes to India, Part 1: Chanakya International and Chanakya School of Craft

Host

Isabella Rosner
Host of Sew What?, historic needlework expert

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 151 ratings
  • wow

    just when i think i cannot love this pod more you give us the episode on cambodian textiles. thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LeeLee Lauree
    United States2 years ago
  • Knowledgable Interesting and entertaining

    I really enjoy this podcast, Isabella Rosner is knowledgeable and entertaining and that is a difficult trick to pull off. Her guests are fascinating and well chosen. She makes the best of them and gets them to articulate thoughts and information abut a variety of subjects that can’t be found in many other podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    awovenfabric
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Enjoy!

    This is a great podcast for needleworkers, textile enthusiasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stitcher2
    United States3 years ago
  • Sew What

    When I’m sewing, love to listen to this most informative podcast. The commentary & interviews are well researched... thx for the time you take on this subject

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    omegamegan6
    New Zealand5 years ago
  • Perfect combo

    History + textiles/needlework + the people behind them = a winning podcast. I love the topics and interviews and always learn something new (like the collaboration between Amish and Hmong women needleworkers).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Needlework nerd
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the educational yet entertaining style and production quality
The host makes niche topics accessible and thoughtful
Engaging deep dives into textile history with expert guests
High-quality research and well-curated guest lineup are consistent strengths

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#46
United States/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#203
Canada/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#217
United Kingdom/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#142
Germany/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#153
Australia/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#5
Norway/Arts/Visual Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

John Craske, Fisherman Turned Embroiderer: An Interview with Lisa Little and Lesley Lougher
Q: What role did his wife and other women play in his career?
Laura Craske and patrons like Valentine Ackland, Sylvia Townsend Warner, and Elizabeth Wade White supported his work financially and through exhibitions, enabling Craske to continue creating when formal support was scarce.
John Craske, Fisherman Turned Embroiderer: An Interview with Lisa Little and Lesley Lougher
Q: Who was John Craske and why is his story significant?
Craské was a Sheringham-born fisherman who, after illness, turned to painting and then embroidering, creating a body of work that links maritime life with personal resilience and a distinctive textile language, reshaping perceptions of embroidery.
The History and Use of Tatting: An Interview with Dr Brenda Rewhorn
Q: Has anything surprised you in your study of tatted lace?
Brenda notes that COVID revealed how widespread and international tatting has become, with practitioners globally sharing patterns and techniques online, beyond what historical records alone would suggest.
The History and Use of Tatting: An Interview with Dr Brenda Rewhorn
Q: What are the different shuttles used in shuttle tatting, and how do they function?
She describes various shuttle designs—boat-shaped wood, plastic, metal, or even rare materials like abalone or silver—and explains how their shapes and features (like posts, hooks, or picks) influence thread management and joining techniques.
The History and Use of Tatting: An Interview with Dr Brenda Rewhorn
Q: Who are you and what do you do?
Brenda explains her shift from teaching mathematics to researching and teaching embroidery, bobbin lace, knitting, crochet, and tatting, highlighting her long commitment to the craft and academic study.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sew What?

What is Sew What? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-running show focused on historic needlework and the people who create, study, and conserve it. Episodes routinely explore topics like tatting, samplers, embroidery, and textile conservation through expert interviews, archival research, and museum perspectives. Listeners can expect deep dives into craft history, cultural context, and practical how-tos, with a warm, scholarly host guiding conversations and bringing niche subjects to a curious audience. A notable strength is the blend of hands-on craft insight with museum-quality scholarship, yielding engaging episodes for both practitioners and history enthusiasts who want context, technique, and stories behind historical textiles.

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How many episodes of Sew What? are there?

Sew What? launched 6 years ago and published 103 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Sew What??

Recent guests on Sew What? include:

1. Caroline Culp
2. Emelie Gevalt
3. Dr. Eliza McKee
4. Lisa Little
5. Lesley Lougher
6. Brenda Rewhorn
7. Eleanor Houghton
8. Sunen Shahani Vaidya

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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