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

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

Lisa Hawkes - Pattern Designer & Sewing Teacher 11 Episodes Aug 18, 2026

Sew with Confidence is a podcast for home sewists who want to improve their skills and create garments they actually love to wear. Host Lisa Hawkes, a pattern designer and sewing teacher, shares practical advice on choosing fabrics, using sewing patterns, and mastering techniques, especially for working with knits. She draws on her own sewing failures and successes to help listeners avoid common mistakes and waste less time and money. The show aims to build confidence so that handmade clothes look polished and get worn, not hidden in the closet.

Episodes

EP 13 Disappointed in a Sewn Garment? Try Saving It With These 5 Tips
EP 13 Disappointed in a Sewn Garment? Try Saving It With These 5 Tips Aug 18, 2026 890 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 an
EP 12: Achieve a Polished (Not Homemade) Sewn Garment With These 5 Tips
EP 12: Achieve a Polished (Not Homemade) Sewn Garment With These 5 Tips Aug 11, 2026 1042 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 whate
EP 11: Sew an Outfit Both Moms & Children Will Love With These 5 Tips
EP 11: Sew an Outfit Both Moms & Children Will Love With These 5 Tips Aug 4, 2026 731 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
EP 10: Broadcloth, Poplin, Lawn & Voile, Oh My! Common Cotton Labels & What They Mean
EP 10: Broadcloth, Poplin, Lawn & Voile, Oh My! Common Cotton Labels & What They Mean Jul 31, 2026 830 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 terminolo
EP 9: 3 Tips to Help Pick Quality Cotton Fabric for Your Next Sewing Project
EP 9: 3 Tips to Help Pick Quality Cotton Fabric for Your Next Sewing Project Jul 28, 2026 911 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 stiff Chances 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
EP 8: The 4 Elements Necessary to Sew a Garment You Love
EP 8: The 4 Elements Necessary to Sew a Garment You Love Jul 24, 2026 625 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 love   In this Episode I Mentioned: Sew with Confidence
EP 7: Sewing a Woven Top? 4 Things to Check to Ensure a Great Fit!
EP 7: Sewing a Woven Top? 4 Things to Check to Ensure a Great Fit! Jul 21, 2026 672 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 t
EP 6: 4 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Between a Knit or Woven Fabric For Your Next Sewing Project
EP 6: 4 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Between a Knit or Woven Fabric For Your Next Sewing Project Jul 17, 2026 853 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 exp
EP 5 Understand the 3 Types of Ease to Sew a Garment You Love
EP 5 Understand the 3 Types of Ease to Sew a Garment You Love Jul 14, 2026 796 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 hel
EP 4: Understanding Fabric Manufacturing so You can Become a Better Sewer
EP 4: Understanding Fabric Manufacturing so You can Become a Better Sewer Jul 10, 2026 499 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
EP 3: Expand Your Sewing Skills with These 5 Easy & Free Patterns to Sew for Baby
EP 3: Expand Your Sewing Skills with These 5 Easy & Free Patterns to Sew for Baby Jul 7, 2026 799 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
EP 2: Pick the Perfect Linen Fabric for Your Next Sewing Project with These 5 Tips
EP 2: Pick the Perfect Linen Fabric for Your Next Sewing Project with These 5 Tips Jul 7, 2026 1146 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

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