Sew with Confidence | Sewing, Fabric, Sewing Patterns, Sewing with Knits
Lisa Hawkes - Pattern Designer & Sewing Teacher 11 episodes Nov 10, 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 26: My Go to Packing List for a Sewing Retreat or Vacation
Are you finally getting away on that sewing retreat or sewing weekend? Maybe you are thinking about it for 2027 but wonder how to get everything you need to that destination especially if you are flying. Maybe you are driving with several friends and that means that you have to be judicious in how you pack. I have been in all of those situations and today I am going to walk you through my go to st
EP 25: Do You Need a Serger to Sew Great Knit Garments?
Would you like to sew knit garments but you don’t own a serger? Do you wish you had a serger so in an hour or two you could have a fantastic new knit garment? Have you put off trying knits because a serger isn’t in the budget right now. What if I told you you don’t need a serger and in fact most knit garments can’t be completed with just a serger. It’s true - so let’s talk about sergers
Welcome to
EP 24: Seven Tips for a More Professional Finish When Sewing Knit Garments
Do your knit garments look more homemade than professional? Is the neckline or hem stretched out? Does the garment grow or lose its fit after a few wearings? We all love the ease and comfort of a great knit garment, but I hear from the members of the Sewing Circle and in my free Sew with Confidence Facebook Group that sewing knits and getting that great finish so that the garment is something they
EP 23: Sewing with Rayon/Viscose Fabric - Yes You Can!
Do you admire the beautiful drape and fluidity of a rayon or viscose fabric but are afraid to sew with it? Would you love to be able to confidently sew the flowing dresses in lovely prints that show up in your instagram feed or on YouTube? Are you afraid of tackling this fabric or just don’t know where to start? Today’s podcast episode is the 2nd in a two part series on rayon, or viscose as it is
EP 22: The Many Names & Environmental Impact of Rayon Viscose Fibers
Rayon, Viscose, Cupro, Modal, Lyocell & Tencel - are you confused yet? I certainly am! This one fiber is known by many names and each one tells you a little something different about the resulting fiber and how it was produced. So in today’s episode, I am going to help you decipher the different fiber terms so you know what you are purchasing and next week we are going to continue this convers
EP 21: Working with PDF Sewing Patterns: Some People Love 'em & Some People Hate 'em
Are you one of those people who hate PDF patterns or do you love them? I have to admit that I started out as one of those people who hated PDF patterns but I have changed my mind and now I am one of those who love them. Well, love them or hate them, PDF patterns are here to stay, unless of course they get replaced by projector files, but that is a topic for another day. Today if you are one of th
EP 20: 3 Cozy Knit Fabrics to Sew for Fall From Easiest to More Challenging.
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 challen
EP 19: How to Find Focus and Support for Your Sewing Journey
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 Sewin
EP 18: Successfully Purchase Fabric Online Using This Key Metric.
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 ou
EP 17: 4 Go-To Woven Fabrics for Fall that You Will Love to Sew
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
EP 16: Finally Getting to a Fabric Store? Make the Most of Your Visit With a Little Pre-Planning.
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 f
EP 15: Assess Your Style so Your Next Sewn Garment is One You Love!
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 wron
EP 14: Favorite Sewing Machine Feet to Take Your Sewing From Homemade to Polished
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 y
EP 13 Disappointed in a Sewn Garment? Try Saving It With These 5 Tips
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
EP 1: Sewing Garments You Love (And How This Podcast Will Help You Do Just That)
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 th
Sew with Confidence Trailer
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 se
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