Make and Decorate with Stephanie: Sew, Quilt, Knit &amp; Home Decor – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

Missouri Star Cathedral quilt tutorial.

In this episode of Make and Decorate, host Stephanie reflects on her unplanned break from podcasting and shares her excitement about returning. She discusses her creative projects over the past year, including a cathedral window quilt for her parents' anniversary and a commissioned king-sized quilt. Stephanie also shares her experiences at a quilting retreat, innovative tools she discovered, and cozy holiday projects. She highlights new patterns and classes she's excited about, and outlines her plans for the future of the podcast, including a shift to monthly episodes and potential video content.

Chapters

00:00
Welcome Back to Make and Decorate

03:43
Reflections on the Past Year

06:05
Creative Projects and Commissions

Kraeo Handyed yarn shop

Sparklesax Designs Longarm Services

12:03
Retreat Experiences and New Techniques

Center Street Quilts Hemmingway zipper pouch pattern

**Free Pattern** Sweetwater Patchwork Tree Mini Quit excerpt by Moda Mail

Out of Print Elenor Burns Trip Around the World Pattern Book - 1988 available on Thriftbooks

2021 Elenor Burns Trip Around the World - Accu Quilt YouTube Video

2019 Donna Jordan Quick and Easy Trip Around the World You Tube Video

22:08
Innovative Quilting Tools and Techniques

Modern Quilting Stencils by Sew Harmony

27:57
Cozy Holiday Projects

31:15
Exciting New Patterns and Classes

Katia Ferris New Book - Make Your Own Animal Friends

Katia Ferris New Sew a Mouse Class on Creativebug - available now

Katia Ferris' New 14" Rag Doll Class on Creativebug - available on 2/10/26

Jayne Stitches - Meredith doll workshop

37:46
Looking Ahead: Futu

Connect with Stephanie:

INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design

WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

E125: Guest Byrd Wadhams - Sewing and Fashion for All Ages and Skill Levels

Season 7 · Episode 125

dimanche 6 juillet 2025 • Duration 01:34:06

YouTube Channel Byrd Wadhams

You can watch the video of this podcast on my YouTube channel @makeanddecorate

Stephanie welcomes guest Byrd Wadhams to the podcast. Byrd is a curvy sewist who loves Colorful eclectic clothing. She believes style should not be defined by age, size, or gender. Byrd started her sewing journey a few years ago and it is her goal to show people it’s never too late to pick up a new skill or passion.

Links:

Byrd’s IG: @yogabyrdsews

Baltimore Frocktails IG

A couple more upcoming events Byrd mentions are: Sew Ankara Week (July) and KISS (Keep it Simplicity Sis)

Photos of Byrd’s sewing projects talked about on this episode can be found on Stephanie’s Podcast Blog at https://makeanddecorate.com

Connect with Stephanie:

INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design

WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

Episode 116 has been fixed - no extra music during our chat! 😳

Season 7

vendredi 27 septembre 2024 • Duration 01:09

Apologies for the extra music drowning out almost 4 minutes of our chat! I forgot to remove that song from the music track last season!

The old version of the episode is now taken down and a new and revised version of episode 116 is now up!

Thank you - Stephanie xxoo

Connect with Stephanie:

INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design

WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

M&D 29: Leah Day

Season 1 · Episode 29

jeudi 6 juin 2019 • Duration 01:20:00

On this episode, I chat with Leah Day, quilter, pattern designer, business owner, and a writer. Leah has an online shop with her patterns, quilting tools, and is a dealer of The Grace Company Longarm machines, and frames https://graceframe.com/en

If you have followed Leah Day over the years, you know she started out as a machine quilting expert in free motion quilting. She did a year long blog project on 365 New quilt designs. These quilting designs are available in a downloadable book or a physical book version. https://leahday.com/products/365-free-motion-quilting-designs-download

We also talk about her creative story and how she built her business that includes her husband and her father - who are invaluable to the day to day operations of the Leah Day business. We get into the origin of her amazing goddess quilts. She is currently working on a goddess quilt book to be released later this year.

Before my chat with Leah, I talk about my top 3 items I need to make in June. None of them are a quilt, but they are all sewing projects.

You can find links and photos to everything we talk about in my show notes https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

My instagram: @stephanie.socha.design
Facebook Page: Stephanie Socha Design
Website: http://stephaniesochadesign.com
e-mail: stephaniesochadesign@gmail.com

Connect with Stephanie:

INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design

WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

M&D 28: Latifah Saafir Studios

Season 1 · Episode 28

jeudi 23 mai 2019 • Duration 01:37:57

In today’s episode, the first segment begins with my recap of the Libs Elliot workshop, Embrace the Chaos, I went to last weekend. It was one of the most amazing classes I have experienced!

My guest on this episode is Latifah Saafir. https://www.latifahsaafirstudios.com/ Latifah is an independent quilt pattern designer, and is a fabric designer with Hoffman Fabrics. Her latest fabric collection is “1985”. She designed the “Clammy” templates for her clamshell patterns, and she has a new quilting class on modern quilting with bias tape on Bluprint.

Also, check out my 20% off sale on DIY interior design consultation services in my online shop https://stephaniesochadesign.com/shop

You can find links and photos to everything we talk about in my show notes https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

My instagram: @stephanie.socha.design
Facebook Page: Stephanie Socha Design
Website: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/
e-mail: stephaniesochadesign@gmail.com

Connect with Stephanie:

INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design

WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

M&D 27: Singer Featherweight C240, Sewing the Trixie Panel, Worsted Merino/Silk yarn

Season 1 · Episode 27

jeudi 9 mai 2019 • Duration 53:00

It's a jam packed episode with me, Stephanie Socha! There are a lot of projects on my table, and I'm in the completion phase of a couple of quilts. Find out what portable hand sewing project I took with me to jury duty last week, plus learn about hand sewing with silk thread.

I present a semi-review of the newer Singer Featherweight C240. I say "semi" because I have not actually sewn on this machine, but have done extensive research on this little gem of a machine since I recently learned about it.

I also talk about some Mother's Day or any day handmade gift ideas.

You can find links and photos to everything from this episode in my show notes https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

My instagram: @stephanie.socha.design
Facebook Page: Stephanie Socha Design
Website: http://stephaniesochadesign.com
e-mail: stephaniesochadesign@gmail.com

Connect with Stephanie:

INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design

WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

M&D 26: Kristin Nicholas

Season 1 · Episode 26

jeudi 25 avril 2019 • Duration 01:20:55

In this episode, I talk with Kristin Nicholas of Kristin Nicholas Designs. Kristin is an artist, designer and book author. Kristin excels in many areas of art: in the fiber artist world, as a pottery maker/artist, and a fabric/surface designer on Spoonflower. She is an author of 12 books on color, stitching and home decor. Kristin lives on a working sheep farm called Leyden Glen Farm, in western Massachusetts.

In addition to her art and design, Kristin also teaches online classes on Craftsy/Bluprint and Creativebug. Her work has been published in numerous magazines, and she has made numerous television appearances on shows like Martha Stewart Living, PBS knitting shows, her home was featured on HouzzTV season 2, and last year she was featured on Talks at Google.

Kristin's website is https://www.kristinnicholas.com/

Find all links and show notes at: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

My instagram: @stephanie.socha.design
Facebook Page: Stephanie Socha Design
Website: http://stephaniesochadesign.com
e-mail: stephaniesochadesign@gmail.com

Connect with Stephanie:

INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design

WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

M&D 25: Christa Watson, Christa Quilts

Season 1 · Episode 25

jeudi 11 avril 2019 • Duration 01:33:58

It's episode 25🎉and my guest on the podcast today is Christa Watson of Christa Quilts! Christa is a quilter, teacher, book author, pattern designer and fabric designer for Benartex Fabrics.

Christa's latest book, Piece and Quilt with Precuts, is available on her website, and all of her fabric collections are available in her online shop as well at https://shop.christaquilts.com/

We had the best time chatting about it all, machine quilting, overcoming quilting hesitation and fears, and the interior decorating Christa has done since moving into her new home. She shares her decorating journey in her Facebook Group. https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=christa%20quilts&epa=SEARCH_BOX

You won't want to miss this episode, so be sure to subscribe and share the Make and Decorate podcast with your friends😍 ✂️

You can find links and photos to everything we talk about in my show notes https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

My instagram: @stephanie.socha.design
Facebook Page: Stephanie Socha Design
Website: http://stephaniesochadesign.com
e-mail: stephaniesochadesign@gmail.com

Connect with Stephanie:

INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design

WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

M&D 24: Tammy Newton, Thimbles Quilt Shop

Season 1 · Episode 24

jeudi 28 mars 2019 • Duration 01:03:34

I recorded this episode from Thimbles Quilt Shop in Lockport, IL, a southwest suburb of Chicago. Tammy Newton is co-owner of Thimbles quilt shop, and she sat down with me in the beautiful 2nd floor of the shop that is their classroom and meeting place for all of the shop's events.

We chat about it all - sewing, quilting, fabrics, Babylock and Bernina machines, and how she and co-owner, Jane, along with their invaluable team keep this beautiful brick and mortar quilt shop successful.

You can find links and photos to everything we talk about in my show notes https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

My instagram: @stephanie.socha.design
Facebook Page: Stephanie Socha Design
Website: http://stephaniesochadesign.com
e-mail: stephaniesochadesign@gmail.com

Connect with Stephanie:

INSTAGRAM: @stephanie.socha.design

WEBSITE: https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

M&D 23: Kristin Rauch, Woolly Petals

Season 1 · Episode 23

jeudi 14 mars 2019 • Duration 01:16:46

Welcome to episode 23 of Make and Decorate with Stephanie Socha Design! There are a lot of exciting things going on here, I am about to start the Alison Glass Trinket sew a-long. This is a foundation paper pieced pattern, and I hope I can keep up with the 1 block per weekday for 8 weeks! I am looking forward to it.

My guest this episode is Kristin Rauch, of Woolly Petals. Kristin has an interior design background and a strong sewing background, and can make anything - I mean anything and everything! She is a multi-talented creative, and we have a great conversation about the things she likes to make, sew and quilt.

Kristin designs quilt and sewing patterns available in her Etsy shop. She is releasing a brand new quilt pattern on Friday, March 15, 2019. Be sure to listen to the entire episode for a special promo for all of you!

You can find links and photos to everything we talk about in my show notes https://stephaniesochadesign.com/podcast-make-and-decorate

My instagram: @stephanie.socha.design
Facebook Page: Stephanie Socha Design
Website: http://stephaniesochadesign.com
e-mail: stephaniesochadesign@gmail.com

Connect with Stephanie: