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Is “Intermediate” the Hardest Stage in Sewing?

May 13, 2026 · 26 min

Show notes

On this episode of Stitch Please, Lisa tackles the sewing struggle nobody talks about enough: being stuck in the “intermediate” stage. You’re past beginner mistakes, but not quite sewing couture gowns in your sleep either.

From confusing pattern labels to Reddit fueled sewing anxiety, Lisa breaks down why intermediate is less of a skill level and more of a messy, creative in between space. The takeaway? Keep practicing, trust your progress, and maybe… read the pattern instructions before complaining.

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Hosted By: Dr. Lisa Woolfork

Senior Producer: Krystal Hill

Producer: Mike Bryant

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Dr. Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.

Instagram: Lisa Woolfork

Twitter: Lisa Woolfork

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