Handmade History

Have you listened to our latest episode yet? Here's the description:
Stumpwork Embroidery from West to East: Birds, Bees, and Byzantine Icons!
Ever seen a piece of embroidery where the petals literally popped off the fabric? Welcome to the decadent, dimensional world of stumpwork embroidery.
Today, stumpwork artists love to stitch flowers, bees, berries, and birds. But stumpwork has a long history, stretching all the way back to the Byzantine Empire. If you love a craft that combines high-level skill with a bit of historical drama, this episode is for you.
This episode also marks the start of our first ever stitch along! Grab our collaboration kit or PDF pattern from MCreativeJ and join us as we bring Handmade History to life with the Wild Pansy Stumpwork Stitch Along! Share your progress with #stumpworkstitchalong on social media!
Here's a look at what we're unravelling:
👑 The Stuart Obsession: In 17th-century England, noblewomen weren't just stitching flat patterns. They were building entire 3-D worlds on mirrors and jewelry boxes. We're talking about tiny doors that actually open and curtains you could push aside to peek into castles.
🌸 The First "Pansy": Did you know the very first time the word "pansy" appeared in the English language (way back in 1450!), it was being used to describe an embroidered flower on a cloak?
🌍 A Global Journey: Stumpwork's history crisscrosses Europe, the Americas, and the eastern Roman Empire. We explore:
Byzantine Icons: Where gold thread and pearls made religious figures glow.

Spanish & Mexican Traditions: The beautiful "alto relieve" elements found in colonial-era clothing.

The Brazilian Revolution: How "Madame Maia" changed the game in the 1960s with high-shine rayon thread and bold, variegated colors.

🛠️ The Original "Craft Kit": Think embroidery kits are a new invention? Think again! 17th-century crafters could buy pre-drawn kits for mirrors and boxes that came with all the silks, beads, and mica they needed. The struggle to find the perfect supplies is truly timeless.
Whether you're a master of the bullion knot or you've never picked up a needle in your life, the history of how humans have used thread to create 3-D art is absolutely fascinating.
Show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/mx5czk9c
Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at [email protected].
Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast.
Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.

Sponsored by Folkwear Patterns! Visit Folkwear.com to explore our collection and join a community that's been stitching history for half a century.
What do a 27,000-year-old figurine, a Bronze Age coil of horsehair, and King Henry VIII's "minions" have in common? They are all part of the wild, tangled, and surprisingly complex world of millinery.
This week, we're diving into the history of how we cover our heads. While we think of "millinery" today as the art of the women's hat, it was once the "department store of the past," selling everything from jewelry and gloves to clocks and "certain stuff."
We'll trace the evolution of the craft from ancient woven fragments found in the Czech Republic to the high-fashion millinery shops of Revolutionary Williamsburg. Along the way, we explore the incredible 40-hour reconstruction of a 3,000-year-old Scottish hat, the cultural significance of the Native American warbonnet, and the business savvy of Victorian women who dominated the trade long before they had the right to vote.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
The "Venus" Mystery: Why archaeologists now believe those ancient braided hairstyles might actually be the world's oldest hats.

The 40-Hour Hat: A deep dive into the "wrapped twining" technique used to recreate a Bronze Age horsehair masterpiece.

The King's Shopping List: How much Henry VIII paid for his "bonnetts" (and who his minions were).

The Shopping Experience: What it was like to shop in an 18th-century millinery shop (spoiler alert: there were pastries!)

The Millinery Class Boom: Why classes in millinery exploded in the late 1800s and early 1900s–and why they fell short in creating a career pathway for most women

Whether you're a fiber artist curious about the special technique used to make a Bronze-age hat or a history buff interested in the economics of fashion, this episode is for you.
Show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/2wrb74bb
We shared the story of our family's immigration to the US and our views on ICE at the top of the episode. If you feel moved to call your representatives, you can find who to contact at this website: house.gov
Know your rights if ICE agents confront you or your neighbors: https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/services/immigration-know-your-rights
Support people who are in danger of detention and who have been detained in Minnesota: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/
Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at [email protected].
Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast.
Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.

What does it mean to be a "custodian of craft"? 🧵✨
In our latest episode, Alicia sits down with the heritage crafter, conservationist, podcast host, and Odd Fellow Willow Polson for a journey through the hidden corners of history. From the secret symbolism of the Odd Fellows to the year-long process of weaving baskets, Willow shares what it's like to hold traditions in your hands.
We're talking:
The delicate art of restoring 100-year-old silk collars.

The ethics and honor of holding traditions for other cultures.

The essential Victorian tool modern sewists overlook
 
Grab your knitting bag, embroidery hoop, or spindle, and settle in for a relaxing conversation about crafts, history, and heritage. 
Would you like to be interviewed on Handmade History? Know someone we should talk to? Send us an email at [email protected]
Sign up for our free blog posts at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast
Visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com

Did you know the world's oldest leather shoe is a right-footed size 7?
In this episode, we talk all things leather. From the science of tanning (using everything from tree bark to animal brains) to the world's oldest right-footed shoe, we explore how humans have used animal skins for over 70,000 years. Join us and travel from an ancient cave in Armenia to the snowy Schniedejoch Pass in the Alps to see how our ancestors stayed warm, protected, and stylish.
Highlights include: 🦴A 4,000-year-old purse flap made of 100 dog teeth. 🦏 Chinese warriors wearing 7 layers of rhinoceros skin. 🧵 The difference between Saddle and Saddler's Stitch.🎥 A shoutout to the impeccable style in Netflix's The Dig (Sutton Hoo fans, unite!).
Whether you're a seasoned leatherworker or just love that "new leather" smell, this episode is for you.
Sponsored by Folkwear Patterns. Visit Folkwear.com to explore our collection and join a community that's been stitching history for half a century.
Shownotes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/t9xz8ubj
Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at [email protected].
Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast.
Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.

This episode is brought to you by Quiltfolk, an ad-free magazine made for quilters like you! Visit quiltfolk.com and use code HandmadeHistory for 20% off your first order.
Thank you, Quiltfolk!
We are running a stumpwork stitch along this March and we would love to have you join us. Starting March 3, we are going to stitch a design created by Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ–a 3-dimensional wild pansy. We will post our progress each week on social media and on our Patreon page. If you would like to join us, you can pre-order the wild pansy stumpwork stitch along kit or PDF pattern here.
Harriet Powers was a quilter and artist. She was born into slavery on a plantation in Athens, GA, and was emancipated after the Civil War. She created at least five quilts using applique and piecing techniques. Two of them are in museums, the Pictorial Quilt and the Bible Quilt. Join us and learn about the unique qualities of Powers' quilts; the connections between Powers' quilts and West African art traditions; Powers' life and the life of her quilts; and her legacy today. You'll also learn about the Dahomey Kingdom and Fon artists, who still make applique textiles in Benin.
Shownotes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/fzs3ts2c
Have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at [email protected].
Find links, images, and more on the free blog post for this episode; visit our Patreon page at patreon.com/handmadehistorypodcast.
Or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com for more information.
Visit quiltfolk.com and use code HandmadeHistory for 20% off your first order.