Sew What?
Sew What?
Isabella Rosner
A podcast all about historic needlework and those who stitched it, hosted by your local historic needlework expert, Isabella Rosner.
The History and Use of Tatting: An Interview with Dr Brenda Rewhorn
In this episode Isabella interviews Dr Brenda Rewhorn, the chairman of the Ring of Tatters and a maker of all sorts of textiles who did her PhD on the history of tatting. The two talk about the development of tatting, the different types of tatting that are practiced, the tools involved in tatting production, and modern day uses of it. You can join the Ring of Tatters here: https://www.ringoftatters.org.uk/. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebo...
Jun 26
44 min
Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes: An Interview with Dr Eleanor Houghton
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Eleanor Houghton about her new book Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes, published by Bloomsbury. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can buy Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/charlotte-bront%C3%ABs-life-through-clothes-9781350514089/. You can find Eleanor on her website here: https://www.eleanorhough...
Apr 1
46 min
Sew What? Goes to India, Part 2: Shrujan and Shrujan LLDC
In the second part of this two-part episode about needlework in India, Isabella interviews the staff at Shrujan and Shrujan LLDC, based in Bhuj. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find out more about Shrujan here: https://shrujan.com/ and Shrujan LLDC here: https://shrujanlldc.org/. You can also find them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/shrujanindia/ and https://www.ins...
Mar 27
1 hr 10 min
Sew What? Goes to India, Part 1: Chanakya International and Chanakya School of Craft
In the first part of this two-part episode about needlework in India, Isabella interviews the staff at Chanakya, based in Mumbai. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find out more about Chanakya International here: https://chanakya.in/ and the Chanakya School of Craft here: https://chanakya.school/index.php. You can also find them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/chanakya.in/ a...
Mar 27
44 min
Art X Fashion: An Interview with Dr Elizabeth Way
In this episode, Isabella interviews Dr Elizabeth Way about her exhibition Art X Fashion, on display at the Museum at FIT until 19 April 2026. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find out more about Art X Fashion at https://www.fitnyc.edu/museum/exhibitions/art-fashion/index.php and more about the Museum at FIT at https://www.fitnyc.edu/museum/.
Mar 23
42 min
Collecting Samplers: An Interview with Alexandra Peters
In this episode, Isabella interviews Alexandra Peters about her sampler collection and the importance of studying samplers. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. Alexandra's website is https://www.alexandralallypeters.com/. You can learn about her upcoming talks at Norwalk Historical Society and Suffield Historical Society here: https://www.alexandralallypeters.com/talks. Alexandra also men...
Feb 27
55 min
Textile Conservation and Marie Antoinette Style: An Interview with Hannah Sutherland
In this episode, Isabella interviews Hannah Sutherland, ACR, Senior Textile Conservator at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The two discuss what is involved in conservation, knitted masterpieces, and the exhibition Marie Antoinette Style. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find Hannah on Instagram at Instagram.com/hannahjoycetextiles. You can find her Textile History article at https://...
Dec 11, 2025
57 min
Chinese Textiles in 18th-Century Britain: An Interview with Shilei Zeng
In this episode, Isabella interviews Shilei Zeng, Assistant Curator of China at the Victoria and Albert Museum and final year PhD student at King's College London. The two discuss Shilei's research into the use of Chinese textiles in 18th-century Britain and beyond. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find Shilei on Instagram at Instagram.com/fashioneastandwest.
Nov 29, 2025
47 min
The History of Punch Needle: An Interview with Micah Clasper-Torch
In this episode, Isabella interviews Micah Clasper-Torch, an artist, designer, and educator whose work is centred around the traditional craft of punch needle rug hooking. The two talk about the history and use of punch needle in all of its forms. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com. You can find Micah on Instagram @claspertorch and @punchneedle.world. Her websites are https://www.punchnee...
Oct 23, 2025
1 hr 1 min
The Embroidery of Lorina Bulwer: An Interview with Ruth Battersby
In this episode, Isabella interviews Ruth Battersby, Senior Curator of Costume and Textiles at Norfolk Museums Service. The two talk about the embroidery of Lorina Bulwer, a Victorian woman institutionalised in the Great Yarmouth Workhouse who spent her days embroidering vibrant, angry, and extremely long biographical scrolls. Images and sources are available at @sewwhatpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The podcast has a website, sewwhatpodcast.com.
Apr 17, 2025
1 hr 5 min
Load more