Sewing With Threads, Episode 95: A Peek at the Threads Winter 2025 Edition

Release Date: November 4, 2025
Hosts: Carol Fraser (CF) and Janine Clegg (JC)
Theme: Inside Look at the Winter 2025 Issue of Threads Magazine

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Threads magazine editors Carol Fraser and Janine Clegg provide a behind-the-scenes look at producing the Winter 2025 issue. The conversation covers the production process, highlights standout articles and features, delves into the challenges and excitement of sewing publication, and addresses changing landscapes in the sewing industry—particularly the closure of Joann's stores. Along the way, they share personal anecdotes, recommendations, and enthusiasm for keeping the sewing community connected and inspired.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Production Realities and Model Shoots

[01:59 – 03:15]

• Final Steps to Print: The issue closed on Tuesday after a whirlwind of edits and last-minute tweaks.
• Model Shoot in New York: JC managed the model shoot, including extensive ironing of linen garments for the upcoming spring issue—highlighting the challenges when fabrics wrinkle during transport.

  "Things that you do not see with your naked eye show up on camera and you have to kind of try to fix that." — Carol Fraser, [02:57]

• Peer Support: Light-hearted banter about the "ordeal" and importance of teamwork during the crunch time.

2. Sneak Peek: Spring Issue Feature on Pleated Pants

[03:15 – 03:49]

• Excitement over an upcoming article by couture expert Mary Funt on pleating, with a special focus on pleated pants in the spring issue.

  "Oh my goodness. For spring. So please everybody grab a spring issue. One of our authors, couture expert Mary Funt, did a piece on pleating." — Janine Clegg, [03:15]

3. Winter 2025 Issue Highlights

[04:48 – 29:13]

• Gift Guide:

  • Features both practical and aspirational gifts for sewers, including two standout books and a range of sewing machines.
  • Liberty of London Book:
    • Celebrating Liberty’s 150th anniversary—a beautiful and inspiring book perfect for textile and history lovers.

      "This book is beautiful...if you're ever stuck in trying to figure out what color you want to use or what kind of design you want to use, picking up this book will really help you out." — Janine Clegg, [05:15]

    • Threads itself is also celebrating its 40th anniversary.
  • Zoe Hong’s “Fashion School in a Book”:
    • An accessible and comprehensive entry into fashion design, suitable for aspirants and hobbyists.

      "Zoe knows every element of fashion design, of the industry, from start to finish...it's a good way to get introduced to what it is to really be a professional designer." — Carol Fraser, [07:57]

  • Sewing Machine Picks:
    • Machines for different budgets, including affordable embroidery machines suitable for beginners and the high-end Baby Lock Radiance for advanced users.

      "For well under $2,000, you can get an embroidery machine that will really work and be very effective." — Carol Fraser, [09:19] "If I retire ever, I will spend the next five years understanding everything that's in this machine." — Carol Fraser, [10:12]

• National Make It With Wool Contest:

  • Spotlight on winners and the excellence of their work, especially in machine embroidery.
  • The contest showcases talent spanning from teens to adults, emphasizing mentorship and community in the sewing world.

    "There is a generation of newer sewists who are really striving for and achieving this excellence that is really impressive." — Carol Fraser, [12:45]

• Upcycling Sweatshirts — Mary Ray’s Article:

  • Creative ways to transform old sweatshirts with hand-stitching and color-matching.
  • Emphasizes use of scraps and what’s already on hand to create “bougie” (chic) results.

    "With a little creativity...can really turn an old sweatshirt around into something beautiful you'd want to wear all the time." — Janine Clegg, [14:24]

  • Encouragement for collaborative and low-pressure projects.

    "You feel empowered to do it. You don't feel oppressed at perfection. You can just enjoy the process and come out with something that you like at the end." — Carol Fraser, [18:27]

• Maternity Wear — Pattern Modifications by Rae Cumbie:

  • Reader requests prompted an article on how to alter patterns for maternity wear.
  • Practical tips for expanding only the necessary parts of a garment, with built-in flexibility for changing sizes.

    "You enlarge the pattern just through the front where you would need it...then after a few months, you can let those out again and let the hem down as the baby bump gets bigger so that the hem stays even..." — Carol Fraser, [19:20]

• Smocking How-To with Annika Geisberger:

  • A modern take on smocking for adult garments, not just for children’s wear.
  • Highlights Annika’s creativity and the collaboration in sourcing fabric from London.

    "We wanted to do something that was a little more contemporary, something that an adult would feel comfortable wearing." — Janine Clegg, [21:47]

  • Detailed instructions for pattern adjustments to accommodate smocking.

    "She explains how you calculate the amount of extra width and length you need to pattern so that when you smock it all together, it is the size it needs to be." — Carol Fraser, [23:49]

4. The Closing of Joann's: Adapting to Change

[24:44 – 29:47]

• Resource Scarcity: Reflections on Joann’s closure and the challenges of sourcing basic supplies, especially for those in non-urban areas.

  "We took Joann’s for granted. In many ways, it was just a quick stop...But, yeah, now that it's gone, it's like, okay, where are we going to get these things?" — Janine Clegg, [25:21]

• Alternatives and Workarounds:

  • Michaels is bringing in threads and limited textiles.
  • Advice on using a palette of neutral threads as a substitution strategy for a wide variety of sew projects.

    "I'm a great believer in having a, a reasonable assortment of neutrals from light to dark and some red things and then you can get, you can cover a lot of ground with that." — Carol Fraser, [28:18]

  • Call for community input on go-to resources.

• Pattern Industry Uncertainty:

  • Awaiting news on the “Big Four” pattern companies and impact on indie pattern makers.

    "We need all of these and we want them all to succeed so that there are choices...The more different patterns you have written by different people with different ways of sewing, you can learn something from every one of them." — Carol Fraser, [29:13]

5. Additional Noteworthy Segments

Closure Story by Brooks Ann Camper
[30:33 – 31:06]

• An uplifting, reflective piece on the value of sewing and encouragement for all sewists.

  "She’s got the upbeat way of looking at everything that makes you feel like, yeah, I know why I’m doing this now." — Carol Fraser, [31:06]

Threads Community Engagement and Courses
[31:23 – 33:25]

• Open call for listener ideas, experiences, and article proposals.
• Reminder about e-learning classes, including legacy content by Cynthia Guffey.

  "I cannot believe how many wonderful tips I have learned along the way just watching Cynthia explain why she does things the way she does, it's really fun." — Carol Fraser, [33:02]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On garment shoots:
  "Things that you do not see with your naked eye show up on camera..." — Carol Fraser, [02:57]
• On finding inspiration:
  "If you're ever stuck in trying to figure out what color you want to use or what kind of design you want to use, picking up this [Liberty of London]book will really help you out." — Janine Clegg, [05:15]
• On upcycling:
  "You feel empowered to do it. You don't feel oppressed at perfection." — Carol Fraser, [18:27]
• On mentoring in sewing:
  "We really should be sharing what we know and encouraging people who show signs of being interested." — Carol Fraser, [13:34]
• On adapting to new realities:
  "We took Joann’s for granted...now that it's gone, it's like, okay, where are we going to get these things?" — Janine Clegg, [25:21]
• On community and learning:
  "There’s always something to learn with sewing. Really." — Janine Clegg, [33:25]

Community Calls to Action

• Share feedback or story ideas via threads’ email or website comments.
• Share favorite resources for fabric, notions, and patterns to help others in the post-Joann’s era.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:59] – Behind the scenes: finishing up the issue and photo shoot
• [03:15] – Spring pleated pants article preview
• [05:00] – Liberty of London book in Gift Guide
• [08:00] – Zoe Hong's book and sewing machine recommendations
• [11:00] – Make It With Wool contest feature
• [14:24] – Upcycling sweatshirts with Mary Ray
• [18:27] – Empowerment through simple, creative sewing projects
• [18:45] – Maternity wear pattern article
• [21:18] – Smocking article with Annika Geisberger
• [24:44] – What’s next after Joann’s closure?
• [29:13] – Uncertainty about pattern companies; call for indie support
• [30:33] – Reflective closure by Brooks Ann Camper
• [31:23] – Community engagement and invitations for reader stories

Final Thoughts

True to its mission, this episode keeps the spirit of sewing alive—spotlighting innovation, adaptation, and creative joy even amidst industry shifts and personal challenges. Listeners will find both concrete ideas (from upcycling and maternity pattern tweaks to thoughtful gifting) and plenty of camaraderie and encouragement to keep “sewing with threads.”

Listen for more tips, inspiration, and a window into the editorial process at Threads magazine.