The New Craft House Podcast · thenewcrafthouse

Episode Thirty Four - Sewing Wool

·42 min·4 clips

Hayley debunks the myth that wool is difficult to sew with, praising its durability, breathability, and natural antimicrobial properties.

Hayley is in the spotlight. The host introduces her as product supervisor, a familiar face for listeners who have seen the shop on Instagram or at recent events. First comes the dress, of course: her yellow moire cotton prom dress, which gives the voice a real person attached to it before the wool talk begins. The conversation stays relaxed, but it is full of shop-floor judgment. Wool does not get treated as one fancy mystery category. Hayley and the host sort it by feel, finish, weave, weight, and what a sewer might actually be making. Some wools are fleece-backed. Some feel more fibrous. Zebolene gets described as pressed and shiny, with a little pile to it. Then they move into chunkier choices, including double-faced twills and double-faced crepes, the kind of fabrics that can be satisfying to sew when the project calls for body. Stretch gets a useful little warning label. If the plan is a more fitted garment, stretch wool can give the extra bit of forgiveness that keeps the sewing from getting tense. The broader advice is simple: bring the project in, or email, and the shop can help match the wool to the garment. They like talking fabric, and the offer feels casual rather than salesy. Backstock is the sneaky tip. One roll on the shop floor may have six or seven more rolls behind it, which matters for small designers and coat makers. Four meters can look impossible until someone checks the shelves. They also point out that wool lies a bit on the roll: tight wraps can look small, while thick ten-meter rolls look enormous because the fabric has body. The episode closes on crepes, color, and the idea of fabric as a proper investment piece or gift, with an easy sign-off and the sense that Hayley may be back for another fiber chat.

As heard by us

A brisk wool buying guide with practical advice on weaves, weight, stretch, and backstock.

Episode 34 keeps things practical. Hayley, the product supervisor, joins the hosts for a straightforward wool buying conversation, with enough detail to be useful without getting bogged down.

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Why you'd press play

You want wool advice before you cut the fabric.

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