Did you know that it took 100 years for the sewing machine to be invented? The sewing machine automated a process done by hand for tens of thousands of years--and it does it completely differently. A sewing machine uses lockstitch, a stitch you can't do by hand (without serious difficulty), two spools of thread, and a four-part mechanism to sew fabric together. Each of these parts of the sewing machine was invented by a different person, leading to mayhem and litigation. In fact, sewing machines are one of the first examples of a patent thicket, which led to the invention of the first patent pool.

Listen in to learn how Singer & Company successfully sold sewing machines around the world in the late 1800s and early 1900s, becoming one of the first mass-marketed global products. Find out how the sewing machine changed the readymade clothing industry, the lives of seamstresses (unfortunately not for the better), and the craft of quilting. And guess how many sewing machines we collectively own?

Tartans symbolize Scotland, but what is a tartan, exactly, and what makes it different from a plaid? Do all Scottish clans have a tartan? (And what exactly is a clan?) We answer all these questions and more in this episode, and do a deep dive into one of the first and biggest manufacturers of tartan, Wilson & Sons.

We have a special offer for our listeners from Folkwear Patterns! Use code TARTAN to take 25% off two Folkwear Patterns: 152 Scottish Kilts (https://tinyurl.com/2pdba88z) and 154 Child's Scottish Kilt & Jacket (https://tinyurl.com/e2b6z4nj). Each pattern comes with detailed instructions to pleat a kilt, plus a pattern for a Prince Charlie jacket (152, the adult pattern, comes with a vest, too!). Thank you, Folkwear!

Do you have a clan tartan or a tartan of your own you'd like to share? Or a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com, or visit our website at handmadehistory.com.

Happy listening!

Zines ("zeens") are handmade magazines--one or several sheets of paper, folded and/or stapled together. You can write, type, fold, and staple one yourself and send it to a distro (distributor) or bring it to a zinefest. You can write about yourself (a perzine), your favorite fandom (a fanzine), or tell stories, share how-tos, or make art!

Zines are by nature outside mainstream magazines and publishing houses, and communities who have been excluded from the mainstream (or who opted out--like punk rockers in the 70s) have embraced zines. Zines have their roots in little magazines created by Black artists and writers in the Harlem Renaissance and the amateur press, and some of the first zines were created by sci-fi fans and queer folks. They were embraced by members of the punk movement in the 70s and became a vehicle for the riot grrrls to share their message and find fans in the 90s.

Tune in as we trace the history of zines in the US from amateur press to the present day.

Find thorough show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/5n954b6v

Do you have a zine to share with us? Or a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Please email us at handmadehistorypodcast@gmail.com, or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com.

Happy listening!

What do you think of when you hear the Silk Road? Do you imagine caravans carrying loads of silk, Marco Polo, and boats crossing over land? The reality is that the Silk Road was a complex system of routes going over land--and rivers--through several very different places and cultures, where people not only traded silk but used it as a currency(!). The Silk Road(s) were also a highway for new ideas--in its over thousand-year life, several "fathers of" (algebra, modern medicine) grew up, studied, and wrote hundreds of books in centers near the Silk Road. We dive deep into silk's significance to the Silk Road and explore its impact on local culture and economy (And yes, we talk about Marco Polo.)

Find thorough show notes and sources here: https://tinyurl.com/23w8dsyd

Do you have a question, comment, or idea for a future episode? Please email us at handmadehistorypodcast@gmail.com, or visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com. Happy listening!

What do World War I and the early 2000s have in common? At both times, knitting groups became hugely popular across the country.

By the time the US entered the war in 1917, knitting for soldiers overseas was a very common pastime. Once we joined the fight, the Red Cross and the Women's Council of National Defense organized hundreds of thousands of women's clubs around the country to knit socks, vests, helmets, and sweaters for the army. Together, they contributed more than 23 million garments.

Fast forward one hundred years, and knitting groups blew up again. Debbie Stoller, co-founder of Bust, organized the first modern Stitch 'n Bitch in NYC in 1999, and a few years later, thousands upon thousands of women were knitting together. These knitters used knitting groups to connect with their peers and share experiences of third-wave feminism. Listen in to learn more!

Find thorough show notes with sources here: https://tinyurl.com/4mf7bap4.

Do you have an idea for a show, a comment, a question, or a knitting group of your own? We would love to hear from you! Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com. You can also visit our website at handmadehistorypodcast.com.

Have you seen a Woobles kit lately? We have--they are everywhere! These little stuffed characters are an example of amigurumi, 3-D stuffed toys that are knit or crocheted. Amigurumi originated in Japan in the 40s and 50s, in the aftermath of the atom bombs that the US dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Often cute, these little toys can be seen as a cultural antidote to immense tragedy. We talk about how amigurumis often have faces, and can come with personalities and stories. Many of these traits can be traced back to their genesis in Japan, and could be tied to traditional beliefs in animism and shintoism. Listen in to learn more.

Find thorough show notes with sources here: https://tinyurl.com/5vphvfcw. A shoutout out to Jennifer Ramirez of @thesunandtheturtle (thesunandtheturtle.com) for providing us with her book, Amigurumi, including her research into the history of amigurumi.

Do you have an idea for a show, a comment, a question, or an amigurumi of your own you'd like to share? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com! You can also find us on Tumblr, Instagram, and Blue Sky.

Lace is, by definition, useless. Whether is it is woven, crocheted, knitted, or made with needles or bobbins, lace is an adornment. And it has been a part of human history since (at least) the 1000s CE. We take you on a tour of lace from South America to Switzerland to South India, and show how lace has not only decorated clothing and table linens across the world, but has also changed domestic and foreign policy. We talk about the first lace pattern book, the curtains in Louis XIV's miniature boats at Versailles, and a courtesan's unique bed covering. Tune in to hear more!

Find thorough show notes with all of our sources here: https://tinyurl.com/2sbxapuc

Do you have a question or a topic we should cover? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com! You can also find us on Instagram, Tumblr, and now on Blue Sky. Thanks for listening!

Everyone knows that flannel is warm, soft, and plaid. But did you know that flannel was likely traded between Europe in Africa before 1486? And that the origins of the word are actually unknown? (And--it doesn't have to be plaid!)

Flannel was strongly associated with Wales, and we share about how this little country's flannel production moved from farms to small factories and eventually larger factories. Then, we talk about the legacy of flannel. Back in the fifties, flannel was commonly used to make suits--James Bond wore flannel suits in many of his films--which is a very different use of the cozy pajama fabric we know now. Listen in to hear about these and other famous flannels. Find show notes here: https://tinyurl.com/5n6v5jr6

Do you have a question or a topic we should cover? Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com! You can also find us on Instagram and Tumblr. Thanks for listening!