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Handmade History: Episode 5 – Brooms!

We are releasing our latest episode a few days early: Happy Halloween! This week, we deep dive into broom making in New England. Making brooms is a universal human activity, but in the late 1700s, it became commercialized in America for the first time in New England. First, Native Americans made brooms and sold them to colonists. Then, a farmer planted some broomcorn. Learn all about America’s first (?) side hustle by clicking the player below! Or, find and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Thorough show notes and sources at https://tinyurl.com/ycyya2a9.

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Handmade History: Episode 4 – Nalbinding

Have you heard of nalbinding, the “ancestor to knitting?” Surprise–it’s not! Listen in to learn about this ancient AND ongoing craft, how it was forgotten and relearned in the US (and other countries), and how it is related to knitting. Find extensive show notes with sources at  https://tinyurl.com/kbdanvd8. Email us at handmadehistoryhosts@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @handmadehistorypodcast.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or by clicking on the player below!

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Handmade History Podcast: Episode 3 – The History of Cross Stitch (as we do it today)

If you buy a cross stitch kit today, you will get the same five things: a pattern with tiny squares and symbols, a piece of aida or even weave cloth, DMC floss colors (or a color guide) a needle, and a hoop. Leaving off the ancient origins of a needle and hoop, this episode covers the history of everything else. Surprise, we’re all Victorians! Listen in to learn about the woman who invented (or perfected) aida cloth, why aida cloth has the same name as an opera, and how DMC created their uberpopular Mouline Special thread.

Tune in on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you get your podcasts–or click on the player at the bottom of this post!

Find super thorough show notes at https://tinyurl.com/4umhx4fz. Thank you for listening!

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Handmade History Podcast: Episode 2 – The Pride Flag!

Listen in to hear the story of the very first Pride flag(s) ever made! Artists and volunteers created two enormous flags on a rooftop in San Francisco, brought them to a gay pride parade, and the rest is history! You’ll also learn all about the flags that have been invented since, by activists, artists, and graphic designers. And Sonia and I discuss–what even is a flag these days? Because: internet, we argue that it’s an emoji, but it still remains super powerful.

If you’re interested, tune in on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you listen to podcasts, or click the player down below!

Thank you for listening!