Inside Stash Hub: How Yvette and Doug Built The Must Have Sewing Organiser App

In this episode of The Sewing Social Podcast, Gemma Daly sits down with Yvette – also known as Blossom Sandwich on Instagram – co-creator of Stash Hub, the must-have sewing organiser app for managing your fabric stash and projects.

Yvette shares her refreshingly unconventional journey into sewing, which began with stitching tiny hammocks for her pet rats. 

After discouraging experiences with sewing at school almost put her off for good, she rediscovered the craft on her own terms – becoming a passionate self-taught sewist and an active voice in the online sewing community.

If you’ve ever struggled with fabric stash organisation, forgotten what patterns you own, or wanted a smarter way to plan your sewing projects, this episode is packed with practical tips and inspiration.

Whether you’re looking for sewing room organisation ideas, fabric inventory tips, or insight into the best sewing apps for sewists, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. 🧵✨

Key Takeaways:

• Yvette started sewing to create hammocks for her pet rats.
• Her initial experiences with sewing in school were negative.
• She found inspiration in the online sewing community.
• The Sew Fruity challenge encourages creativity and community involvement.
• Stash Hub was developed to help manage fabric stashes.
• The app aims to reduce overwhelm in the sewing process.
• Sustainability in sewing is a key focus for Yvette.
• The marketplace feature in Stash Hub allows for easy destashing.
• Yvette enjoys engaging with the sewing community through Stash Chats.

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Guest Details: 

Instagram: @stash_hub

                  : @blossomsandwich

Website: www.stashhubapp.com

You can download the Stash Hub app on the App Store or Play Store and use the code below to get the first month for free:

Discount code: TSSP

Chapters

00:00 Yvette's Sewing Journey Begins

00:46 From Pet Hammocks to Dressmaking

05:16 Self-Taught Sewing and Community Influence

10:22 The Importance of Community in Sewing

11:21 Sew Fruity Challenge and Community Engagement

15:30 The Birth of Stash Hub

21:05 Day-to-Day Operations and Team Dynamics

22:20 Addressing Common Stash Problems

24:35 Mindfulness and Sustainable Sewing

27:09 Marketplace and Destashing Features

28:14 Insights from Stash Chats

30:08 Future Developments for Stash Hub

32:34 Community Engagement and Events

34:31 Fun and Games: This or That?

39:03 Where to Find Yvette and Stash Hub

41:33 Stash hub discount code

Transcript

Gemma Daly (00:10)

Yvette, welcome to the Sewing Social podcast. I'm so excited to have a chat with you today. You're welcome. I was wondering if you could introduce yourself to the listeners.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (00:16)

Thanks for having me Gemma, I'm really excited to be here.

Yep,

definitely. So my name is Yvette. So you might also know me as Blossom Sandwich on Instagram or as Stash Hub, which is the sewing organiser app, which I've created with my husband.

Gemma Daly (00:35)

Perfect. Now I do like to sort of take it back to the beginning every guest that comes on, so I was wondering if you could tell us about how your sewing journey started?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (00:46)

Yep, so my start of my sewing journey is a bit rogue, so probably no one's told this exact story before, but my started sewing because I wanted to make some hammocks for my pet rats.

Gemma Daly (01:00)

Yep, that's original. That's original.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (01:00)

So yeah,

so this was in 2019. And I am really tight and I don't like spending money on things. So was looking on Etsy and they had all these kind of really cute and fun handmade, rat cage adornments. And I was like, I'm not paying 30 pounds for that. I reckon I could make that considering I'd never sewn really before at all, apart from at school where I hated sewing.

But yeah, basically impulsively went down the road to Hobbycraft bought a sewing machine and a bunch of like fleece and was like, yeah, I do this myself. And there it was like, well, I've got a sewing machine now I'll have a go tote bags, at cushions, you know, all the kind of beginner stuff that you do. And then in 2020, I got really into dressmaking and it all kind of basically spiraled out of control and completely changed my rat hammocks.

Gemma Daly (01:51)

What a quote, what a quote! So you mentioned that you hated sewing at school, why? Was it the way they taught it or what do think it was?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (01:53)

Okay.

Yeah, I just really didn't enjoy it at school. I think the environment was not great where you've got like a class of like 30, 11 year olds who are just sort of told to get on with it. And I felt like nothing was really explained and the teacher was very, very strict. and they were especially strict about like wasting thread, wasting fabric. So then that meant that my sewing didn't work properly. like,

For example, about wasting thread, then I got very concerned about pulling the thread like through the machine too much. But then that meant my machine always came unthreaded because I hadn't pulled it through enough. So when the needle went up, it just unthreaded itself. So it's been the whole lesson rethreading the machine. And like didn't even realize it's just because I hadn't pulled enough thread through, but I was so nervous to like get told off for wasting any thread. And like the same with like seam allowance.

I was a bit like, no one really understood the concept of seam allowance and how that would affect size and the finish of the final outcome. Then I was like, well, if I do a centimetre and a half, that seems like quite a lot of fabric to waste all the way around. So then I tried to do a smaller seam allowance, but then if you don't sew super accurately with a really small seam allowance, you end up with little holes and then you get told off for that. And also just the projects were terrible at school.

Gemma Daly (03:13)

you

Yvette (@stash_hub) (03:21)

like, you know, just making things that you don't want, like a jacket for your water bottle. And I think a lot of it was because we didn't have access to like a lot of materials. So some that, you know, the projects were really small things and And also just, I

don't know the whole way that it works. Like, you know, you've got to tick all these boxes, but they don't always improve the final outcome. If you've got to put like an iron on vinyl and a

sew on a button that's not functional and just all this stuff it's just all felt really pointless and really frustrating when I was at school and I didn't enjoy it. So yeah my sort of teenage self would be very surprised at me getting really into sewing.

Gemma Daly (04:01)

Yeah, but like what a shame because that obviously put you off, didn't it? school obviously has to be aware of their resources, but they were so strict on it that it was stopping you being creative, which is a real shame.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (04:14)

Yeah, I mean, I didn't really feel like it was a sort of creative outlet, like at school. I mean, it was taught as like a design technology, know, part of the curriculum at school. So it was more like, you know, you do the brief and then you make the thing and it has to tick all these boxes, which aren't necessarily what you want to make. we never did anything kind of garment related. Like I've always really liked clothes and shopping for clothes and...

Gemma Daly (04:23)

.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (04:39)

you know, but then I'd always go to the shops and think, that would be really nice if it was in a different color or if it didn't have that weird ornamental zip

across the middle or, you know, whatever it is. So I think I could have got quite into it if it had been more kind of, you know, even if it was more educational about like how garments are constructed, but I didn't feel like it was educational or practical or creative. It just felt like a big waste of time to me when I was at school. And that's a shame, but it just, yeah, it just wasn't for me then.

Gemma Daly (05:07)

Yeah it is a shame but like you say you've come a long way since then

Are you largely then self-taught with your dressmaking?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (05:16)

Yeah, very much so. So I just basically, I just got really, really inspired by the sewing community on Instagram. So one of my first like dressmaking projects was the Safia Trousers by Tilly and the Buttons. It's in the Make It Simple book. So that when the book came out, that was when I was like, I'm gonna give this a go. Because I'd seen like the Tilly and the Buttons branding is very much like this is for beginners and it was all colorful and fun.

and it didn't seem kind of intimidating or like it would be kind of boring. I was like, you know, this seems like the sort of thing that's going to help me get going with it. So I definitely say that the Tilly's book really, really helped as well. But I'd got really into the sort of community online and not to plug a kind of other podcast, but I'd started listening to the Love to Sew podcast and they had an episode about the online sewing community. from that.

Gemma Daly (06:06)

Yeah.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (06:12)

I started following loads of accounts and got really into it. And I was like, have to get involved and I've got to, you know, really want to share my makes and like meet people. And I got really, really excited for that. And then when I was doing my Safia trousers, I managed to sew through my finger, which I won't go into too much detail about it, but I'm sure a lot of listeners will have experienced the same thing. So I think that could have been enough to.

Gemma Daly (06:28)

my goodness.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (06:37)

put me off and just be like, nah, this isn't for me. Cause it was a, was really early days as well. But I just become like so invested in the sewing community. And I was like, I can't leave now. Like, you know, I've said, I'm going to do thing. And I bought my ticket for the Stitch Festival. So I was like I suppose sort of emotionally already that I was like, you A &E come back home.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (07:03)

carry

on like I can't be quitting now. Yeah, so I had to power through. I think self-taught kind of suggests that I've put a lot of the work in but really like the indie sewing patterns a lot. And I know, buying patterns isn't just for the pattern often, like it's for you, learn so the techniques and even if you buy it and you think, okay, this pattern actually the style.

Gemma Daly (07:04)

Power through. Yeah.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (07:27)

isn't for me now that I've made it, you can still be like, well, I've learned still a lot about, I don't know how to do gathering or this is a certain way to insert the sleeves that I like. And you can then, when you're more experienced, like mix and match things, which I think is really valuable skill to have.

Gemma Daly (07:44)

That's a really interesting point actually. And do you have any particular favourite patterns that have taught you skills?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (07:52)

Favorite patterns in terms of like most

worn, I'd have to say like the Dani Pants by True Bias. And that's got quite a lot of skills in as well, because it's got a front fly zip and buttonholes and elastic in the waist. But they're just so comfortable as well. So yeah, I'd have to say Dani Pants. another True Bias is the Roscoe blouse, which I really like. I'm actually wearing a Roscoe and a Dani Pants right now.

Gemma Daly (07:55)

Okay.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (08:17)

that, yeah, so those patterns are definitely my most worn.

In terms of like learning stuff, I feel like Helen's closet patterns are really, really good for instructions and clever ways to do things. So I can't even think of like a specific example, but like, yeah, any Helen's I'm sure you'll think, okay, that's an expert. Often it will explain why you need to do things as well, which is really helpful when you're a beginner, because

Yvette (@stash_hub) (08:44)

sometimes you can be like, making a top and this is going to be amazing. And then it's like, stay stitched the neckline. And you're like, that's not sewing anything together. Why do I need to do that? But like in the instructions, it will actually say, if you don't do this, your neckline will stretch out and you're like, okay, I think, yeah, things that tell you why you need to do things, because that was really lacking at school as well, really helps or helps me anyway to know why.

I'm doing it and then it doesn't feel like a pointless step, which is something that would frustrate me.

Gemma Daly (09:15)

Exactly, and how do you learn if you don't know why you're doing it? So I'd agree Helen's closet is great, not only for beginners because I love them now and I'd probably call myself an intermediate sewer after these few years, but yeah, shout out to Helen's closet.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (09:31)

I mean, it's so hard to like pick on anyone specifically because like all the Indies are really, really helpful.

And like, Friday pattern company do the videos as well, which could be really helpful if, know, you're not quite sure what like set words mean or if the diagrams just aren't, know, making sense. But a lot of pattern companies, if you don't know who suits your vibe, like a lot of the Indies will do free patterns, which they do put a lot of work into. So it's worth

getting those, even if you don't want to make them, just to read the instructions and see what style makes sense to you.

Gemma Daly (10:04)

Brilliant tips there, Yvette, thank you. So you mentioned a big part of your journey was the community. And I was gonna ask you about that, because you've been quite involved in the community over the last few years, haven't you, in various ways. Why do you think it is important to be part of that community?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (10:22)

think sewing can be quite an isolating hobby in that you do it at home on your own. And if you don't know anyone else that sews, there can be this kind of vibe of like, that sewing's entirely practical and will you mend my trousers or will you do a hem for me? And you're like, that's not why I'm sewing. That's not why I got into it. Or that it's like just kind of bit.

Gemma Daly (10:27)

you you

Yvette (@stash_hub) (10:45)

you know, people say, you know, that's

an unusual hobby or whatever. And you're like, well, it's not really because now I know that there are thousands and thousands of people that do it and enjoy it in a similar way me. I think as well, when you're showing off things that you've made, other people that also sew will appreciate that more oftentimes than people that don't sew because they know the work that's gone into it.

Gemma Daly (11:08)

Exactly. And you also run a challenge, don't you, which gets

community involved called Sew Fruity and I believe that takes place in June. What inspired you to start that challenge? Mm-hmm

Yvette (@stash_hub) (11:18)

Yep.

So that community again, like the community on Instagram has inspired me so, so much. So I kind of started dressmaking in 2020 and then kind of later on in 2020 and in 2021 for a while as well, I was furloughed from work. So I used to work

in a lab, which obviously I couldn't do from home. So I was furloughed and then basically I just got...

I was like, well, I can't do nothing. And I got really, really into joining in with challenges on Instagram. So probably some of the biggest ones that really got me inspired were the Sew Frugal challenge, which is run by Sam Frugalissima and Ruan the Yorkshire Sew Girl, and the Sew Yellow for Endo challenge run by Jess. So what if I sew? So those challenges really, really got me into like joining in challenges.

Gemma Daly (12:02)

Mm-hmm.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (12:16)

seeing what other people have made and getting inspired by that. And so I think it was in 2020, it was really early on in my sewing journey and in the Instagram community, I hosted the first iteration of Sew Fruity. So the first time I ran it was actually called Fruit Salad Sewing, which was a bit of a long hashtag, I have to admit. So we shortened it to Sew Fruity in the future. But basically I had bought

Gemma Daly (12:34)

Okay.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (12:44)

a couple of fabrics that had fruits on them. And I'd sort of said on my stories or maybe in some DMs to some people that I was chatting to on Instagram, shall I do a fruit challenge? Haha. And they were like, yeah, I've got fruit fabrics, I'll join in the challenge. So that basically that encouragement from other me to host it as a challenge. So the first time I did it in 2021,

Gemma Daly (13:02)

you

Yvette (@stash_hub) (13:07)

It was pretty low key. I didn't have many followers at the time. We didn't do prizes or anything like that, but still had 80 people made something fruity and joined in. So that was really inspiring. I thought, you know, maybe there's something here. as the challenges go, it's quite a sort of silly one. It's not a, you know, a big, know, cause behind it or anything like that. But I just think it's quite a fun one to join in with. And lots of people have fruity fabrics.

as well. I think it's just quite, and it's quite a summery one. Because originally I did it in April or something, and was way too early. And I made this like ridiculous dress with bananas all over it. And then I was like, it's still so cold. I can't wear this.

Gemma Daly (13:46)

Brilliant. Well, we do need those fun challenges still. makes you use what's in your stash as well, doesn't it? Mm. Now, before we move on to Stash Hub, I need to ask you, where did the name Blossom Sandwich come from?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (13:52)

Definitely. Yeah, I just think it's just bit of fun and seeing because often people will have the same fabrics and just seeing different things that people make in the same fabrics is always interesting as well.

So that was a kind of username that I already had. And it was basically completely random. It was made up by my husband Doug in this sort of, I guess the theory of, when you make passwords and you just get kind of random words and put them together so you'll remember them. So he was like, what can your username be? I know, Blossom Sandwich. So yeah, it doesn't mean anything. Some people misread it and they're like, Blossoms and which?

Gemma Daly (14:31)

Yeah.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (14:39)

⁓ yeah, no, it's just really random. I, and I just thought I'd just

keep it as that. cause when you change your username on Instagram, it, you, it deletes all your previous tags and stuff. So I'm stuck with that forever now, but, yeah, I quite like it. I think it's quite fun.

Gemma Daly (14:43)

Yeah.

It is fun and people definitely know it's you by now, don't they? So. Yeah.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (14:56)

Yeah, I mean, I think if I'd made a fresh account to share my sewing stuff on, I'd have definitely gone with some kind of pun. But then I feel like there's quite a lot of accounts that are named in some kind of pun and then it

would I'd be lost in the noise of everyone that's done that kind of idea. But yeah, I do I do love a good pun.

Gemma Daly (15:17)

Me too, me too. So yeah, let's get on to Stash Hub then, which I believe is now a full-time job for yourself and your husband Doug. Tell us how the idea of that first came about.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (15:30)

So that stash hub was founded quite organically as well, as well as my sewing journey. Basically when I was getting really, really into sewing later part of 2020 and 2021, also discovered a lot of fabric shopping from community sources. So my stash was just kind of accumulating and I really wanted to know

Gemma Daly (15:47)

Okay.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (15:59)

what each fabric was like in terms of like the composition and the fabric type and stuff because I was so new to sewing about fabrics like a whole nother thing that you have to learn that you kind of don't really realize when you first start so I was trying to keep the information about the fabric and where you where I was buying online you have a lot of that information available to you anyway so I was thinking you know it'd be a wasteful of me not to save this information somehow so I had a word document

Gemma Daly (16:10)

Mm. Thank

Yvette (@stash_hub) (16:28)

where I'd pasted all this information in and put in a photo of each fabric. But if anyone's ever tried to put photos in a Word document, you'll know that's a terrible idea, completely futile endeavor. So obviously that was terrible. And Doug's very technologically minded. So he hates to see me struggling with horrible Word documents and things. So he's like, what are you doing? So basically, yeah, the app was developed.

Gemma Daly (16:38)

Okay.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (16:55)

to help me manage my stash. Cause I had all these fabrics struggling to remember what they were or how much I had and all this stuff. So Doug was like, surely there's an app for this. And we kind of had a little look on the app store. but there wasn't really anything that kind of fitted what I was looking for. So then at the same time, he was teaching himself coding and app development and in a similar way to sewing.

that it's much more fun to learn new skills when you're actually doing a project. He wanted a project to learn his coding skills. So he was like, well, I'll have a go at making an app to record all of the details about your fabrics. Not really intending it to kind of become anything more just, you know, for him to practice his skills. And because he's a sort of problem solver by nature, that was what he decided to do. So he made the sort of first version of Stash Hub.

in about 2021. then it was like really, it was so good. And I was just like, you know, and by then I'd got even more into the sewing community. I had a few more followers and I was like, I've definitely spoken to a lot of people that also need And there's a sort of sense in the sewing community of like, oh, you know, sewing and buying fabrics are two separate hobbies. Everything's terrible. Just laugh it off. And I was like, I think there's actually a problem here. Like people...

Gemma Daly (18:12)

Yeah.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (18:16)

you know, would like to be on top of their stash, but they just don't know how. So then we decided, okay, let's actually try and make this into, you know, a proper app that we can put on the app store and, you know, see if anyone's interested in downloading it. it all kind of went from there really. So yeah, we're both now doing it full time, which is absolutely incredible.

Gemma Daly (18:35)

That is amazing.

And tell us about like your day-to-day then. What does that look like?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (18:44)

the beginning Stash Hub,

so we officially launched it in 2022, the app has changed so much since then. We've added so many new features. So originally, it was literally just cataloging fabrics. And then we quickly added patterns as well and then projects. Because we were thinking, people will add all of their fabrics and then add projects. But people were like, I've bought this fabric.

with this project in mind and I don't want to forget it. So we added projects before we actually launched when we were doing the beta test. But even like now sort of three years later, we get a lot of feedback from our users. So we put quite a lot of work into thinking about like that feedback and whether it's something that would be useful to everyone on Stash Hub. So Doug and I will have a meeting. We'll often go to a coffee shop.

to talk about what's coming next for Stash Hub and how we're going to do then Doug works on the kind of coding side of Stash Hub and I do the marketing side. So I spend quite a lot of time working on So I do a lot of stuff for Instagram, but I also write things for the Stash Hub blog and do emails. So I'll do that. And it's quite varied day to day. And it's know, sort of managing my own time.

but I did that quite a lot in my previous jobs anyway, so that works well for me. I kind of don't like to do the same thing every day and have kind of different options of stuff to do. So yeah, it's always different, it's always fun. And then I talk to people, like if they're hosting a challenge, I'll ask them about the details, put that in the app, because I really like to continue to support the community on Instagram, especially the challenges, because that really did inspire me.

to get into it. And I don't know if I'd be here terms of business, but also in terms of my own sewing journey, if people hadn't given up their own time. And I think a lot of people don't realize that these challenges on Instagram are run entirely voluntarily by people that just like sewing. So I think that I really find it important to support those challenges and try and join in myself if I can or offer stash of prizes. and I'll

to other small businesses as well. So we've got partnered shops in stash So I like to you know, talk to them and try to support these other businesses as well if I can But yeah, lots of different stuff going on all the time

Gemma Daly (21:05)

It sounds very interesting and I wondered how is it working with your husband so closely?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (21:11)

Yeah, it's really good actually. think a lot of people are like, God, I can't cope with that. But we are very like attached as a couple. We like spending time together and we get on really well. So I think it is really good working together. We were working in the same room. So we've got our just, we didn't live in just a one bed So he's moved himself out to the bedroom now. He's got a little tiny desk that he sits on in the bedroom.

Gemma Daly (21:15)

You You

Yvette (@stash_hub) (21:36)

So it is easier if

we're like meeting people and chatting to have a separate space. decided that we've had to come up with a policy where I'll send him a message rather than just go and bother him because he gets quite into the flow when he's coding. So he doesn't like to be interrupted. So now I'll send him a message to say, can I come and talk to you? We've had to work on it for sure. But it's been really good working together.

Gemma Daly (22:02)

that's lovely.

So thinking about the app then, so you offer a subscription, that's right, isn't it? And there's a monthly option and a yearly option. what do you think are the most common problems that people have with their stash and the reason that they might use the app?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (22:20)

So I think one of the most kind of pervasive problems in the sewing community is just feeling overwhelmed. so much inspiration out there and so much temptation to be buying, you know, new fabric, new patterns, even just planning more and more projects all the time. But there's only like so much sewing that we can actually do, unfortunately. I think having

the app, it just takes everything like out of your head. So it's not swirling around. You're not thinking, you know, like, for me, I've got like over 80 fabrics. If I had to remember all of those fabrics all the time, what I was going to do with them, the how much I've got, you know, the fiber type, everything that I need to know about them. That's just a lot of brain space is just filled up with just fabric. So being able to put it down in the app and know that I don't have to think about that, but I can just check it easily when I need to.

takes it out of my brain and then it kind of frees up that brain space for creativity. So then I can just sort of browse my stash like I'm shopping and think, okay, yeah, I remember that fabric. Maybe a new patterns come out and then I can make that plan. And I don't have to be kind of worrying about it all the time, like why on did I buy this like without a plan? And, you know, I think there can be a lot of kind of guilt about it as well when people think, I've spent so much money and I've...

Gemma Daly (23:37)

Mm hmm.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (23:40)

I'm taking up so much space with all of this and I haven't sewn it, but at least with this, with the app, when you put things in stash hub, you know what you've got. So you're not going to buy it again on accident, which I've definitely done, especially with patterns. So, you know, you know what you've got and you're more likely to use it if you remember it. And then you can put together your plans as well. And I think when you've got your plan down, it's more inspiring as well, because you

You don't have that hurdle to overcome where you think about, what size am I going to make? What do I have the buttons for this? know, where's the pattern? You've just got all that information there. So you can just look at it and think, yeah, fancy making that today. You can check where everything is, check that you've got everything and it just makes it easier. And I think that, you know, at the moment, there's just so much happening just in the world and in general, anything that like makes stuff easier, like you don't want your hobbies to become feeling like a chore.

Gemma Daly (24:27)

Hmm.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (24:35)

because you just have so much to

think about all the time. So just having it there in front of you just makes it so much less overwhelming.

Gemma Daly (24:43)

That's exactly right and I suffer from all of those feelings a lot of the time, the guilt, the overwhelm and it really just stops you doing the project doesn't it? So it sounds like you've made that really easy for people and like you say clear some of that clutter out of your mind and just start.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (25:02)

Yeah.

Gemma Daly (25:03)

so you sort of, you're alluding to the fact that, tools like Stash Hub can, can help you be a bit more mindful. Do you think it also helps with like sustainable sewing as well?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (25:15)

Yeah, definitely. Cause I think Stash Hub and I know some people get afraid to like check their stats and stuff or when they put everything into Stash Hub, they think, no, now I'm going to actually have to face how much I've got.

But I think that is a, that is something that's really important to do to get an idea of how much you have and how much you're buying because it can help you realize, and maybe actually I don't need to.

keep buying in these quantities. And then, you know, when you know what you've got as well, you are more likely to sow it. Because obviously it's not sustainable if you buy lots of stuff, but then you don't know what it is or where it is or what you're going to use it for. And it becomes easier to just buy something else and not use that stuff because then that's resources that are essentially being wasted because you're not using them. And like, obviously I don't want anyone to feel bad about what their stash is like, because, you know, we're all on a journey with it.

ourselves, but I think, you know, if you are feeling kind of overwhelmed or concerned about your stash, like there are like things that you can do to make yourself feel better about that and to, you know, will make your sewing more sustainable as well. And there are things in the app as well, like you can say how much fabric you've used for a certain pattern, and then it will automatically update how much is left. So you would know, okay, maybe I've got a meter left, and then you can look at your

Gemma Daly (26:23)

you

Yvette (@stash_hub) (26:36)

pattern options of using meter of fabric to see if you can do something with that remnant or you can put it on the marketplace to destash it. So there are lots of ways that the app can help you be more sustainable as well, whether it's helping you use your own resources or helping you pass them on to someone else.

Gemma Daly (26:52)

That's amazing. And like you say, if you make a note of how much fabric you have personally used for that pattern, because I find they always overestimate, don't they, just to be safe. But then next time you'll know that you don't need to buy quite as much because you didn't use it last time. This is it. So the app has its own, what did you call it? A destash?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (27:09)

Yeah, those extra half meters of rayon are like the worst, aren't they? Like, what am going to do with this?

Gemma Daly (27:20)

marketplace, yes.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (27:19)

The marketplace, yeah. So this is quite a recent update that we've done to Stash Hub. So it actually works through eBay.

anything that you've got logged in Stash Hub, if you decide actually, you know, my taste has changed over time, I'm not going to use this. You can just click a button that says sell and you can put in like how much you want for it and the condition. And then Stash Hub will generate the whole listing for you. So that's like.

just making another way of making something easier to remove that barrier. If you've got lots of destashing to do, and then it links with your eBay account. So they're all just on your eBay as if you were selling on eBay, but they're listed in StashHub. So all fellow StashHub users can see that. And if there's something that they are looking for, then they can buy that off you rather than buying it new.

Gemma Daly (28:05)

That's fantastic. You guys are so clever.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (28:08)

Well, we just get so many great suggestions from the community, honestly, so it really helps us.

Gemma Daly (28:14)

Now you've had quite a lot of stash chats, haven't you, with people from the sewing community? So this is part of your social media and your live episodes that you do. Do any of those chats particularly stick with you? Any interesting moments that came up?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (28:32)

There's always like, everyone's got such interesting and different stuff to say. So I'm actually on a little break from stash chats at the moment, but I'm hoping to bring it back like in the spring. But yeah, it's really, really interesting to hear. And some people are like, ⁓ I don't think I should come on stash chats because I don't have a very big stash. And I'm like, we need you on stash chats because, you know, different have got different stashes. And one of the things that I always like to stress is that like,

Gemma Daly (28:51)

You

Yvette (@stash_hub) (28:58)

there's no such thing as like a stash that's like too small or too big because it's not like a finite number. It's about how you feel about it and like what's inspiring for you. Cause you know, from doing a stash chat, you just find out that different people have such different approaches. Like some people like to have a big stash and then they can, you know, just pull from that and sew spontaneously, whereas other people find it too overwhelming and they'd rather just have like, you know, three projects worth fabric.

One of the things that I find really interesting is talking to fabric shop owners because some fabric shop owners will also have a massive personal stash and that's why they started the fabric shop because you know, they just they just love fabric whereas other fabric shop owners will maybe even if they originally started with that kind of idea in mind They'll find that buying for the shop kind of it scratches that itch for them and they don't need to buy as much for themselves personally

Gemma Daly (29:29)

Mm.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (29:54)

And because they're always surrounded by so much fabric, they don't feel the need to get some and take it home. So that's always interesting to know the different approaches of fabric shop owners and how they feel about fabric after starting the shop.

Gemma Daly (30:08)

Definitely some very interesting insights into how different people's minds work, isn't it? So what's next for Stash Hub? Anything you can share?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (30:14)

Yeah, it's really good.

So last year, towards the end of last year, we sent out a survey to all the Stash Hub users and we had a really brilliant response to that. So we had like hundreds of people send back their feedback, which we're really, really grateful for. So to start off this year, we're gonna kind of implement those pieces of feedback, to make, mostly there to make existing features better. So for example, we've got a feature input.

Gemma Daly (30:27)

. you

Yvette (@stash_hub) (30:45)

which allows you to pull information from a pattern or fabric website and it just fills in the record about that fabric for you so you don't have to sit and type out all the details yourself. So we're doing some work to make that better. So it's just more reliable, works for more websites, puts the information in more accurately. So Doug's already done a bit of work on that. So hopefully some people will be finding that their magic input's working a bit better.

And then more other things it's just things like more customization. So we know that different people sew and think in different ways. are updates that we kind of can't make universally because we know that for some people they'll be like, you've made it worse. Whereas other people will be like, thanks for that update. So we want to make it so that stash hub is more customizable. So for example, one of the updates that we've just done is to

Gemma Daly (31:30)

Mm-hmm.

.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (31:41)

filters that you can save. example, I don't know if you making a capsule collection or something, you can create a filter that's just for those fabrics. If you are feeling particularly overwhelmed and you're like, just want these 10 fabrics that I'm going to sew in the next couple of months and I only want to see those and I don't want to think about anything else. You can save a filter for those particular fabrics and maybe say, I only want to see the uncut ones and I'll deal with the remnants later.

and it has to be

the tag for this collection and you can save that filter so you can just see that and they'll just show up you go on Stash So yeah, I'm sure there'll be loads of different use cases for that where people can just press one button to see, don't know, their quilting collection or their dressmaking collection. So hopefully that will be helpful for people looking for different things in their stash.

Gemma Daly (32:29)

Definitely so interesting all these different options that you've got.

Are you going to be at the Stitch Festival this year?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (32:37)

I will be about personally, but we're not having a Stash Hub stand at the moment. So we're really welcome kind of feedback and ideas for what you'd want to see from a Stash Hub stand. we were there last year with our own stand and we found it quite difficult to sell Stash Hub to people, especially that hadn't heard of the app before, because all the other stands are there selling kind of physical products that you can touch and feel and take home with you. Whereas Stash Hub is more a kind of that you have to get behind. And it's sort

Gemma Daly (32:48)

.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (33:05)

finding the people that are ready to kind of reconnect with their stash and catalog it all and plan their projects and stuff. So it's quite a concept to explain to people. But it was really, really good to see our existing customers there and hear about how much StashHub has been helping them as well. So yeah, I mean, I'd always love to have a presence at the shows and often I'll do a talk or something like that. But we're just gonna, I'm just gonna show up and have fun this time. So I'll be there for sure on the Saturday.

because my mum's gonna do the catwalk. Yeah, my mum doesn't even sew, she just loves going on the catwalk, she's got a

Gemma Daly (33:36)

brilliant.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (33:40)

taste for it now, yeah, I'm sure you'll see my mum on the Instagram maker's catwalk, not that she's on Instagram or a maker, but she just loves it.

Gemma Daly (33:49)

do you make her things then? ⁓ fantastic.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (33:52)

So when we were at Knit and Stitch, she chose some fabric that she wanted to fresh off the other catwalk at Knit and Stitch. So yeah, I mean, if anyone is like, interested in doing the catwalk, but feels kind of nervous

about it, should just go for it because the sewing community is so supportive and everyone's so lovely. And like, all the audience are also sewers as well. And also if

someone else volunteers to do it. I won't have to keep making so many dresses for my mum to wear on the catwalk. So yeah, and stitch if you're considering it, do go for it.

Gemma Daly (34:26)

So to tie up the interview Yvette, I like to do a little game of this or that if that's okay with you. Yeah.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (34:31)

Let's do it.

Gemma Daly (34:33)

So I think I know the answer to this one, but I'm going to ask it anyway. Bold prints or classic plains? Yeah, all day. Spring, summer or autumn, winter?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (34:39)

Bold Prince.

spring summer, but I think that's mostly because of like the colours and the bold prints. So now I make my own clothes, I can do the bold prints and the big colours all year round, which is excellent. But yeah, I do like sewing a nice cotton lawn blouse or a swishy dress.

Gemma Daly (34:56)

it.

Lovely. Tea or coffee? Neither.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (35:04)

No thank you. I hate the taste of hot water. I think that's what it is. disgusting. I can't. me a glass of squash and I'll sit at the children's table. Thank you very much.

Gemma Daly (35:15)

A meal out or a takeaway? quick win or a more involved make?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (35:17)

Ooh, I mean, I do enjoy both. I think generally a takeaway is quite nice because then I can wear my lovely handmade joggers, watch a bit of TV. So yeah, I think generally a takeaway. But I'm not averse to a meal out if anyone's offering.

Right now I'm thinking the quick wins. got really into making the dresses for dress a girl around the world because they're so easy and they're so satisfying and it makes me feel like quite good about myself as well. Cause I felt like I've done a nice thing. I've made this dress to donate and I've actually seen some of my dresses being worn by kids in Uganda. So that's really rewarding. So that's my go-to quick win project.

Gemma Daly (35:59)

That's fantastic. Knits or wovens?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (36:02)

woven for sure.

quite got there with the knits yet but maybe, maybe one day.

Gemma Daly (36:07)

They're not too difficult, it's just certain things. I don't think I've still ever sewn a perfect neckband.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (36:14)

It's just,

think it's like getting over the finish as well. I find even though I've got an overlocker, the finish is not the same as what it would be in ready to wear knits. maybe I need to just buy a cover lock, but that's quite a big investment. But yeah, and I find they often, I think it's unpicking on knits is a pain in the bum as well. Like if you're unpicking a zigzag, no thank you.

Gemma Daly (36:29)

I know.

or a rotary cutter?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (36:42)

rotary cutter.

Gemma Daly (36:43)

controversial choice. Most people have scissors so far, but I do get it. Rotary's Yeah, yeah, I get it. I get One project. I am. I'm Team Scissors. I'm going to be hopefully cutting out some quilting cotton and I will use a rotary for that, but normally Team Scissors.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (36:47)

Really? Wow. I just think I can lay the fabric flat with a rotary cutter so why I like it.

Your team scissors, clearly.

Interesting.

Gemma Daly (37:10)

One project on the go or multiple? Paper pattern or PDF?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (37:13)

I'm generally a one project at time type person. I need to limit the chaos, otherwise I get a bit, yeah.

I like a PDF,

but I always get them copy shop printed, because I'm not sticking them together. Unless it's like four pages, that's okay. But like, yeah, PDF, but copy shop. And then it gives me that peace of mind as well, that I can always get printed out again, if and when I mess it up, because I can get quite adventurous with my adjustments. You know, I'll be like, I need to take a bit out of this. I'll start by doing an inch. And that, you know, that often doesn't go to plan. yeah.

I can go back to the drawing board at least with the PDFs.

Gemma Daly (37:55)

Exactly. And the last one, sewing for yourself or others.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (38:00)

Generally sewing for myself, yeah. I think as I go on in my sewing journey, I am getting more into sewing for other people, which is quite interesting. partly because I do have a lot of clothes now and it is really nice when people really appreciate something that you've made for them. But I don't think I'll ever be like universally making for other people. I think a lot of people don't understand what my job is now that I do stash hub. So they think I just like make clothes for other people.

Gemma Daly (38:22)

Mm.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (38:24)

because they know that I've got a sewing machine. But yeah, I don't think I could ever do that. I

think that would be too annoying.

Gemma Daly (38:31)

Yeah, I think so. You need to sew for yourself sometimes. You do. I think sometimes for me the satisfaction of seeing them love it

Yvette (@stash_hub) (38:33)

Yeah, it's higher pressure when you sew for other people as well because I know my tolerance limits of like, if an underarm seam is like two millimeters off, I'm like, Whereas if it's for someone else, I'm like, oh, what if they're really looking at it and then they decide it's not very good and oh, so you get overthinking it I think when you make for other people sometimes.

Gemma Daly (38:57)

overpowers that perfectionism because yeah, I get both but it is rewarding. So where can people find you, Yvette?

Yvette (@stash_hub) (39:03)

Yeah, it's good when it's done, when it's for someone else, but it's all over. It's great.

So on Instagram and most socials, I'm at stash underscore hub. So I'm mostly active on Instagram, but you'll also find me on YouTube, which is where I do the stash chats, which I've mentioned about. So yeah, and then sometimes I share what I'm making and a bit about how I use stash hub as well. And then,

the StashHub website is stashhubapp.com. So you can find out more about the app there. There's loads of blogs about kind of what's coming up with the app. And also I'll do blogs about the challenges as well, if you're interested in that. my personal account is at Blossom Sandwich. So I'll be hosting Sew Fruity from there in June. If you've got some...

fruity prints or colours or embellishments that you want to get sewn up this year. You'll find me over there on Blossom Sandwich as well and just have a general nosy about what I've been making.

Gemma Daly (40:02)

Fantastic. And of course I'll link all the details to Stash Hub in the show notes. So if anybody is interested in downloading the app and getting the membership to that, then it's all there for you. So Yvette, you've been fantastic. Thank you for joining me on the Sewing Social podcast today.

Yvette (@stash_hub) (40:20)

Thanks so much for having me Gemma, I always have such a good time talking about sewing. I'm inspired to get my stash chats going up again. Hopefully I'll see you on YouTube in the spring.

Gemma Daly (40:31)

Fantastic! Well, you take care! Bye!

Yvette (@stash_hub) (40:34)

sewing! See ya!

Gemma Daly (40:36)

Today's guest Yvette and her husband Doug created the StashHub Sewing Organiser app to help you catalog your fabrics, patterns and notions and combine them together to create inspiring sewing projects. you're interested in finding out more about StashHub and having a play with it yourself, download StashHub on the App Store or Play Store or use it on your computer at web.stashhubapp.com.

As a special treat for listeners, use the code TSSP all in capitals. That's T for the, S for sewing, S for social and P for podcast. TSSP to get your first month of Stash Hub Plus completely free. This means unlimited uploads. So no matter how big your stash is, you can finally get it organised.

Thanks again for listening. See you next time!