Latest / The First Stitch: Every Quilter Has a Story / 22: Debbie's First Stitch Story + The No-Guilt WIP Count

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22: Debbie's First Stitch Story + The No-Guilt WIP Count · The First Stitch: Every Quilter Has a Story

• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: Hello, and welcome to the First Stitch Podcast, where we tell the stories of how everyday quilters just like you got started quilting.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: Plus, talk about some other fun quilty things along the way.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: This is your host, Lisa Donnelly from Wild Plum Lane.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get started.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: Today's first stitch story comes from Debbie, who learned to sew at five years old and hasn't stopped in the 65 years since.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: She's sewn her own clothes, hand quilted for decades, and eventually learned to use a long arm machine.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: Here's Debbie's story.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_00: I learned to sew on a treadle sewing machine when I was five years old.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: I sewed quilt squares for my mama and grandma.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: When I was in the fourth grade, she bought her first electric sewing machine.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: My older brother and I would race sewing those squares together.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: He always got to use the electric one.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: I started sewing doll clothes and then ventured into sewing clothes for myself after mama let me use the electric machine.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: By the sixth grade, I was sewing all my own clothes, dresses, blouses, and skirts.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: We couldn't wear pants to school, so I didn't make those.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: I was forced to take home in my freshman year of high school, which I considered a waste of my time because I'd been cooking almost as long as sewing.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: I really wanted to take shop, but back then girls weren't allowed.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: My first quilt, made entirely by me in high school, was tied.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: Most of my grandma and mama's quilts were tied.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: My next quilt I made years later for my infant daughter, and it was a machine applique polyester sunbonnet suit.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: I still have it, and it weighs a ton.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: I never let her sleep under it because it was so heavy.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: I was ahead of my time.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: The first weighted quilt.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: I sewed lots of curtains, clothing, and household items, baby quilts, and several large quilt tops.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: I finally took my first quilt class in 1988, and the teacher made us do everything by hand.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: She said if it wasn't done by hand, it didn't count.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: I hand quilted most of my quilts and finally learned on and rented a long arm.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: All of my last finished quilts have been long armed by me.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: I love English paper piecing and hand applique, but I'm having some issues with osteoarthritic hands.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: I'm 70 years old.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: I have so many unfinished projects that I'm afraid to even gather together and count.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: And unfortunately, no one else in my family has any interest in learning how to sew in any form.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: And that's from Debbie.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: If you're anything like Debbie, you've got a stack of projects you're almost afraid to look at, let alone count.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: But collectively, let's take a breath.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: You don't have to finish everything this week.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: Or ever, honestly.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: You just need to know what's there.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: Here's how to do a no-guilt work in progress inventory.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: First, set a timer for 15 minutes.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: Walk your sewing space and jot down every unfinished project you find on a sticky note or in a notes app.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: Just the name or a two-word description, nothing more.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: Second, when the timer goes off, stop.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: That's the list you need for now.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: The ones that are most top of mind and visible.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: There's no judging, and no, I should have finished that by now, allowed.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: Third, circle just one project on the list, the one calling loudest to you right now, and set the rest aside.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: That's it.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: You're not committing to finishing anything, you're just turning, I'm afraid to even look into I know what's there and I knew where to start.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: And that's progress in and of itself.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: Once you've picked that one project to come back to, chances are you'll spend some time back at the cutting table, trimming, scoring up, or cutting fresh fabric for it.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_00: But if you have arthritic hands like Debbie and me, that task can become painful and uncomfortable fast.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: That's why I use the Martelli ergonomic rotary cutter.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: The unique grip takes the strain off my hands and wrist compared to a standard rotary cutter, especially when cutting for a while.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: It's one of those tools that makes the physical part of quilting easier on your body, which matters no matter how many works in progress you've got waiting for you.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_00: And that's a wrap for this episode.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: In the next few days, try taking just 15 minutes, making a list of your current projects, and circle one project to focus on.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: That's plenty of progress for a week.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_00: And with that, we'll wrap up this episode of the First Stitch Podcast.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: If you enjoyed listening, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd hit the subscribe button in your favorite podcast player, write a review on Apple Podcasts, or tell your best quilty friends so they can listen too.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: By the way, do you have a story to share?
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: Every quilter has a beginning to their story, and we'd love to hear yours.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: Plus, over the years you might have picked up tips or tricks you could share with others.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: It might inspire another quilter, so we want to hear about it.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: Share your personal quilting journey, your best project finishing tip, or your first stitch moment.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_00: Your story might be read on an upcoming episode of the First Stitch.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: You can submit your story today by sending an email to First Stitch Podcast, all one word, that's first stitch podcast at wildplumlane.com, or use our quick submission form down in the show notes.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: I can't wait to talk with you again soon.