The First Stitch: Every Quilter Has a Story

Lisa Donnelly
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Discover the shared experiences that connect all quilters. The First Stitch is the podcast dedicated to celebrating the journeys of the craft's most passionate members: YOU! Host Lisa Donnelly of Wild Plum Lane brings you short, impactful episodes that prove we are all more alike than we are different, no matter where or when we picked up our first set of needle and thread.Every week, you'll hear:-A Quilter’s Story: Hear the unique, personal accounts of how quilters began to quilt, overcome creative blocks, and found purpose in piecing. These are your stories, read aloud, emphasizing the universal themes of creativity, challenge, and community.-Finishing Focus: Practical, no-nonsense tips and actionable strategies for completing your quilt projects (WIPs/UFOs). It's gentle motivation to finish those beautiful quilts!-Quilting Tidbits: Essential, quick-hit information on tools, new fabric lines, techniques, and the latest happenings in the world of quilting.Join us to recognize your own journey in the stories of others, gain practical quilt project planning and organization skills, and feel more connected to the quilting community as a whole.New episodes are released every Wednesday morning.

  1. 1d ago

    Nina's First Stitch Story + Breaking Big Projects Into Small Bites EP 20

    FIRST STITCH STORY: MEET NINA In this episode, we meet Nina from Sweden, whose quilting story starts at age three, sewing on paper! Decades later, she's still going strong, and her favorite quilt has a worldwide friendship story stitched into every single one of its 2,240 pieces. Nina's love of scraps and squares comes from a very practical place too, and it's a mindset a lot of us quilters share. WIP-FINISHING TIP: BIG PROJECT, SMALL BITES Nina's first quilt was a king-size project...and if that sounds intimidating, today's tip is for you. I'm sharing three simple ways to break a big project down into small, doable chunks, so it stops feeling like a mountain to climb and starts feeling like something 100% do-able. SPOTLIGHT: THE WIP-FINISHING PLAN  Many of my digital traditional piecing quilt patterns come with a WIP-Finishing Plan PDF included, a printable tool that helps you break that pattern into manageable steps. I'll tell you how to know if your favorite pattern includes it, and share a companion resource for anyone who wants to see this kind of planning applied to a full project from start to finish. Shop patterns Wind Blossom Sew Along SHARE YOUR FIRST STITCH STORY Your story might be next! Every quilter has a beginning, and I'd love to hear yours. Plus, if you've picked up a tip or trick along the way, share that too...it might inspire another quilter, and your story could be read on an upcoming episode of The First Stitch. Send an email to: firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com or use the quick submission form.

    Nina's First Stitch Story + Breaking Big Projects Into Small Bites EP 20

  2. Aug 26

    19: Jeanne's First Stitch Story + Staying Organized With Multiple WIPs

    Today's quilter learned to sew from her grandma and mother, just like so many of us, and her story includes one of my favorite quilt stories yet…listen in to see what it is!. She's also juggling more WIPs than she can count, so this episode is all about keeping multiple projects moving forward without losing your mind. THE FIRST STITCH STORY Jeanne shares how her grandmother's twice-yearly visits, a box of tools, and a bag of tiny triangles turned into a lifelong love of piecing...and how that same love shows up in her quilts for her granddaughters today. You'll want to hear it in her own words! THE WIP-FINISHING TIP Between a monthly door hanger, charity quilts, block of the month projects, and seasonal quilts waiting in the wings, Jeanne has a lot going on at once...and today I'm sharing how a simple weekly planning system can keep all of it moving forward without the overwhelm. Get the Simple WIP Inventory and Quilter’s Weekly Planner TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT I'm also sharing my favorite way to keep a travel project like English paper piecing ready to go anywhere, so you never miss a chance to stitch a few more triangles when you’ve got a spare minute! Get a set to share with friends Find one in my shop (with stickers!) SHARE YOUR STORY Want to share your First Stitch Story? I'd love to feature you on the show! Send it to firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com or fill out the simple submission form. It's easier than you think, and there's no wrong way to tell your story.

    19: Jeanne's First Stitch Story + Staying Organized With Multiple WIPs

  3. Aug 12

    18: Jay's First Stitch Story + Taming the Fabric Stash

    I love hearing from quilters who found their way into this hobby sort of by accident, and Jay's story is exactly that kind of delight! From cereal box templates in a hand piecing class to a fabric collection that makes Jay equal parts proud and (a little!) guilty... this episode is full of moments you'll relate to. THE FIRST STITCH STORY Jay shares how a single class turned into a lifelong love of simple, geometric quilts... plus an honest confession about a stash so big it miiiight deserve its own zip code.  THE WIP-FINISHING TIP If you've ever felt torn between loving your fabric collection and not knowing what to do with all of it, today's tip is for you. I'm sharing my favorite way to turn “so much fabric” into “exactly what I need,” one project at a time... and it takes just minutes to set up. TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT I'm also sharing the exact thing I use to keep my own stash organized and my current projects easy to grab and go. It's simple, it's affordable, and it might be the missing piece for your sewing space too! Clear Stackable Bins My friend Carrie uses a simple trick too: ginormous Ziplock bags! She labels them, pops the fabric and pattern inside, and zips them closed until she’s ready to take them to the sewing machine. One more suggestion is these wonderful clear pouches from Fat Quarter Shop. They’re made especially for quilters and come in various sizes so you can pick the right one for each project. Simple, colorful, and effective! Storage Bag Set Single Storage Bag SHARE YOUR STORY Got a First Stitch Story of your own? I'd love to feature you on the show! Send it to firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com, or use the submission form linked below. It's easier than you think, and there's no wrong way to tell it. We’d love to hear from you! Submit your First Stitch story

    18: Jay's First Stitch Story + Taming the Fabric Stash

  4. Jul 22

    17: Mona's First Stitch Story + Batch-Sewing Your Way to Finished Quilts

    First Stitch Story: Meet Mona In this episode, we meet Mona, who learned to quilt from her grandmother when she was just eleven years old. From her first hand stitched quilts to falling in love with machine quilting, Mona's journey is a sweet reminder of how this craft can grow and change with us over the years. She's also taking on a meaningful new goal for her family, and I think you're going to love hearing about it! WIP-Finishing Tip: Batch Your Like Projects Today's WIP-finishing tip is for anyone juggling a few similar projects at once. I'm sharing a simple way to batch your steps across multiple quilts at the same time, so you can keep making progress on all of them without losing momentum or starting over again and again. Make Layout Easy with a Portable Design Wall! This episode's tool spotlight is all about staying organized while you batch-sew, which is especially handy if you're working on a few quilts at once like Mona is! Portable Design Wall Share Your First Stitch Story Your story might be next! Every quilter has a beginning to their story, and we'd love to hear yours. Plus, over the years you might have picked up tips or tricks you could share with others that might inspire another quilter! Share your personal quilting journey, your best project-finishing tip, or your "first stitch" moment. Your story may be read on an upcoming episode of The First Stitch. Email: firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com Submit your story

  5. Jul 8

    16: DB's First Stitch Story + A Speedy Scrappy Shortcut

    First Stitch Story: Meet DB In this episode, we meet DB, who grew up surrounded by sewing, knitting, and crochet thanks to her mom and grandmother. Life (and raising her daughters) put her sewing machine on pause for years, until a new grandbaby pulled her right back to her machine. And her path into quilting came from a fun surprise at a sewing retreat!  WIP-Finishing Tip: The Scrap Sort Shortcut Today's WIP-finishing tip is for anyone with a bin (or three!) of scraps and no idea where to start. I share a quick, no-fuss way to quickly sort your scraps so they're ready to grab and sew the moment inspiration strikes, no fancy system required. This one is especially handy if you're prepping for a scrappy project and want to spend your sewing time actually sewing…instead of digging through fabric for the right-sized pieces.   Scrappy Stamps + A Web-Piecing Shortcut We also talk about my Scrappy Stamps pattern, a fun way to put all those leftover scraps to good use, plus a speedy piecing technique I recently guest posted for Diary of a Quilter that can help a scrappy quilt top come together faster than you'd think. Get the Scrappy Stamps FREE quilt pattern! Time-saving web-piecing tutorial at Diary of a Quilter   Share Your First Stitch Story Your story might be next! If you'd like to share how you got started sewing or quilting, I'd love to hear it and feature YOU in a future episode! Email: firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com Quick Submission Form

  6. Jun 24

    15: Linda's First Stitch Story + Finishing the Quilts That Are Almost Done

    First Stitch Story: Meet Linda In this episode, we meet Linda from Canada, whose quilting roots run deep. She learned the craft as a child, sitting at the big quilt frame surrounded by her mother and aunts, and that love of quilting has stayed with her ever since. Quilting took a back seat for a while when life got busy, but listen in today to find out what brought her back to it. Now nearly 75, Linda quilts every single day and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. Her story is a beautiful reminder that quilting has a way of finding us again exactly when we need it. WIP-Finishing Tip: Tackle the Almost-Done Projects First Today's WIP-finishing tip is inspired by Linda herself, who mentioned she has a quilt just waiting to be bound. Sound familiar? I share a simple strategy for identifying your closest-to-the-finish-line projects and making those your next priority, because there is nothing quite like a finish to build momentum for everything else on your list! I also mention my free Simple WIP Inventory, which makes it easy to see exactly where all your projects stand so you can decide what to tackle next. Grab yours below! Simple WIP Inventory (FREE download) From My Sewing Room In this episode I'm sharing one of my favorite things from my own shop: the Life + Quilts Planner. If you've ever wished you had a dedicated place to plan your projects, track your WIPs, and build a quilting rhythm that actually fits into your real life, this planner was made for you. Linda has been quilting consistently for decades and has built a beautiful, productive creative life. This planner is the tool that can help the rest of us get there! Get the Life + Quilts Planner Share Your First Stitch Story Your story might be next! Every quilter has a beginning, and I'd love to hear yours. Whether it's how you learned to quilt, a project that brought you back to it, or a first stitch moment you'll never forget, share it with me and you could be featured in a future episode! Send an email to: firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com Or use the Quick Submission Form

  7. Jun 10

    14: Vicki's First Stitch Story + Making Progress When Life Gets in the Way

    First Stitch Story: Meet Vicki In this episode, we meet Vicki, whose creative life started before she could even hold a crochet hook the 'right' way. (More on that in the episode!) From a childhood filled with crafting alongside her talented mum, to starting to quilt 12 years ago and never looking back, Vicki's story is a beautiful reminder that creativity is part of who we are, and that our quilts are made of so much more than fabric and thread. Vicki also shares how she crafts through chronic illness, why her sewing room is lovingly named Area 51, and the impressive lineup of meaningful WIPs she is working through right now.  WIP-Finishing Tip: Document Your WIPs to Regain Your Momentum Today's WIP-finishing tip is all about getting unstuck when you have so many projects going that you've lost track of where everything stands. I share a quick, low-pressure way to give yourself a starting point so you can sit down and actually sew instead of spinning your wheels. I also mention my free Simple WIP Inventory, which is one of those tools that takes just a few minutes to use and makes a surprisingly big difference. Grab yours as part of my Quilting Freebies!  From My Sewing Room This episode's feature from my sewing room is one I'm really excited about! Vicki mentioned a QAYG (Quilt As You Go) project on her WIP list, and it was the perfect nudge to share a book I just picked up and cannot wait to try: Quilt As You Go Made Vintage by Jera Brandvig. Find it at Fat Quarter Shop Find it on Amazon If you've been curious about the QAYG method, this book is a great one to check out. I share why I think it's such a great approach, especially for quilters who want to make real progress without wrestling a king-size quilt sandwich through their machine! Share Your First Stitch Story Your story might be next! Every quilter has a beginning, and we'd love to hear yours. Whether it's the story of how you got started sewing or quilting, a favorite project-finishing tip, or a "first stitch" moment that changed things for you, share it with me and you could be featured in a future episode! Send an email to: firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com Or use the Quick Submission Form

  8. Apr 1

    We're Taking a Spring Break + Exciting News!

    Today’s episode is a super-quick update about The First Stitch that I wanted to share with you directly. (And no, it's not an April Fool's Day joke!) We're taking a spring break for the months of April and May, and new episodes will return this summer on Wednesday, June 10th! Life is full right now in the best possible ways (a few more details are included in the episode!), and I LOVE creating this podcast for you…so I'm making a few adjustments. Starting in June, new episodes will drop every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Twice a month, every month. It's a slight change that is going to make a big difference in keeping this show going strong for the long haul! Make sure you're subscribed to my newsletter so you don't miss the June 10th return (plus keep up on behind-the-scenes fun and snag a first-look at what I hope will be my new quilting studio!), and I'll see you then. Thanks for being here. It means more than you know! Subscribe and get quilting freebies! And speaking of stories... have you been thinking about sharing yours? I would love to hear it! I’m still collecting stories over the break, and your First Stitch story could be featured in an upcoming episode!  Email: firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com Submit your story Wild Plum Lane Shop Wild Plum Lane's Amazon Storefront

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About

Discover the shared experiences that connect all quilters. The First Stitch is the podcast dedicated to celebrating the journeys of the craft's most passionate members: YOU! Host Lisa Donnelly of Wild Plum Lane brings you short, impactful episodes that prove we are all more alike than we are different, no matter where or when we picked up our first set of needle and thread.Every week, you'll hear:-A Quilter’s Story: Hear the unique, personal accounts of how quilters began to quilt, overcome creative blocks, and found purpose in piecing. These are your stories, read aloud, emphasizing the universal themes of creativity, challenge, and community.-Finishing Focus: Practical, no-nonsense tips and actionable strategies for completing your quilt projects (WIPs/UFOs). It's gentle motivation to finish those beautiful quilts!-Quilting Tidbits: Essential, quick-hit information on tools, new fabric lines, techniques, and the latest happenings in the world of quilting.Join us to recognize your own journey in the stories of others, gain practical quilt project planning and organization skills, and feel more connected to the quilting community as a whole.New episodes are released every Wednesday morning.

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