Debbie learned to sew on a treadle machine when she was five years old, and sixty-five years later she's hand quilted, longarmed, and made just about everything a needle and thread can make... except one thing, because they weren't allowed at school (hear what it is in the episode!). In this episode she shares her First Stitch Story, and I've got a tip for anyone who's a little afraid to count up their own unfinished projects.

FIRST STITCH STORY: MEET DEBBIE

Debbie's sewing life took her through doll clothes, her own wardrobe by sixth grade, a home ec class she really didn't need, and a first quilt tied by hand in high school. There's also a quilt in her story that *might* be the original weighted quilt, decades before that was a thing you could buy! Press play to hear it in her own words.

WIP-FINISHING TIP: THE NO-GUILT WIP COUNT

Debbie mentioned something a lot of us feel but don't say out loud... she has so many unfinished projects she's almost afraid to gather them up and count them! If that's you too, I've got a simple, no-guilt way to find out what's actually in your project pile, without committing to finishing a single thing on it.

SPOTLIGHT: THE MARTELLI ERGONOMIC ROTARY CUTTER

Since so much of getting back to a project starts at the cutting table, I'm sharing the tool that's made that part of the process easier on my (arthritic!) hands. It's a small swap that makes a real difference if you're cutting for any length of time.

Get the Martelli Ergonomic Rotary Cutter

SHARE YOUR FIRST STITCH STORY

I'd love to hear your First Stitch Story too... how did you learn to sew, and what has it taught you about the quilter you are today? Send it my way at firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com, and you might just hear it on a future episode.

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