The First Stitch: Every Quilter Has a Story

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...

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, L...

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...

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 LO...

First Stitch Story: Meet Marissa In this episode I share Marissa's story. She's 31, finished her very first quilt last year, and her journey into quilting is one of the most honest and heartwarming stories featured on the show yet. From years of putting creativity aside to making quilts for her son, her mom, and her aunt, I love everything about this story. Hear it in Marissa's own...

First Stitch Story: Meet Lana In this episode, we meet Lana from Oklahoma, whose love of quilting has carried her through decades, dozens of moves, and a life full of beautiful, meaningful moments. Lana's story is one I know you're going to love... especially her Christmas finish that was 30 years in the making! You'll hear about a very special hand-embroidered label, what it said,...

First Stitch Story: Meet Janet In this episode, we meet Janet, a self-described beginner quilter whose story is quietly extraordinary. She learned alongside her mom, worked together on quilts for her twin granddaughters, and then faced the moment so many of us dread: having to carry on alone after losing the person who quilted beside her. What she did next is something I think every quilter needs...

First Stitch Story: Meet Debbie In this episode, we meet Debbie, whose quilting journey took her from a childhood filled with stunning handmade clothes sewn by her talented mom, to walking away from sewing entirely after a difficult experience, to finally finding her way back to the craft in retirement. Debbie's story is a reminder that the creative things we are meant for have a way of findi...

First Stitch Story: Meet Beth In this episode, we meet Beth, whose sewing journey spans decades...from her first White sewing machine purchased in 1982 to rediscovering quilting after retirement. After years of raising three daughters and running a business, Beth came back to quilting in a big way. Her story is a wonderful reminder that it's never too late to pick up where you left off and ma...

First Stitch Story: Meet Judy In this episode, we meet Judy, whose quilting journey is a powerful story of finding purpose and joy after loss. From learning to sew in high school to making clothes for her children, and then rediscovering her love of sewing through quilting after her husband's passing, Judy's story reminds us that creativity can bring us back to life. Thirteen years and c...

First Stitch Story: Meet Vickie In this episode, we meet Vickie, whose quilting journey connects three generations through fabric and thread. Her story is a beautiful reminder of how quilting ties us to the people we love, and how a precious quilt from her grandmother changed everything. Now, 30 years and more than 40 quilts later, she's passing that love forward to her daughter! WIP-Finishin...

First Stitch Story: Meet Lisa In this episode, we meet Lisa from Germany, whose love of quiltmaking has spanned decades…and is still evolving! Lisa shares how her creative interests developed over time, what continues to inspire her, and how she keeps learning new skills even as life grows full and busy. Her story is a thoughtful reminder that creativity doesn’t have an expiration date, and that m...

First Stitch Story: Meet Cynthia In this episode, we meet Cynthia, whose First Stitch story is rooted in generosity, tradition, and learning by doing. From being taught to quilt by hand, to creating deeply meaningful quilts for loved ones, Cynthia’s story highlights how quilting can carry history, love, and legacy forward in powerful ways. WIP-Finishing Tip: Make Progress in Minutes Today’s WIP-fi...

First Stitch Story: Meet Mary In this episode, we meet Mary, a fellow Kansas City–area quilter whose creative path included early sewing lessons, a break for life, and then rediscovering sewing and quilting years later, Mary’s story touches on creativity, learning curves, and the joy of saying yes to something new. The Wind Blossom pattern that connected us: https://www.wildplumlane.com/shop/p/win...

First Stitch Story: Meet Dot! In this episode, we meet Dot, whose First Stitch story spans decades of making. From learning to sew as a child to a lifetime of creative work, Dot’s story is a beautiful reminder that creativity evolves…and that there’s no single path to becoming a quilter. WIP-Finishing Tip: A Simple Way to Get Unstuck If you’re feeling stalled on your works in progress, today’s WIP...

In this episode, I’m sharing my own First Stitch story—from learning to sew with my mom and grandma, to returning to quilting (many!) years later and eventually founding Wild Plum Lane. It’s a little backstory on how quilting became such a meaningful part of my life. Free Resources to Help You Finish More Quilts To help you make progress on your works in progress, I’m sharing my free library of qu...

Welcome to The First Stitch, where every quilter has a story. Join host Lisa Donnelly from Wild Plum Lane for a brand-new podcast celebrating the stories, tips, and connections that stitch our community together. What to Expect: -Short & Sweet: 5–10 minute episodes perfect for your morning coffee or a quick sewing break. -Weekly Inspiration: New episodes drop every Wednesday. -Practical Tips:...