Whipstitch – Details, episodes & analysis

Join host Deborah Moebes as she shares details about the 2025 Murder Mystery Quilt project!  Sew the quilt to solve the crime by taking part in Murder At Machu Picchu with the nicest quilters on the internet.

Learn more and register: https://murdermysteryquilt.com

Host Deborah Moebes shares a list of the nine most important sewing tools you can have in your sewing kit--the perfect collection for anyone new to sewing or looking to improve their results!

Find links and more details on the Whipstitch blog:

https://whip-stitch.com/your-9-most-important-everyday-sewing-tools/

Deborah talks about how to get UNSTUCK when you don't know how to get started sewing--whether sewing is brand-new to you, or whether you're feeling stalled out and need new ideas.

Read an abridged transcript of this episode on the Whipstitch blog:

https://whip-stitch.com/how-to-get-back-into-sewing/

Learn more about the Murder Mystery Quilt mentioned in this episode here:

http://murdermysteryquilt.com/about

Learn more about the League of Dressmakers mentioned in the episode here:

https://leagueofdressmakers.com/about/

Listen as Deborah Moebes shares the history of the Murder Mystery Quilt, her subscription clue where quilters join Clue Crews to read an original detective story while sewing a quilt they've never seen, so they can sew the quilt to solve the crime!  

Registration for the 2023 Murder Mystery Quilt is now open:

https://murdermysteryquilt.com/join-2023

Almost exactly one year ago, Deborah set a goal to sew FIVE quilts as a Christmas gift for 2022.  But they aren't any old quilt--they're the Project Of Doom, a notoriously challenging foundation paper pieced Harry Potter-themed bookcase quilt.  This episode, she updates us on her progress, even though it's only October, and discusses how she sews Christmas pajamas every year for the whole family by starting far soon in the calendar than she really likes.

Along the way, join in this thought-provoking discussion of how handmade is a part of YOUR holiday, how ambitious plans can be handled with some self-compassion, and how we can evaluate our progress on sewing projects by viewing it through the lens of how much joy it brings us IN THE PROCESS.

Read more about the Whipstitch Project of Doom here:

https://whip-stitch.com/the-quilt-of-doom-harry-potter-quilts-for-five/

Season Two premiere!  Your host Deborah Moebes walks through the process of shopping for fabric, with and without a sewing pattern.  Consider the options for where and what to purchase--and find out how many yards to buy when you don't know yet what you're making!

Read the show notes, complete with links, at the Whipstitch blog:

https://whip-stitch.com/whipstitch-podcast-season-2-premiere

Deborah Moebes shares the history and structure of her subscription club, The League of Dressmakers, and how that relates to the annual online showcase of handmade clothing called Me Made May.  Hear her talk  through the design and intention behind structuring a membership club for garment sewing, how the League inspires her & other members to learn new sewing skills, and what the flow of images shared during Me Made May means for club members.

Read the first public post about the creation of the League here:

https://whip-stitch.com/the-league-of-adventurous-dressmakers/

Learn more about the League and join here:

https://leagueofdressmakers.com/

See the League Instagram account here:

https://www.instagram.com/leagueofdressmakers/

Deborah Moebes talks through the thought & design process behind the Junior Ranger backpacks she sewed for her three children as a way to display the embroidered patches they've earned at the US National Parks.  This coffee-date talk also includes conversation about the Junior Ranger program itself, how Deborah thinks through projects as part of an intentional design process, how to sew with bias tape on thicker fabrics, and why it's worth it to design with longevity in mind.

Read more and see photos of this project here:

https://whip-stitch.com/junior-ranger-backpacks-with-patches-and-pins/

See the Continuous Bias Tape tutorial and download the guide here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZUJknZ6aC0&t=607s

Deborah Moebes discusses how learning to knit changed how she stores her textiles; how pantry moths taught her how to prevent infestations; and where to get the goodies to keep your preciouses safe. Brief mentions of Helen Mirren and the "ephemeral nature of all making."

Transcript of this episode (abridged):

How To Store Wool Yarn & Fabric

Links for items mentioned in this episode:

two-gallon zip-top storage bags

tips for preventing moth infestation

wool dryer balls

lavender essential oil

dried organic lavender flowers (bulk)

Martha's basics for mothproofing

That Helen Mirren film Deborah mentioned? Is called Gosford Park, and it's spectacular.

Some links may be affiliate links that provide a small commission. Your cost is unaffected when using these links.

Host Deborah Moebes details her thought process for selecting the best iron for sewing & quilting, comparing past steam generator irons (like Rowenta or Black & Decker) vs the gravity-fed iron with a separate reservoir.  Ideas about iron weight, steam quality, and what iron works best in your space are all included!

Read more on this idea on the Whipstitch blog:

https://whip-stitch.com/in-the-ring-rowenta-vs-the-gravity-feed-iron/