hand quilters

Hi Mary,

When I first started quilting - machine - I was very inexperienced to say the least but I have found some wonderful websites where I have gained so much information as well as from the quilters on here.

Here is some sites I have saved info from:

I hand quilted a small wallhanging and was very pleased with my efforts.

Good luck.

Di

Hi again Mary,

Thi website has a video which was very interesting. Just found it tonight.

My favorite on line hand quilting tutor is Ragmop! ;) PAT

My favorite on line hand quilting tutor is Ragmop! ;) PAT

Mary, I used to hand quilt all of my quilts, though I tend to use the machine more these days. I can't stress to you how important it is to have a *comfortable* thimble! My fingers get hot inside a thimble, so I use a "tailor's thimble", which has no top and allows air to circulate. I push with the pad of my finger (shielded by the thimble, of course), which many people say is healthier than pushing with the top of the finger/thimble.

Relax and enjoy the process! It's very soothing, once you get your rhythm.

Thanks. Setting up a folder for hand quilting.

Thanks. I do need to get a thimble with an open top because I have long nails.

Mary, I agree w/Sandy on the open thimble. I finally settled on a Thimblelady thimble. I love it (NAYY)! I first bought one of the plastic ones to confirm size and comfort. When I wore out that one I bought the stainless steel. Plastic is about $15; steel about $35 if I remember correctly. Also liked her needles - much longer than normal betweens and sized to the fabric density, but I have pretty much settled on Roxanne's these days. Switch between #11 and #12 depending on quilting thread - they are not all created equal.

Good luck - I thoroughly enjoy hand quilting.

Kim in NJ

Thanks, Kim. I found an open end thimble today. If I find I enjoy hand quilting, I will spend the money for a better one.

If you plan on doing a lot of handquilting, IMO Roxanne thimbles are worth the money. They're an investment, but I swear it made a world of difference to have a thimble that was comfortable, and one I didn't have to chase all over the place. I love to handquilt, but I tend to get obsessive about it and spend hours and hours and hours crouched over the frame without stopping. I just lose track of time. I have very bad circulation in my legs and it's really a bad thing to do. I haven't started another one, as much as I'd love to. I just don't have any self-restraint. It's like a novel you can't put down. I'm jealous! Put on some good music, or listen to the /TV, or just "think" while you're quilting and have fun. Sherry

Thanks, Sherry. Time will tell how much hand quilting I will do.